Despite an inconsistent offseason so far marked more by failures than successes everything seems aligned for Tyran Stokes to commit to Kentucky. While the Wildcats’ backcourt is already solid, fans lost (justifiable) hope in Mark Pope’s overall strategy after missing out on Donnie Freeman. However, landing the nation’s top overall recruit would instantly shift the narrative. Pope’s offseason would go from uncertain to an outright victory, and Kentucky’s roster would be built around the star forward. One move can change everything.
That said, with the transfer portal now closed and Kentucky’s recruiting targets appearing fairly set, I feel comfortable predicting the Cats’ eventual lineup one scenario with their top target, and another less favorable one without him.
With Stokes
PG: Zoom Diallo
SG: Alex Wilkins
SF: Tyran Stokes
PF: Kam Williams
C: Malachi Moreno
Given the financial commitment Stokes would require, the biggest change in this hypothetical rotation might be moving Kam Williams to the four spot a logical shift given his SEC experience last season and his familiarity with Kentucky’s system. Even though he’d be somewhat undersized, “small ball” is common in college basketball. In fact, with this lineup, Kentucky could score efficiently from nearly any spot on the floor with positions one through four. It’s a dangerous lineup featuring Stokes in the middle, even if starting Williams out of position isn’t ideal.
Without Stokes
Conversely, without Stokes, a slightly different picture emerges:
PG: Zoom Diallo
SG: Alex Wilkins
SF: Kam Williams
PF: Justin McBride
C: Malachi Moreno
Currently visiting Kentucky, McBride appears to be the team’s preferred option at power forward now that Freeman is off the board. This high-scoring mid-major forward, in his final year of eligibility, should provide solid immediate impact. In this scenario, Williams also remains in a better natural position on the wing, scoring freely from there. Stokes is the key factor in either case, and it’s not impossible that Pope and his staff land a major recruit not yet on Kentucky’s radar.
Both lineups are good, but only one is likely to be great. Still, this is just my (perhaps pessimistic) projection based on current information. The Wildcats and Mark Pope have a full offseason ahead, and things could change daily. For now, BBN, keep a close eye on Stokes’ recruitment breathe deeply, and proceed with caution.
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