Huge pickup from Cali for the cats.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/kentucky/basketball/recruiting/player-Enes-Kanter-102889

This will become the norm at UK.

Kanter is a lottery pick as early as 2011 and is a direct replacement for DeMarcus Cousins. Him and Orton combined will be a dominating combo IMO.

Any word on his salary?

NBAdraft.net has him going 13th in their 2011 mock draft. He's got what looks to be great footwork for a guy his size. We'll see how his game translates over here.

Azubuike24 wrote: Kanter is a lottery pick as early as 2011 and is a direct replacement for DeMarcus Cousins. Him and Orton combined will be a dominating combo IMO.

He might want to get used to power forward. He's only 6'9-6'10

Scarlet_Fever wrote: Any word on his salary?

Since he's turkish......Im guessing 2 turkeys a game.

He's a legit 6'10. The best part about him is that he fits more of Calipari's traditional big man. Someone who has a little range and will compliment Orton, who really doesn't have much outside of 8-10 feet.

Azubuike24 wrote: He's a legit 6'10. The best part about him is that he fits more of Calipari's traditional big man. Someone who has a little range and will compliment Orton, who really doesn't have much outside of 8-10 feet.

Then why do Scout and Rivals BOTH have him as 6'9?

2.08 meters is the official measurement. Someone can do the math.

6' 9.84''

I was curious.

So we are haggling over .16 of an inch. Sweet.

Azubuike24 wrote: So we are haggling over .16 of an inch. Sweet.

Guess it wasnt a "legit" 6'10....

Does he ever play with his shoes off? I'd say that'd make him a legit 6'10.

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned, but Kanter had 34 points and 12 rebounds in the Nike Hoop Summit on Saturday. Prior to that, the highest total for a player on the world team was 33 set by Dirk Nowitzki in 1998.

Carolina-bound Harrison Barnes had 27.

Sullinger had 22 and 8.

Damn, some good games by some big names.

How much is this costing UK?

Classic, an LSU fan in football and a Kentucky fan in basketball.

Any truth to the rumors that he will be ineligible due to having been paid at some point while in Turkey?

I don't believe them, but it is interesting, regardless.

sleeper wrote: Classic, an LSU fan in football and a Kentucky fan in basketball.

LOL

Quint wrote:

sleeper wrote: Classic, an LSU fan in football and a Kentucky fan in basketball.

LOL

LOL

Scarlet_Fever wrote: Any word on his salary?

This.

Supposedly his eligibility has been cleared by the NCAA.

He was the best player at the Nike Hoops Summit on Saturday breaking Dirk Nowitzki's single-game record with 34-points and 13 rebounds. He will be a nice replacement for DeMarcus Cousins and is a little better of a fit for Cal's offense as he can play on the perimeter a little more than Boogie. If by any chance Patterson were to come back, the Cats might again have the best frontcourt combo in the nation.

The backcourt is still a whole different story.

Azu,

What's the story with Patterson? Is he really considering coming back or does he just want to make his own announcement? I haven't been following too closely.

Who knows at this point. He already tested the waters last year though. I'm not sure what he would be waiting for if he was surely going. Have to think he is considering it. He has done a lot at UK, but here are some things to think about. If he returns, he likely:

1) Breaks Dan Issel's all-time scoring record
2) Gets his number retired in Rupp

Basically, he becomes a legend at Kentucky (he's already as beloved as they get in the last 15 years) and one of the good ones in college basketball history.

I think he should leave as he has a near-guaranteed top 15 draft slot, but some food for thought. His stock is likely going to stay put. He is what he is. He's going to make his dough in the NBA as a solid player who plays tough, rebounds, can score a little and is a team player. He is a LOT like David Lee was at Florida or Tyler Hansbrough at UNC. He has more upside out of the draft than those 2 guys, but he's that type of player where a lot of his value isn't necessarily measured on potential or upside, but on work ethic and everything else he brings. I'd say his stock from this year to next May won't really change regardless of the extra year in age, whereas other guys would be dumb to add the extra year to their age and expose themselves in college (guys like Avery Bradley, Eric Bledsoe, etc...).