Men's Basketball
John Calipari Is Not Clipping Rob Dillingham’s “Wings”, Letting Him Grow
Published
4 months agoon
If you asked someone to describe Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham with one word, one might say “exciting”, “electric”, or even his marque adjective “shifty”. But coming out of high school, scouting reports labeled him as”inconsistent” and “undisciplined”, saying things such as:
“He needs to value substance over style – learning to be more efficient.” – 247Sports
“Will need to prove he can be efficient and under control.” – Sports Illustrated
“Will need to prove he’s unselfish.” – Sports Illustrated
In his first exhibitions in a Kentucky uniform this summer at GLOBL Jam, adjectives both good and bad, were proven correct. Through four games, Dillingham averaged just 17.1 minutes per game, the 8th most on the roster of ten available players. To say he struggled was an understatement, shooting just 9-29 from the field and 1-7 from three.
Other programs used this as an opportunity to attempt to get Dillingham to leave Kentucky. “You think he got phone calls when we came back?” Calipari asked reporters on media day. “Why don’t you come with us — you don’t think that happened?”
Yet, he stayed committed to Kentucky and trusted the process.
“Trusting Coach Cal and the process. Today wasn’t my day,” Dillingham said after playing just 12 minutes in game three of GLOBL Jam. “DJ was getting buckets. Reed was getting buckets. If they’re playing better. Why force myself to be mad? We’re a team.”
That display of maturity and mindset was a sign of what was to come. When the team returned to Lexington, Dillingham “lived” in the gym, continuing the work he started in June when he arrived on campus. By early October, he had added 24 pounds to the 155-pound frame he started with and found the comfort level he had been in search of.
At Kentucky Basketball’s Pro Day, Dillingham stood out to the 52 NBA scouts in attendance, calling him the “best player on the floor” and predicting him to be one of the biggest surprises on the team.
Fast forward to mid-December. The scouts were correct. The lightning-quick, undersized guard still keeps the ball on a string and confuses defenders with quick changes of movement and pace, as he always has. However, he is efficient, controlled, and unselfish, as Dillingham himself says, more “pro(-like)”.
For reference, Dillingham leads Kentucky in assists (4.5 APG, T-2nd in SEC), assist/turnover ratio (2.7), and is second in three-point percentage (46.5%). Doing so coming off the bench and averaging the 7th most minutes on the team (23.2 MPG). Adjusting to per 40 minutes to see where he stands nationally, Dillingham is the ONLY player in the country to project 25+ points and 7+ assists.
An “always chill” Dillingham talked to the media after his latest performance, scoring a Kentucky team-high 17 points in a win against No. 9 North Carolina, including 7 of the Wildcats’ final 14 points. In doing so, Dillingham gives thanks to John Calipari who he says, “helps me, while letting me be me.”
“Since Canada, our relationship has grown so much,” Dillingham said. “He still shows me that he has confidence in me, still letting me rock. At the same time, he wants me to be more pro-like. Make smarter decisions. I’m really just thankful for having him. He helps me while letting me be me.”
Shortly after, Calipari responded to Dillingham’s comments, touching on what it is like to coach such a creative guard and finding a balance between letting him be himself and keeping him under control. “You’re coaching a kid that can create space and get a basket when he wants to,” Calipari said of Dillingham. “Do you clip his wings? You can’t, you gotta let him go.”
The never-dull Dillingham isn’t prone to mistakes and still has his moments, which is why Calipari has created a ‘three-strike’ rule for him. “I give him two a half. The third one, you’re coming out.
Dillingham’s wings are flying him up NBA draft boards, and he looks to be Kentucky’s next lottery pick.
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Following Lamont Butler’s commitment to Kentucky on Friday, the Wildcats have received another commitment less than 24 hours later. This time Oklahoma transfer Otega Oweh, he announced on his social media.
This comes after Oweh visited Lexington earlier this week, with reports coming out that his recruitment could be wrapped up quickly after.
Oweh is a top 25 transfer according to 247Sports, 38th by EvanMiya, and 55th by ESPN. Listed at 6-5, 210 pounds, Oweh is a strong and physical guard. His strength and athleticism have been a strength dating back to high school, which allows him to impact the game defensively, and also to get to the rim and thrive in transition opportunities.
In two years at Oklahoma, the area that Oweh has significantly improved in has been his shooting. As a freshman, he shot just 25 percent from three, on just four attempts for the season, to 37.7 percent as a sophomore, making 20 of his 53 attempts. Most of that success comes from catch-and-shoot opportunities, where he rates in the 87th percentile. His ability to shoot off the dribble is the polar opposite, rating in just the 4th percentile.
Oweh is a two-way player with two years of eligibility remaining, while he will bring experience, there is still room for development with NBA upside. While he may not be a primary option, he’s certainly a player that can impact the game.
Oweh is now Kentucky’s third addition from the transfer portal and sixth player overall. A handful of top transfers are visiting, or currently visiting, Kentucky this weekend. The staff is hopeful a few join the roster.
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BB Recruiting
REPORT: San Diego State Transfer Lamont Butler Commits to Kentucky
Published
2 days agoon
April 26, 2024Amidst anxiety from many of the Big Blue Nation, the Kentucky basketball program has added another player to the roster. On Friday Lamont Butler, a consensus top-60 transfer from San Diego State, committed to Kentucky, reported by On3.
Kentucky has been in contact with Butler since he entered the portal earlier this week. On Friday morning, four members of the Kentucky staff took a visit to Las Vegas, which we know now was to see Butler. It was enough to secure his commitment.
Coming out of a high school as a three-star prospect, Butler has been a true case of development. In four seasons with San Diego State, he improved his numbers year after year. As a three-year starter for the Aztecs, Butler averaged 7.7 points (41.2% FG), 2.6 assists, and 2.3 rebounds. He also received Mountain West All-Defense honors three straight seasons, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award this past year.
Butler was a star for the San Diego State team that made it to the National Championship game in 2023, even hitting the buzzer-beater to send them to the title game. He will provide Kentucky with proven experience and the knowledge of what it takes to win.
As his defensive accolades show, Butler makes his biggest impact on the defensive side of the ball. However, he plays well within a system and is a really good passer for a guard who plays primarily off the ball, with a 21 percent assist rate. He also grades fairly well analytically on spot-up shots and in pick-and-roll situations as the ball handler.
With Butler on the roster, there are still many spots to fill, especially some spots for “dudes”. Fortunately, many big names are expected to be in Lexington this weekend for the visit.
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BB Recruiting
Kentucky to Host Multiple Top Transfers This Weekend
Published
3 days agoon
April 25, 2024With the deadline for players to enter the portal coming up on May 1st, Kentucky nearly has all their options on the table. Now two weeks since taking the job, Mark Pope has expressed interest in nearly two dozen names and has been keying in on some top names in the portal.
As of writing this article, top 25 transfer Otega Oweh (Oklahoma), is currently on a visit to Lexington, with three more players set to visit this weekend. There’s a good chance that some of those visits turn into commitments.
Let’s take a look at those names.
Deivon Smith – Guard, Utah
Physicals: 6’0, 173 lbs
Stats: 13.3 PPG, 7.1 APG, 6.3 RPG, 46.% FG, 40.8% 3P
Ranking: 10th (Evan Miya), 38rd (247Sports)
Kentucky has had just three players record a triple-double in program history. Deivon Smith recorded five triple-doubles this past season alone, the second-most all-time for a single season in NCAA history.
While undersized, he is one of the best all-around guards in the country, as his numbers show. It’s still early, but Kentucky getting the first visit is significant. St. John’s and Texas Tech have also been mentioned here.
Andrej Stojaković – Guard, Stanford
Physicals: 6’7, 190 lbs
Stats: 7.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 40.9% FG, 32.7% 3P
Ranking: 183rd (Evan Miya), 51st (247Sports)
Stojakovic is the son of former NBA All-Star, Peja Stojakovic. A familiar name for Kentucky fans from his high school recruitment. Stojakovic is a terrific shooter, and a top-25 recruit in the 2023 class.
On Thursday, Stojakovic cut his list to just three schools: California, UNC, and Kentucky. As a West Coast product, California was a school that showed interest when he was in high school, and so did Mark Pope when he was at BYU. Pope has made Stojakovic a priority, he could seal the deal this weekend.
Aidan Mahaney – Guard, Saint Mary’s
Physicals: 6-3, 180 lbs
Stats: 13.9 PPG, 2.6 APG, 38.6% FG, 35.5% 3P
Ranking: 96th (Evan Miya), 14th (247Sports)
One of the best guards in the portal. As a lead guard for Saint Mary’s, he displayed a good sense of playing under control, setting himself up and others. That said, his numbers were rather inefficient as the primary scoring option for the Gaels and shooting more than half of his shots from three. There are concerns about his playing against bigger guards.
Mahaney visited UConn Thursday and it looks to be a race between Creighton, Virginia, UConn, and Kentucky.
Andrew Carr – Forward, Wake Forest
Physicals: 6-11, 230 lbs
Stats: 13.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 52.6% FG, 37.1% 3P
Ranking: 33rd (Evan Miya), Not Listed (247Sports)
A near 7-footer who is efficient and can stretch the floor, shooting over 37 percent from three, is a player that Mark Pope would love to add to his roster. That describes Andrew Carr who has played two years at each Delaware and Wake Forest and is looking to go elsewhere for his last season of eligibility.
Carr is coming off a visit to Texas Tech and will visit Villanova after he visits Lexington this weekend.
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