5 UK players put their names in the draft

[elnutsmalljaws]

Wall, Cousins and Patterson were all givens. Bledsoe and Orton are IDIOTS because another year under Coach Cal, which both of them need, and they would increase their draft status tremendously. Add the 3 seniors leaving and that leaves 5 left on the team returning with Dodson, Miller and Liggins as the only 3 that played any significant minutes. Rebuild / Reload, whatever you call it, Coach Cal had better get out the Checkbook and start writing a few.

I just saw a thing on ESPN where Chad Ford says Wall is number 1 unless Utah or New Orleans gets the number 1 pick and they have Deron Willions and Chris Paul respectively and either of those would take Evan Turner but any other team that gets the number 1 pick and it is Wall. Cousins will go between 3-5, Orton and Patterson will go between 10-18 and Bledose goes between 12-20. Unbelievable to have 5 projected in the top 20, but Bledsoe and Orton should come back and could be Top 10 each next year - In my opinion.

[Trophyhunter8]

rumor has it, Brandon Knight is waiting for wall to go pro and then he will sign with U.K.

[elnutsmalljaws]

rumor has it, Brandon Knight is waiting for wall to go pro and then he will sign with U.K.

Brandon is supposed to be a STUD. Love to see Orton and Bledsoe come back with Knight and the other new recruits. Would be a pretty decent team. Without Orton and Bledsoe, I don't know. Hopefully Orton will realize that he would improve his stock and come back.

[DJD]

JUst heard Patterson hasn't made his mind up yet. That would be awesome for him to come back.

[redneckshadrap]

Patterson is done if he enters or has entered his name for the second time.

[elnutsmalljaws]

Patterson is done if he enters or has entered his name for the second time.

Patterson did not enter last year. He will graduate next month but still has 1 year of eligibility. He can go to grad school and still play next year if he choses. Love to see Patterson, Orton, Bledsoe, Brandon Knight all on the team. Be pretty good if you ask me. But Patterson is passing up a TON of money as is probably Orton and Bledsoe.

[BASSKING]

could you imagine what the team would be like if all freshman stayed for all 4years.......

im not a UK fan but im telling ya what , those boys would be unstopable by the next season and have 2 or 3 championships by the end of their senior year.

i can understand the NBA for all players their age, a chance to make that much money doesnt happen often.

[DJD]

Yeah this makes it tough for the coaches and some of the fans. I wish they would stop this kinda crap.

[smokefan]

elnut said it right, Coach Cal better get his check book out, which as seen in the past he has no problem in doing. Cousins, to me, needs to stay the most-to mature. We have all seen that people get in his head and he is pretty much done, although he did improve some as the year went on. I dont think that it really suprises anyone that Wall, Cousins, and even Bledsoe are 1 and done. Wall wouldnt even have went to college if he could have gotten away with it. I think this gives UK fans a chance to see what kind of a coach Cal is and how he reloads/rebuilds the program. If he dont cut it I hear Billy Gillespe is still available......just jokin...O yea.....GO VOLS!!!

[crankin9]

Wall, Cousins and Patterson were all givens. Bledsoe and Orton are IDIOTS because another year under Coach Cal, which both of them need, and they would increase their draft status tremendously. Add the 3 seniors leaving and that leaves 5 left on the team returning with Dodson, Miller and Liggins as the only 3 that played any significant minutes. Rebuild / Reload, whatever you call it, Coach Cal had better get out the Checkbook and start writing a few.

I just saw a thing on ESPN where Chad Ford says Wall is number 1 unless Utah or New Orleans gets the number 1 pick and they have Deron Willions and Chris Paul respectively and either of those would take Evan Turner but any other team that gets the number 1 pick and it is Wall. Cousins will go between 3-5, Orton and Patterson will go between 10-18 and Bledose goes between 12-20. Unbelievable to have 5 projected in the top 20, but Bledsoe and Orton should come back and could be Top 10 each next year - In my opinion.

Don't know if I would call them "idiots". Put your self in a 19-20 year old's shoes. Guaranteed millions, a chance to live your dream and play in the NBA, never having to worry about money, taking care of your family--it's hard to pass that kind of stuff up. As fans, we all want them to stay. And another year would probably move their draft status on up the charts--but that's a probably. If they don't play well their status could fall, just as easily as it went up. Right now it's almost a guarantee that they all will go top 20....25% of the top 20 draft picks will probably be from UK. On a positive, that's huge for recruiting purposes.
-Then you've got the injury factor as well if they come back.
I don't blame them one bit. If draft experts, GM's, NBA coaches, and Coach Cal all say they should go and will be that high on the draft board, then more power to them. I hope they get everything they ever wanted. Let's just hope Coach Cal can bring in another top 3 recruiting class. Look out for the 2011 class--it may be bigger than Wall's class...

[elnutsmalljaws]

Don't know if I would call them "idiots". Put your self in a 19-20 year old's shoes. Guaranteed millions, a chance to live your dream and play in the NBA, never having to worry about money, taking care of your family--it's hard to pass that kind of stuff up. As fans, we all want them to stay. And another year would probably move their draft status on up the charts--but that's a probably. If they don't play well their status could fall, just as easily as it went up. Right now it's almost a guarantee that they all will go top 20....25% of the top 20 draft picks will probably be from UK. On a positive, that's huge for recruiting purposes.
-Then you've got the injury factor as well if they come back.
I don't blame them one bit. If draft experts, GM's, NBA coaches, and Coach Cal all say they should go and will be that high on the draft board, then more power to them. I hope they get everything they ever wanted. Let's just hope Coach Cal can bring in another top 3 recruiting class. Look out for the 2011 class--it may be bigger than Wall's class...

Let me explain my IDIOTS comment about Orton and Bledsoe. Both are "Projected" between 14-20 or so in the draft. Only the first round draft picks are guaranteed contracts. If they fall to the second round then they don't get a guarantee and have to make the team in order to get paid. Bledsoe has a "Suspectable" outside shot at best SEE WEST VIRGINIA and plays out of control too much Assist to Turnover Ratio is not very good at all to play the point now and Orton averaged 3pts and 3 rebounds a game. It would be a shame for them to put their name in the drafts, hire an agent and then not get drafted in the first round and end up playing overseas or the Developmental League. Come back a year, get another year under Cal, Bledsoe works on his outside shot and ball handling while Orton gets Playing time and see what happens next year. I have no problem in them making millions and supporting their families if it was a SURE THING but Wall, Cousins and Patterson are the only SURE first round draft picks. Depending on Team Needs and who comes out early Bledsoe and Orton could be 2nd rounders.

[crankin9]

Let me explain my IDIOTS comment about Orton and Bledsoe. Both are "Projected" between 14-20 or so in the draft. Only the first round draft picks are guaranteed contracts. If they fall to the second round then they don't get a guarantee and have to make the team in order to get paid. Bledsoe has a "Suspectable" outside shot at best SEE WEST VIRGINIA and plays out of control too much Assist to Turnover Ratio is not very good at all to play the point now and Orton averaged 3pts and 3 rebounds a game. It would be a shame for them to put their name in the drafts, hire an agent and then not get drafted in the first round and end up playing overseas or the Developmental League. Come back a year, get another year under Cal, Bledsoe works on his outside shot and ball handling while Orton gets Playing time and see what happens next year. I have no problem in them making millions and supporting their families if it was a SURE THING but Wall, Cousins and Patterson are the only SURE first round draft picks. Depending on Team Needs and who comes out early Bledsoe and Orton could be 2nd rounders.

I agree with you 100% on that... I feel that they should come back. Bledsoe is a turnover waiting to happen; but for some reason, most people feel he and Orton will go mid 1st round. I don't see it.
They must feel that they are guaranteed 1st round or I'm sure they wouldn't do it.