Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
Steve Jones of Rivals just announced on CatsIllustrated.com that Wright State transfer Julius Mays has committed to play for John Calipari at the University of Kentucky. The news is huge coming off of a visit by Mays to Purdue this weekend in which many expected he might commit to the Boilermakers. Mays adds an outside shooting threat to the 2012 recruiting class, which was already rated #1 by many recruiting services.
Mays is a 6-2 combo guard from Wright State who averaged 14.1 points per game last season. Mays will be eligible to play right away for the Wildcats as a senior. The only question that remains now is whether or not Calipari is finished for 2012. Will Mays be the final piece of the puzzle or will Calipari try to grab one more big man such as Amile Jefferson? We will find out on Tuesday when Jefferson makes his announcement.
Welcome to the family, Julius Mays.
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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May 13th, 2012 at 7:51 pm
Nice! Welcome to the Big Blue Nation, Julius! We’re glad to have you here!
May 13th, 2012 at 7:51 pm
Sweet. Don’t care if I’m 1st.
May 13th, 2012 at 7:52 pm
Come on down.
May 13th, 2012 at 7:52 pm
WELCOME!!! GO CATS!!!! …#9?
May 13th, 2012 at 7:53 pm
Welcome to BBN!!!!
May 13th, 2012 at 7:55 pm
Immediate experience at the 2. This is a great pickup for next season!
May 13th, 2012 at 7:55 pm
Puzzle Complete time to repeat, #letsget9
May 13th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
Three goggles up!!!!!
May 13th, 2012 at 7:58 pm
Uh-Oh…
May 13th, 2012 at 8:00 pm
lets get Amile and go for it. mays was a huge purdue fan growing up, visits them last, and Cal still pulls him away, Cal is crazy good
May 13th, 2012 at 8:01 pm
you have chosen wisely
May 13th, 2012 at 8:06 pm
Welcome to the big leagues kid
May 13th, 2012 at 8:07 pm
He would have started at purdue and he still chose UK. Sweet.
May 13th, 2012 at 8:11 pm
13 I bet he figured he started at NC State and Wright State and decided it was worth coming off the bench to play for a team with a shot at the ‘ship his senior year.
May 13th, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Mays will increase our “margin for error” regarding a third straight trip to the Final Four! I love that he will spread the court and open things up for Nerlens/Archie/Alex/Cauley.
May 13th, 2012 at 8:13 pm
What an awesome sign in Mays, can likely backup Harrow if needed as well. Wish we had one guy underneath who was a bruiser like Jones that will be able to handle guys like Stokes from Tennessee next year and Chane at U of L. Maybe that is Montrell from VT.
May 13th, 2012 at 8:13 pm
this transfer puts us up for a nother champshipionship
May 13th, 2012 at 8:15 pm
https://p.twimg.com/AryEfVsCIAEQ3zL.jpg:large
May 13th, 2012 at 8:24 pm
AWESOME. NEED A BIG!
May 13th, 2012 at 8:24 pm
18 – OMG A 20-SOMETHING KID THAT KNOWS HOW TO THROW UP THE MIDDLE FINGER!!!
May 13th, 2012 at 8:25 pm
18, the photo is a response to someone asking him, “what do you think of U of L?” Mays is the man.
May 13th, 2012 at 8:27 pm
GET MONTRELL r maybe Jefferson
May 13th, 2012 at 8:29 pm
21-In that case, he is the man
May 13th, 2012 at 8:32 pm
Welcome Julius. He is a heck of a player and a very good student as well. He has a bright future at UK.
May 13th, 2012 at 8:34 pm
Bring on Amile and give us #9. Cal is simply amazing. We might end up being better next year than we were this year and that is very scary for the rest of college basketball. We won’t have another Davis but this team could end up being very well rounded. I still think Kyle will shock the nation next year. Our certainly like our chances now. Amile will be a great 6 man for us. Let’s go BBN!!!
May 13th, 2012 at 8:36 pm
Leadership, outside shooting. Darius redux? Welcome to UK, Julius. UK fans are crazy about Bball and just crazy. May you be the latest Calipari one year and into the draft player.
May 13th, 2012 at 8:42 pm
Montrezel Hazzell is the bruiser we need for our frontline, not Jefferson. Jefferson’s heart pumps Koolaide.
May 13th, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Great! I wish him the best, too bad he will only be around for a year.
May 13th, 2012 at 8:59 pm
#Time4Nine
May 13th, 2012 at 9:03 pm
Great news! While I don not know much about Mays, I am sure Cal is confident in his abilities…hopefully he can give us some experience and depth as well as SHOOT.
May 13th, 2012 at 9:07 pm
PG Harrow
SG Goodwin
SF Poythress
PF Wiltjer
C Noel
Off the Bench:
Mays
Cauley
Hood
Beckham
We could add Harrel or Jefferson for even more depth down low.
May 13th, 2012 at 9:20 pm
seeing Wiltjer’s name at the PF spot, means good but not great team. Kyle can not handle that position full time, truth is truth
May 13th, 2012 at 9:25 pm
How about cauley coming in to play center and noel moving to pf to give wiltjer a break? That is… if we don’t get harrel. I think we will.
May 13th, 2012 at 9:28 pm
I am very excited that we have added Mays. It says alot when you you have to tell the school you rooted for as a kid ” No thanks”.
With Mays we have two succinct possibilities with our lineup and how Cal will match up with various teams.
I am willing to bet the farm that Mays will be the last member of this class. Here’s why- if we take another power forward, there is a huge possibility that would leave us with already having 3 power forwards for 2013, assuming KWILT stays, with Willis and say Jefferson. Cal has made it cLear that he wants Randle as a top target in that class. So in my opinion he won’t risk adding another power forward this year. Trocha could be a possibility but unlikely as we two great centers already.
Mays gives us a scoring threat,three point shooting, leadership, and someone for harrow to practice against.
PRACTICE SQUADS ARE a factor.it was hugely important, and I believe was an overlooked fact in the analysis of Teagues development and the progression of last years team as a whole.. It also didn’t hurt that last years team got o practice against the Thunder, Heat, and several Kentucky Nba alum.
That being said
Practice this year:
Harrow vs. Polson
Goodwin vs mays
Hood vs Beckham
Noel vs. Cauley
Wiltjer vs Poythress
Mays gives us our 10th man, but as you can see Beckham and Poythress will have to practice out of their position a little bit.
If we do not add another power forward, which I don’t think we will, but probably should if Cal was going to maximize this teams potential for just this year, we will see two possible line ups.
Pg Harrow 6-0
Sg Goodwin 6-5
Sf Poythress 6-8
PF Wiltjer 6-9
C Noel 6-11
Reserves: Cauley-stein 7-0
Mays 6-2
Hood 6-7
Polson 6-1
Beckham 6-5
Above would be our big unit. Our only weaknesses would be Kyles foot speed and defense, & Goodwin from three point. They will be working hard on this in the off season and if they improve this would be a lethal starting line up, with three point shooters in Harrow, Wiltjer, and Poythress.
The small/ quick lineup wold be:
Pg: Harrow 6-0
Sg: Mays 6-2
Sf Goodwin 6-5
PF Poythress 6-8
C Noel 6-11
Key reserves Wiltjer and Cauley Stein
I believe we could see this line up frequently, especially if Wiltjer is a defensive liability.
The drawback would be Goodwin and Poythress being a little small at these positions comparatively.
The advantage would be an explosive offensive and defensive line up. This would be one of Cals quickest line ups ever. If you guys haven’t seen harrows recent mix tape on next cats, than your missing out. I believe Harrow will be better than Teague, and if Harrow can lob as easily to Noel, than this team is going to be overlooked as a potential threat to legitamitely repeat.
This line up gives 3 point shooters for spacing with Harrow, Mays, and Poythress, with Goodwin as a possible addition.
I believe this teams destiny rests on two factors: Wiltjers defensive improvement, and Noel’s offensive improvement as we move towards March. There is no doubt Kyle can score at will, and Goodwin is going to rack up some serious freethrow attempts by greeting fouled a ton, with his ability to drive.
Possible Scoring leaders next year:
Poythress 14.8 Ppg
Wiltjer 13.1 ppg
Harrow 13.4 ppg
Noel 13.0 ppg
Goodwin: 10.5 ppg
Mays: 9.4 ppg
Cauley Stein 8.6 ppg
That’s a seven man rotation capable of almost 78 points and looks very reasonable with their skill sets. All are capable of 20 point nights, with maybe the exception of Cauley. I do expect Hood, Beckham and Polson to get a few minutes.
With the addition of Mays I believe we are in a great position. This team will probably lose more games, and have a smaller margin of error- similar to 2011, but by march this will be a lethal group. If someone like Cauley or Wiltjer really turns it on, well then this team could be very special.
May 13th, 2012 at 9:35 pm
34. are you serious?
We might need a character limit…
May 13th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
wow. when does your book come out in paperback?
May 13th, 2012 at 9:42 pm
34. Good job.
So glad for more senior leadership.
May 13th, 2012 at 9:49 pm
34. I actually enjoyed that comment, thanks
May 13th, 2012 at 10:00 pm
I agree that Wiltjer will not be able to play PF full time and will struggle defensively in that position…it would be great to get that Montrezel guy from VT to get a little help…
May 13th, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Averaged 14 ppg for a team that went 13-19 last year, i’m not sold that he’s that good.
May 13th, 2012 at 10:34 pm
40 – He doesn’t have to be a 1st Round NBA pick, just a solid ball handler and outside shooter. He helps fill a need.
May 13th, 2012 at 11:14 pm
Can someone help me out and tell me how he doesn’t have to sit out a year, I’ve been out of the loop
May 13th, 2012 at 11:28 pm
#42
He has graduated, and can pursue post graduate studies anywhere as long as not offered at his original school (or so I understand).
May 14th, 2012 at 12:07 am
Wiltjer needs to grow and gain weight and become a 5
His lack of quickness means he will Never succeed at 4
in college or pros.
At this point he has the body of a girl, w/o the butt.
May 14th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
wow! what a pickup. one more signee and we’ve got a calipari team with depth. (scary).
May 14th, 2012 at 3:12 pm
Now no one can say Cal has never had a 1-n-done who graduated.