On Monday morning, Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio reported on a rumor about former Michigan Wolverines big man Hunter Dickinson. That rumor being that he is interested in playing for the Kentucky Wildcats, contingent on Oscar Tshiebwe’s decision.
“[Kentucky] would love to have Oscar back, but Oscar is wanting to wait until the end to decide and Hunter wants to make a decision,” Jones said. “So Kentucky is hoping Oscar will make his decision this week so that whatever happens they don’t lose Dickinson in the process.”
For the sake of argument, let’s assume that Kentucky would have their choice between Hunter Dickinson and Oscar Tshiebwe, who are you picking? Let’s explore.
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The Case for Hunter Dickinson
Ranked as the No. 1 transfer in the portal by multiple services, Dickinson could choose to transfer to any school in the country, and for good reason. In three seasons at Michigan, the 7-foot-1 center has proved himself as an All-American caliber player, recording 31 double-doubles and totaling 1,600+ points and 750+ rebounds in the process.
While the talent is clearly there, how would he fit on Kentucky’s roster?
Offensively, Dickinson may be the best big man in the country. He is a throwback center who uses his 7’1, 260-pound frame to shield defenders and carve out space in the paint. With that size, he is able to easily establish position inside and can extend out to the three as a capable shooter. To add is able to make good passing reads out of the post.
However, outside of his offense, Dickinson still possesses the same issues as Tshiebwe, being that he is an average athlete who is too slow to guard quicker players on the perimeter. To add he is a solid rebounder, but not as good as Tshiebwe who is historically great.
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With all that being said, there are reports that Dickinson’s interest in Kentucky is questionable, suggesting he is only trying to drive up his NIL value, as many see his recruitment as a three-horse race between Georgetown, Kansas, and Maryland.
The Case for Oscar Tshiebwe
If Oscar Tsheiebwe were to hit the transfer portal again, he would undoubtedly be the No. 1 ranked player in the portal. In two seasons at Kentucky, Tshiebwe has proven himself as one of the best, if not the best, rebounders in the modern era of college basketball. To add, he is the program’s only unanimous National Player of the Year. Yet, it has resulted in just one NCAA Tournament win.
It’s not fair to put that burden solely on Tshiebwe, as there have been other contributing issues such as injuries, poor shooting at poor times, and roster deficiencies. However, it is fair to say that Tshiebwe is limited in some areas, notably on defense and passing out of the post.
Unlike his first two seasons, there are two capable players that can play center next season, five-star Aaron Bradshaw and a more developed Ugonna Onyenso. This will give the staff more options to compensate for Tshiebwe’s limitations, as both are great rim protectors and Bradshaw possesses impressive passing skills for a big. They both also serve as the lob threats that John Calipari likes to have.
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This past season, opposing teams sent multiple defenders to combat Tshiebwe’s dominance in the post. Including the likely return of Antonio Reeves, along with the incoming freshmen, teams should not be able to do that next season given the offensive strengths of those players. If they do, Tshiebwe will have better looks in the paint. To aid in that, he did show improvement in his footwork/post moves, something more understated.
To put it simply, Tshiebwe is a former National Player of the Year and two-time All-American. Despite his limitations, he is one of the best big men in the country. With a roster that holds traits that can mask his faults and if the staff uses him as they did for the majority of the time in his first season in Lexington – not forcing the ball into him, letting him create his offense from rebounding – he can help Kentucky be more successful.
In comparison, Dickinson (22) and Tshiebwe (23) are what they are for the most part, given their age. While Dickinson is a better all-around offensive option, I believe he is a worse fit as he will take away from other players.
Based on the play styles and offensive strengths of the incoming players, the Wildcats would be better suited with a player that is able to create his own without needing the ball, as Tshiebwe can. As mentioned, just with the supporting frontcourt pieces, next season’s Kentucky team could be better prepared to scheme around his flaws.
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Given what he has accomplished and done for the community, I would personally give Oscar some time to make his decision (1-2) weeks, if he and his people feel that it is necessary. However, the staff needs to make clear that they can’t wait forever because even if they aren’t able to get Dickinson due to waiting, they have to pursue someone.
What do you think? Provide your opinion in the comments below!
Mark Pope likes to start his roster-building process with a point guard. In year one, that was Lamont Butler. This past season, it was Jaland Lowe, who was the second commitment after an eager Kam Williams signed with the Wildcats without a visit.
This season, that point guard is Zoom Diallo.
According to early practice reports, Diallo has not only been one of the best players, but one of the most important in terms of helping this team build its foundation. According to one source, “Zoom has been one of the purest forms of a floor general early on. These guys rally around him. He’s the voice of the team in the early stages and backs it up by going the extra mile.”
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Assistant coach Mikhail McLean confirmed that in interviews this week.
“Zoom’s been my favorite so far,” he said on Tuesday, before going into more depth with BBN Tonight on Thursday, comparing him to a quarterback.
“He’s just a connector,” McLean said. “If you know what a quarterback is like, where they just kind of connect everybody. He has a bubbly energy and personality. He’s humble enough to accept who he is as a person. He gasses and encourages everybody to be the best version of themselves, and that’s how he gets the best version of himself.”
McLean mentioned another “connector” on the team, Malachi Moreno, who actually played a part in recruiting Diallo to Kentucky, “his favorite point guard.”
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“I had already known Zoom for a while,” he told KY Insider on Thursday. “We had been in Adidas Euro camp together, and being on the Adidas circuit, we’ve been good friends for a while. We always wanted to play together. He ended up at Washington, and I ended up here, but the stars aligned and now he’s here with me. I got my favorite point guard.”
As far as the impact Diallo has on the court, Moreno mentioned his ability to make plays for his teammates, but also highlighted his ability as a bully guard, drawing a comparison to Otega Oweh.
“He’s a high-assist-rate guy,” Moreno said. “He makes plays, and he earns shots for his teammates, and he’s also a bully guard.”
“I think that also helps in the SEC as well, being one of those bigger bully guards. You saw how Otega was last year. He was able to be so good because he was such a bully and able to muscle his way through the paint and really earn shots for everybody, earn shots for himself. I think having a guy like Zoom like that as well, it’s just a recipe for success.”
This year’s Kentucky Basketball roster arrived on campus earlier this month. While summer practice has started as the Cats are getting acclimated to the program, they are also getting acclimated to the community.
As a basketball player at Kentucky, you are more than just an athlete; you are someone many young people around the state look up to.
On Wednesday, the team visited the UK Children’s Hospital to see some of the strongest young people in the state.
Photos showed players interacting with the children by playing games, creating crafts, and even putting together some toys.
Malachi Moreno revealed during an interview on Thursday that he invited one of the children, a young boy named Jackson, whom he met at DanceBlue, to play the popular video game Fortnite with himself, Kam Williams, and Trent Noah.
“The guys really took in what it means to be a part of this brand,” Moreno said of the experience. “When we walk into a room, we can brighten somebody’s day.”
It’s the heat of the summer, with every member of Kentucky’s basketball roster on campus and gearing up for next season.
Although Kam Williams and Franck Kepnang have been sidelined as a precautionary measure, the rest of the team has been lifting weights, playing pickup and getting adjusted to each other’s game.
Justin McBride Turning Heads
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6-foot-7 forward Justin McBride averaged 15.3 points per game in his junior season with JMU, so when Kentucky picked him up in the offseason, many members of the Big Blue Nation began to share his offensive highlights and build anticipation for his senior year.
McBride saw that and took accountability, with sources confirming with KY Insider that he showed up on campus nearly 15 pounds lighter. This is the healthiest he’s been in his career, and his deadly shooting will be welcomed by a newfound agility and quickness.
Zoom Diallo Taking Leadership Role
As any true point guard should do, Zoom Diallo has taken on the leadership role with a full head of steam, using his voice to rally the team early in the summer.
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Sources confirmed that the 6-foot-6 guard from Washington certainly isn’t shy on the court and goes the extra mile, arriving to practices hours early to staying after for extra work.
New Team, New Intensity
The Kentucky staff is changing the tone of the offseason, with a source telling us that there’s been a physical shift during each practice and workout.
Notably, this gets guys familiar with what the college level is truly like, with Braydon Hawthorne and Mason Williams being two names mentioned as players they’re pressing the envelope on early.
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Talented Youth
While there’s a fair share of experienced guys on this roster, two of the best players on this team are entering their sophomore seasons.
Alex Wilkins and Malachi Moreno have been showing off so far, sources confirmed, with Moreno being simply unbelievable down low and Wilkins showing that he’s not going to be passive with his decision making.
With Kepnang out for the summer as a precaution, the staff is excited to see him match Moreno’s intensity given his college experience. Wilkins has proved his dual-threat ability is real, allowing him to score from anywhere and make plays alongside Diallo.
