What will Amile Jefferson do now?
With Anthony Bennett out of the power forward picture for Kentucky next season, nothing stands in the way of Amile Jefferson joining the Cats — if he wants to, of course. Jefferson’s decision has been pushed back further than LeBron James’ hairline, considering he was reportedly down to Duke and NC State and close to making it final back in January. But now, here we are in early May, and Amile is still out there waiting around for his time to pounce on a school.
That time could be now.
Say what you want about Duke or NC State being the favorites, I’m not buying it. If those were the only two schools in legitimate consideration, Jefferson would’ve had everything he needed to know once the Wolfpack’s CJ Leslie and Duke’s Plumlee #1 made their decisions to stay. But if he’s still had eyes for the Wildcats this whole time, it would make sense to keep pushing off a decision to see how UK’s roster would stack up after any guys in front of him — I’m looking at Anthony Bennett — made their decisions first. Now that UK is out of the running for Bennett, the 4-spot on Kentucky’s roster is up for grabs.
It’ll be interesting to hear what Jefferson has to say this week, now that Coach Cal will put the full court press on him. I bet we’ll hear a little more chatter about the possibility of a Jefferson/Noel duo in blue.
Go Cats.
38 Comments for What will Amile Jefferson do now?
Can anyone explain how the Calipari turns up the heat on Jefferson during the quiet period that runs from April 30th thru May 16th? We put all the eggs in the Bennett basket and unfortunately this has put us in a bind. We need an atletic power forward and another shooter badly for this team to become something special in March.
1. Which is why we go hard after Amile Jefferson as the athletic power forward and Julius Mays from Wright State as the shooter. In Cal We Trust.
1. You are spoiled sir. Next years team as it is now is a Top 10 team especially with how down college basketball is. Are they going to win a title next year? No. But that is an sweet 16 elite 8 team. Calm down everything will be ok. We just won a title, 2013 they will be really and I mean really good.
I hadn’t heard that Bennett officially dropped UK from consideration. Is that news?
Why does everyone assume Amile Jefferson would start over me?
#4 scroll down, google or just come on out from under that rock
what ever happened to devonta pollard?
5. D – Fence
1. If Bennett can make a visit to UNLV last week then I assume Cal can find a way to let AJ know he want him in blue.
7 I have wondered the same thing, appears we havent been a player with him for a while but nothing suprises me anymore in recruiting
I dont think we give Cal enough credit as a coach to make due with what he has. I remember a Final 4 team 2 yrs ago that didnt seem to have all the pieces but made a run and very well could have won it then too. I think this years team is better than that team on paper. Haha Paper, man we say that a lot.
What DID happen with Devonta Pollard? I know we don’t seem to be in the running anymore. Get on that, Coach O, please.
We should fire Cal and bring back Clyde and Tubby as co-coaches. They were much better recruiters because they had more overall players on the team. Then we would be an elite team again.
The 4-spot is in the very capable hands of Kyle Wiltjer next year.
Everything I read says Jefferson is a 3 as much as a 4. I’m saying saying he’s not good, but I don’t think he’s the answer to everyones prayers as some have indicated.
anyone that thinks Wiltjer can play the PF spot full time knows absolutely nothing about basketball. Surehe’s good for 4-5 minutes of relief,a dn hes a great 3 shooter, but a full time Power forward? God hel us if thats how it turns out
16 – You underestimate the heart of Wiltjer. You’re right, he will never achieve the impossible, but because of his desire and work ethic, he will reach his full potential, which, some of us have noticed – is considerable. A great kid.
Jefferson is highly overrated, he has no true position and is overly aggressive with the ball. He’d be a backup to Poythress and maybe Wiltjer and then recruited over the following year like Stacey Poole. Kentucky needs some muscle and an outside shooter, not a 160 pound tweener that doesn’t pass the ball.
16, sorry to say but you are an idiot. I wonder why he can’t be a full time forward??? You don’t think he has enough conditioning? You can train for conditioning. Enough strength? You can train for strength. What is it then? Why can’t he be a full time power forward? Please let us in that all-knowing head of yours?
Why haven’t I heard a peep about Bennett’s “eligibility and attitude problems” until he decided to drop UK?
20. other paid web sites talked about it.
19 Defense bro defense i love Kyle but right now he cant guard a PF he just cant. Im not saying he never will but right now he cant. Kyle may never be great on defense but thats ok cause he is gonna be terrific offensively and if you listen to Cal he said many times before “i cant hide you in this system” and that means defnesively as well. Right now Kyle is scoring 6 and giving up 8 but eventually he will be scoring 17 and giving up 8 so i think it will all work out.
@20 – Dave Telep mentioned the eligibility issue on Twitter prior to KSR reporting it. I had not previously heard about the “attitude problem”, however.
Cal should have taken Behanon over Wiltjer. We wouldn’t be having this discussion right now.
Hope Jefferson does not mind we favored Bennett initially. If we can get Jefferson and Mays I say we will be GOOD come March!
24 We really wasnt hard after Wiltjer when he committed but Cal also wanted Chane we just didnt get him it happens
23. Marc Maggard’s paid sight discussed it
22) strength improves defense bro defense… tool
18. Isn’t that supposed to be the beauty of Cal’s system? He doesn’t need to have a true position. Bledsoe was a True Point Guard. Look how that turned out. If you can play, you play.
If Wiltjer starts he will have to have gotten A LOT stronger because he will never be quick enough. However, regardless of who starts and who’s recruited, whoever is wearing Blue and White will be ready to go come March. Cal is a great recruiter and an equally great developer. Proof=JORTS
18 is dead-on correct.
18 may be correct, but what are our options at this point?
We did hear about the Academic problems with Bennett!! It was when the other co-leader Florida got dropped!!
Hope we can get another guard and forward for depth. The guys we have are great, but we need more depth. I look for Wiltjer to breakout next year. I am personally glad muhammad went to ucla, his family was involved with a financial planner that could come back to haunt ucla. If he had come to Kentucky any funny stuff would be amplified.
With what we have now we’d be doing good if we’re sec runnerup!
no muscie at all on this team!
muscle
weak