Said Liggins was gone if Billy G stayed, but wants to stay now. Looks like it is Jorts, Stewart, and Williams as the 3 who are the most likely to go.

A year under Cal would make Jodie a lock for a first round pick.

he sounds REALLY pumped about the guys he has..he sounds like he wants Jodie and Patterson back ..it may be all for show….but he is definitely good at what he does!

that there were going to be one and done guys…..asked the press to be thankful for them and go on…..I love it!

hope, and think, he will be back. As Tru stated, his ballhandling in traffic is horrendous and that could change drastically under Cal. Also, he needs to learn how to create for himself more, rather than just coming off of screens for most of his shots.

does need to work on his ball handling and finishing in traffic but it isnt horredous as some are claiming. IMO the attention that was focused on him last season contributed quite a bit to many of his turnovers and missed shots at the rim. People forget the one’s he made and the over abundance of defenders packing the lane due to UK’s lack of perimeter shooting (with the exception of Jodie) were a big part of his turnovers. If he gets the opportunity to play in the DDM I think you will see a much better handle and the ability to finish at the rim due to the better spacing moreso than improvement from the player.

Jodie is a bit shorter than many NBA 2 guards but he does have one thing that will help him stick to a roster for quite a while even if he is never a big contributor at the next level and that is his shot. NBA teams always are looking for a deadly sniper off the bench a la Eddie House. House has been in the league for quite a while and all he is asked to do is come off the bench and made threes. Jodie can fill that role for someone.

Jodie has been one of my favorite players in a long time… I love the way he is constantly hustling trying to get open, and so fast. It is so obvious that playing track in high school, only helped his bball talents. I think he would only improve his standings in the NBA draft, by returning for his senior year, and playing under Coach Cal and his DDMO. Jodie is a hungry learner, he has shown that time after time. He has always had the attitude, that when those who say he can’t do something, he shows them yes, I can. Jodie has proven that he is willing and able to pull out a win. He is like the Energizer Bunny on the court. A lot of fun to watch. Plus, I think he is smart enough to realize that, with one more year left, he would also have his college degree, should he need it somewhere down the road. Here’s to hoping he stays. : )

And, Tru, I have to add, now we all know about your (via my magic Internet reader-cam-thingy). LOL I knew you had something, wasn’t sure what it was…..

I think he would be better off staying for the year and getting that “going to the rim hard and finishing” skill honed…Bogans had that ability, tested the waters and still came back…I think Jodie would thrive with more skilled players around him (less forced shots as the shot clock expires from 28 feet with a hand in his face after running hard for 32 seconds in the half-court)…his workouts would have to be stupendours for him to jump into the first round (and thus guaranteed money)…but even then, late first round jumps (ala Nazr) sometimes don’t work out either…I think he really has potential to climb into the lottery next year by polishing his game and going from a possible late first round/early second round pick this year into a very good situation in 2010 (financially if not playing for a good team)…of course I am overly biased…and I don’t necessarily believe fully that Xavier (if he does come to UK) will be a one-and-done player…so Jodie should be fine…and someone correct me if I am wrong…but doesn’t the signing period end on May 20 while the last date for Jodie to pull out of the draft is June 25…theoretically, won’t Henry have made his decision regardless before we know what Jodie ultimately does??

Most of these reasons could be translated to Patterson as well. If you combine that with Patterson’s likely higher draft number, it would make even more sense for Patterson to depart for the NBA.

I think him returning just has more risk than upside. I addition to what Tru says above with Meeks, it is likely that Patterson will not only have to learn a new offense, but a new position. If not a new position, a new way to play it (more ball handling, face up shooting, etc.). In other words, he will be stretched much more than Meeks.

It can be argued that the main reason for Patterson’s position is one of potential. He risks that by having to prove that potential with another year in college basketball.

Lastly, a scout or an NBA team doesn’t give much care to a team’s won-lost record. Media coverage means absolutely nothing. The players showcase themselves…they don’t have to rely on a team’s performance, or how often they appear on ESPN.

That stretching would be exactly the skills he needs to demonstrate to move up in the draft. If he succeeded in Cal’s system he could move up even higher next year. A consistent jumper and more ball handling skills in a package his size would move him up a bit. That’s still not to say that that would be enough to make him come back though if he is projected fairlty high now without those skills.

I like that chances of Pat improving his ball handling and shooting a little more than you growing a few more inches or “getting your speed back”.

But still like I said- the gains he would make arent necesarrily worth coming back another year if he is projected high enough.

I now attribute his late season shooting woes to one former UK coach.

His stock may never be higher than it is right now — No matter what happens with Henry, UK will add more strength at Jodie’s position. Combined with a new offensive scheme which will take time to learn, it may set Jodie back a bit, and I think his odds of eye-popping performances go down significantly with all the talent that UK is trying to stockpile. Bottom line — it is likely that the buzz and visibility surrounding him will never be higher than it is at this point in time.

It seems to me that Coach Cal made the comment that Jodie is “flourishing” in the practices under the DDMO.