For Quade Green, it was time to cut bait at Kentucky
Quade Green is transferring after a season and a half in Lexington. What should we make of his career as a Wildcat? It’s a complicated question that speaks to the core of one of the biggest issues facing the program right now: what do you do with the five-star recruits that aren’t good enough to be one-and-dones?
Like most recruits, Quade came to Kentucky with high expectations. A five-star prospect, he was considered a top five point guard, described by Evan Daniels as “arguably the most balanced point guard” in the 2017 class. At 6’0″, he didn’t have the size of a typical John Calipari guard, but Tyler Ulis proved that size isn’t an issue right? John Calipari did his best to shoot down that comparison early on.
“I don’t want him compared to Tyler Ulis,” Cal said in October 2017. “Tyler Ulis was a once in a lifetime player.”
A year and a half in, it’s clear just how unfair that comparison was. Tyler was an incredible defender despite his size. Quade is not. Tyler could be counted on to make smart decisions with the ball (assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.6). As the past few games have showcased, Quade cannot (assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.5). Quade was hitting more threes than Tyler was at this point in his sophomore year, but Tyler had Jamal Murray by his side. I say all of this not to be mean, but to point out that for a guard of Quade’s size to succeed in Calipari’s system, he has to be really, really good or accept a different role; Quade isn’t the former and he wouldn’t do the latter.
Early on, it looked like Quade’s future at Kentucky was bright. After getting poked in the eye vs. Monmouth, he wore a pair of rockstar protective shades vs. Virginia Tech, coming off the bench to score 17 points and dish five assists. The awesomeness of Quade’s shades wore off after a lackluster performance vs. UCLA. A week later, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a breakout game vs. Louisville, dropping 24 points. Shai continued to shine when Quade had to miss three games with a back injury. By the time Quade returned the lineup, it was clear Shai playing point was the best bet for Kentucky to succeed, which meant Quade had to play the two-guard. It wasn’t an easy transition, but Quade still found ways to contribute, hitting the game-winner in overtime vs. Vanderbilt:
If the buzzer-beater vs. Vandy was Quade’s highlight of the season, the lowlight was the rushed, desperation three he threw up with ten seconds left vs. Kansas State in the Sweet 16. Once the season was over, rumors surfaced he was considering transferring, but he eventually shot them down. When Ashton Hagans reclassified and joined the team, Quade was still prepared to give Kentucky another shot, going to work in the weight room. As Nick Richards hilariously put it, Quade wasn’t “fat” anymore, and seemed poised to flourish as a veteran guard.
With Kentucky’s guard situation in flux for most of the season, Quade’s role has also been in flux. He’s had four games in double figures, but hasn’t started. He’s had promising performances (clutch points vs. VMI), but is still prone to defensive breakdowns and bad decisions. He came off the bench to score 14 points, including four threes, vs. VMI, but for some reason, only got eight minutes the next game vs. UNC Greensboro, and ten vs. Seton Hall. In those same games, Ashton Hagans averaged 29 minutes, Immanuel Quickley 21.5 minutes, and Tyler Herro 30.5 minutes. As has been the case throughout his tenure, Calipari is more willing to let freshmen with higher upside play through their mistakes than he is players with more experience.
Firmly fourth in the rotation with the semester coming to an end, Quade had a decision to make: play second fiddle to the freshmen or cut bait so he could be eligible somewhere else in the spring of 2020. I found Cal’s quote on the decision very telling.
“I met with Quade yesterday and we talked through a lot of different things. The thing that struck me most is what a great kid Quade is. He felt like he was in a position that he couldn’t overcome and he had the maturity to come in and sit down and talk through it with me.”
So long, Quade, and best of luck. We’ll always have Cat City.
Just realized I share a birthday with @Q_Green1 Happy Birthday to the guy who renamed Atlanta Cat City. pic.twitter.com/W5D3kCtpJg
— Shawn Smith (@gbbcountry) May 12, 2018
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84 Comments for For Quade Green, it was time to cut bait at Kentucky
Season and a quarter.
One-and-one-quarter-and-done.
Calipari this is terrible, I’ve been watching Kentucky all yr & Tyler Herro should have not been getting more time than Quade, I haven’t seen Herro hit a big shot yet consistently gets beat off the dribble & always in foul trouble…. I seen quade Miss 1 shot & Cal pulls him & is upset, then watch Herro miss 3 or 4 in a row call him to the sideline & hug him smh calipari should’ve started the lineup he had in the Bahamas but noooooooooo you take all the confidence away from Richards & quade by benching them and giving them the least amount of minutes smh… Calipari always plays guys with hype instead of guys who will help us win.. even the Seton Hall game quade was on the bench while Herro kept missing shots smh Good luck Quade Shine
Someone NOT in the comment section finally said it. Calipari will play freshmen over returning players, especially if those returning guys don’t have true NBA potential. It’s why we don’t get 4 year guys, it’s why players leave for NBA when they’re obviously not ready. The argument a guy leaves for NBA because he didn’t want to compete with in coming freshmen has been used several times, which never made sense. If you can’t beat out an incoming freshmen, it’s better to go to NBA?? Either way, Quade was always a consolation prize. When Cal didn’t get Emanuel Mudiay, he got Ulis and found gold. When Cal didn’t get Tre Young, he thought he’d try it again, but Quade is no Ulis (very few are).
This is the best and worst of Calipari at the same time, he gets great talent, but if they’re not great fast, or have true NBA potential, he lets other guys play over them.
Yea in less words , the good players play the most . It’s not bad as you’re making it sound You would do the same . That’s just the way it goes .
The ONLY reason a guy leaves for the NBA is to get paid. No one in their right mind would pass up the opportunity to leave if they got some sort of guarantee from the NBA….and that level of guarantee is different for each player. It has nothing to do with being “ready”. Ulis is sooooo lucky he went when he did. He has been on 3 teams already and has played zero minutes for Chicago since going there this year. That is a great example of why a guy should go pro ASAP if given any inkling of a chance…especially if he is a marginal prospect to begin with.
Jiminys point is Cal pushes guys out with his flawed system. He should be the one cuttinflg ties.
Am I the only one who thinks Cal recruited Green just to try and have an upper hand in landing Mo Bamba? C’mon think about this…… Quade is in no way similar to any true Calipari point guard. Hes short, slow, and was a bit chunky when arriving on campus his freshman year. He never seemed to have that alpha ” I’m better then you” mentality as did Wall, Fox, Ulis, Knight etc…. His recruitment never really made sense to me, from watching his style of play, compared to how Cal wants his pgs to play. Fast.
Quade and Mo Bamba were on the same summer team and we’re very good friends and this was well known. I just think Cal thought that by pulling the trigger and offering Quade it would help bring Bamba to Lexington as well, unfortunately I we all know that didn’t pan out.
I honestly feel the same about Quickly. He and Zion Williamson we’re also best friends and spoke publicly about teaming up in college. We land Quickly and we’re supposedly favored for Zion for the longest time.
It just seems to be a bit too obvious that Cal has gambled on lesser talent (Green and Quickly) to try and reel in the big fish. (Bamba and Zion)
I’ve wondered that myself. Word was that A LOT of the top guys wanted to play with Quade…although must have been false info because we sure didn’t get Bamba or anyone due to him being on team. Short, doesn’t defend well, slow, inconsistent, and can hit shots from time to time but by no means considered a shooter. He’s just as inconsistent as he was last year and sloppy with the ball that’s why he’s not getting playing time. Plus once I saw him OPENLY cheering on the Georgia RB against us…I lost all respect for him.
This guy is a damn idiot. KSR should ban the idiotic shit he posts
My comment was to you dip shit
Just down the road a bit in Richmond. We should discuss this in person.
Every person on a nba bench matters and ulis is a practice team guy that if a couple players are down he’s ready to step in! He’s a insurance policy and a good one. Guy is a gamer people want those guys yea he’s short but has confidence hits shots doesn’t make many mistakes and plays d that’s why he played under cal.
actually it says he lets freshman play through mistakes if they have more potential, not better player. Cal wants draft picks so if a one and done has more potential to get drafted Cal lets him make mistakes. Quade has same numbers as last year with lots less playing time, that is outstanding except he is not a draft pick candidate so Cal won’t play him. It is not about the team, it is about the player, the player that can be drafted for Cal. Here is another five star, top 5 player at his position that Cal did not get to the NBA. All you idiots that say Cal puts people in the NBA need to know facts, he used to recruit NBA ready players very well. Those kids would have been top picks from High School, Cal had nothing to do with it other than convincing them, paying them, or whatever them to play their 1 year at UK.
That. Is. Stupid.
Bingo. Briscoe another good example. I don’t care what you call me….this team is a JOKE
Never said it was bad. We always hear “how do we recruit 4 year guys?” Just pointing out WHY we see a bunch of guys transfer, and a bunch of guys leave early that shouldn’t. Guys leave early because of who is coming in, and guys transfer because of playing time.
I see your point and it’s a valid one. As much as I enjoy getting the nba ready talent (or close to it) I miss knowing the players and most of all I miss the heart that came with those players who fought like hell for playing time, don’t like the notion of a kid coming to UK and think hustle or going 100% the entire time is beneath him. Gimme heart anyday, cause come March it’s THAT right that usually wins games, or lack of fight I should say that loses the games in March. Idk the answer and don’t pretend to for what’s best and things but I do agree with the point of any team needing some veterans sprinkled in with these “loaded classes”, so greens departure is a bigger loss then most seem to admit or know.
Wish him all the best. Best of luck, Quade!
What should we do with players who aren’t good enough to get drafted after one year? Maybe try developing them for a change instead of recruiting over them.
So, what do you do, turn down the best recruit you can get in order to develop the lesser talented older player?
The coach who does that is quickly referred to as “job seeker”. Not sayin’ it’s right. That’s just the way it is.
Here is my proposal, Cal keeps doing what he is doing and the players who come and can’t thrive here in two years come back for a third or even a fourth! Five star guys actually staying if they don’t need to go yet! What a concept! Poythress has been the only one smart enough and dedicated enough to do it!
What happens when that “best recruit” turns out to be no better than the veteran who just transferred?
Poythress made a mistake by staying. His stock dropped massively, which caused him to lose millions. I know we’re all Go Big Blue, but turning down life changing money for an education and having to deal with our fans isn’t a smart decision.
Aar: Cal gets his new crop by “guaranteeing “ playing time. Pretty obvious. When dudes like Herro can fire off brick after brick with zero repercussions, what do you expect? Quade gets yanked for a bad pass or a single missed shot. Lol, watch the tape
JMFATZ, your ignorance is showing. Cal is, dare I say, notorious for NOT guaranteeing playing time. To the point that many of these haters were complaining that is why we don’t get the big time recruits anymore and that he should start.
Best of luck Quade, we’ll miss you.
Not…
You don’t qualify Luether, you’re not a UK fan so STFU!
Really a shame. Cal has always taken talent over experience. Some years it has worked and other years it hasn’t. I’m kinda ready for it to be the way used to be. Tired of the constant turnover. At least sprinkle in a decent 3 or 4 year guy.
They don’t stay. It isn’t Cal. It is five star players. They think they are all one and done! Look at the four star guys we have gotten SGA, WCS, Booker, Ulis…awesome players that developed because they didn’t think they had already attained it! But I forgot, Cal doesn’t develop players…
Cal was not even playing SGA until he had little choice. He did nothing for Booker either, actually hurt him and team by playing the Twins. Ulis made it because of his heart and toughness, not Cal. WCS got better through hard work and playing vs talent in practice. Sure Cal helped to a point in his case. No coach develops a guy to be NBA ready in the 8-10 months he has these one and dones. You gave examples so what happened to Twins, POY, Briscoe, Richards, Washington, Skal, SKJ, Wiljter, Matthews, Quade to name a few. Why did’nt Cal develope them? And a 4 star SR will be a better college player that year, in most cases, than a 5 star FR. Now you will get your AD, Wall and KAT or Barret and Zion types or a Carmello and Duramt. But those are just the very few true FR that make a huge impact in that 1 year. Yes a 5 star FR may be a higher pick but NBA gos alot on potential, not best right now. That is why there are so many top 10 picks that are a bust.
What about deandre liggins and josh harrelson who would’ve never sniffed the NBA without CAL
What point are you trying to make mashburnfan? You are saying Cal didn’t develop these guys? How about KAT…he was ranked below Jahlil Okafor…is he worse than him still? Truth is, you blame Cal for some players not developing and explain away the ones he did. Your argument is based only on how you feel and not facts.
your exactly right we should be recruiting worser players imo
Who cares. Bye if you don’t want to be here. Dont let the door hit ya in the ass.
It’s a business and if your not getting top talent each year the spot light is gone. UK Basketball remains in the spotlight 1. Because of the guys that are playing 2. UK fans are nuts and expect excellence always 3. UK wins games 4. We have a coach that loves the attention. Same holds true in the job market, if a brighter star arrives then those individuals will get the opportunities the others did not take advantage of.
No problem with Cal playing guys who are performing better over guys that dont perform . Just common sense.
The sad thing is the guys this year arent outpreforming him. Our guards are poop this year.
I think he is making a mistake. I wish him well. Thank you for your time here.
Got Quade when young took too long and other players didn’t want to play with young. Knox would not of came here if young did. Lot of statements not accurate.
Just curious how you know all this? Knox, not wanting to play w/Young?
Did anyone else watch the video and notice Cal did not call time out after Vanderbilt tied the game? Just sayin’.
Vanderbilt chose to play it out, and didn’t call TO either…twice. Calling TO lets the defense set up.
The difference in this game and the SH game is that Quade attacked the rim, and Ashton stopped 25 feet from the rim.
The same people complaining that Cal played the Harrison Twins over Booker and Ulis are now the ones saying Cal pushes older guys out in favor of freshmen.
Cal should have played Ulis. Stupid Cal shoving our guys out for freshman. He is by far the most overrated coach in college. Oh and overpaid
BigOl has no idea he just did the exact thing Willis was making fun of. This is comedy gold.
And you are the smart guy who couldnt see that I knew that and is why I posted that comment. Now thats gold.
Yeah sure, okay. Sure you knew lolol
What a glorious dumpster fire of a comments section haha
It’s generational. These kids are raised with getting what they want NOW. Hard work and patience to achieve their goals is a thing of the past. That’s what happens when everyone gets a trophy in youth sports.
Yes! Can’t have any topic without the grumpy old dude blaming it on “kids these days”
This is dumb. I got trophies growing up every year too. Im in my 30’s. Grew up in the 90’s. People have been getting trophies for years. Such an overplayed dumb statement
BigolBaby enters himself as exhibit A in wildcat74’s argument.
Another example of is comedy gold lol
Booby and wildcat are the same old geezers in the lower section wasting space and oxygen.
I’d rather be an old geezer than a young idiot. You’re an idiot, idk if you’re a young one or old one. But definitely one of the most ignorant people to comment on this site.
Why is this just being pointed out. SKJ was a prime victim of this exact situation
Thanx Quade…best of luck!
Wow amazing SOME just dont progress as fast or at all in comparison to others..this is no ones fault..its life. Happens in all careers and hobbies across the world…you aren’t always what you think you can be. He is a great kid with a good head…good luck to him.
Cals system isn’t designed to showcase what a 3-4 year player can do, when it happens it is the exception not the rule. Cal has always taken talent over anything else, and I personally still support that approach. People like to throw out we only have 1 title in 10 years; but it could’ve easily been 3, or more. But March is tough. That said, I think Cal’s pitch to recruits is just no longer what this generation wants to hear. Cal hasn’t fallen behind the times, but perhaps his sales pitch has. I respect him for not throwing out grandiose promises or sugar coating the work involved. I truly believe we have grade ‘A’ quality kids coming into this program because of that. Best of luck to Quade, I think he will do well wherever he lands, some relationships just don’t work but there is no reason for animosity. It’s just basketball, afterall.
I agree with your take.
Kids like Vernon Carey didn’t think Cal could develop him the way Coach K could.
That’s the stick on Cal….other coaches are using it against him.
He can’t call time outs and is a terrible strategist.
Did Carey say this specifically? Or was that something you threw out just to fit you narrative? Because I can’t think of another program that has developed and produced more quality NBA bigs. And you’re mistaken if you think these kids just come in a figure this all out on their own.
Yes Carey specifically said that he thought Coach K could use and develop him better than kentucky or Michigan State.
If he said that, I’m sure it was not intended as a knock on Tom Izzo or Coach Cal. It sounds like the typical commit saying what the fans want to hear. it’s hard to argue with the actual results of Cal developing big men like Cousins, Willie, KAT, Davis, etc
Wish him the best of luck.
Seems a selfish move to leave. The exposure, facilities, stage are all the best of the best. You don’t need 35 minutes to go pro at UK, you just need to improve your game and 20 minutes is plenty. Charles Matthews for example would’ve been the same player here as he is at Michigan if he stayed and he had would have been on a bigger stage. Teenage kids are what they are, but some are just more mature than others and UK isn’t for everyone.
Maybe Cal just told the team Tyrese Maxey would be here after Christmas. Stop freaking out mannnn. CATS
I doubt it, but that would be interesting…but unnecessary.
Sorry to see Quade go, but don’t blame him in the least, and think he has the attitude and potential to thrive at another high major program. By “thrive” I mean that he’ll be a major contributor and log 20+ minutes for just about any program he chooses…most likely playing off the ball rather than PG. Unfortunately, his talents, as well as his weaknesses, were never going to be a great fit with Cal’s system and you can’t blame a kid for moving on once this became obvious to him.
I can’t think of any coach out there better equipped than Cal to lead our unique program and to handle all the demands and the ridiculous expectations of the BBN. He is the one coach that checks all the boxes in a long list of job requirements. I do think, however, that he needs to do a better job of adapting his system to the talent that is available from year to year. Lately, it seems his system, whether it be offense or defense, tends to expose a particular kid’s weaknesses more than it exploits their strengths. To support this armchair observation, I would point to Quade as the prime example.
Good point that what coach k does it’s what Roy Williams is doing look at what Barnes has done at Tennessee but when you have a players first no matter what mind set like cal does all that matters is playing the most NBA potential players fans and program don’t matter to him he’s become a 8 million dollar a year exutive for the NBA
A championship and how many final 4’s in nine years? I’ll take it. How many have a better 9 year stretch.? One?
No more excuses..Try English next time you respond.
Then, attempt to respond intelligently.
Do you all see the practices. I don’t but Cal said if you want to play you earn it.
I wish Quade well. But to complain about playing time. To be a second year player he hasn’t shown much hit a few threes. His ball handling hasn’t gotten any better nor has his defense. He new what it would take to earn the minutes but did he work hard enough to get better to earn it.
This season feels like the Grinch stole the UK Christmas.
Disappointment after Dissappointment.
After such a promising start in the Bahamas, the Duke throttling…every big recruit telling us we can’t help develop them, and now players leaving.
It’s clear the program is in a FUNK.
Very curious title choice! Got my attention.
Wonder why we can’t get the best recruits anymore? Who would want to play for a bunch of haters like we have here?
All you know it all haters do more harm than you realize.
Simple fact of the matter, you play the guys that give you your best chance of winning…in March! Yeah these games matter but if you don’t get your players with the most upside ready for March, then match rolls around and you’ve got great players that have zero game experience. That’s why you get these guys on the court in these close games throughout the year
I thought Quade should have had a bigger role coming into the season as the starting point guard. He was the best offensive option there and it is clear this team will never be great defensively, so why not go all in on the offensive side of the ball? If he ended up getting beat out later in the season by Hagans or Quickley, so be it, but it’s clear neither of them were ready to lead this team. I like Quade so this is a bummer for me and right now he is the only guard who can make a shot, so I think it does hurt, at least in the short term. Long term, maybe not. Good luck to the young man!
Agreed..
We are going to be in a bad place come February..hell we already are.
We are likely going to lose several more players to transfer… the Cal era is coming to a close.
If Richards and Montgomery don’t get drafted..and it’s not looking good, then they likely transfer too.
Same for Herro.
Just lost my favorite player on the team. Great! Great = That Sucks!!!