Yahoo! Goes In-depth On 2012 Kentucky Recruit Willie Cauley
Though Yahoo! leads the article with the following statement: "Some have Willie Cauley as the next great hoops hero at Kentucky," this piece says almost nothing about his development as a 4-star basketball player currently ranked 34 overall by Scout. Rather, it is an interesting background report on Cauley's family situation and his relationship with his current guardian, Will Shields, a 6-3, 315-pound former offensive guard for the Kansas City Chiefs, who went to 12 Pro Bowls and is now a first-ballot finalist for the NFL Hall of Fame.
Well worth reading, this story validates the Calipari meme that he recruits stellar talent who are great kids as well.
4 months ago
TeamWeaver
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Can't help but contrast...
the counselling that Willie is getting, to that given at home to Stacey Poole.{shrug}
Sounds like a good kid, another one we will enjoy rooting for. :-)
You know, ...
I don’t blame Stacey Poole, Sr. for wanting to pull Junior out of UK – though I would have let his son make the final decision. He was at a dead end here at Kentucky and there certainly wasn’t a clear path leading to the NBA for him. Calipari seemed to think Stacy, Jr. had the talent to play at Kentucky and Stacy, Sr. may have been able to transfer the NBA goal to his son but neither could apparently instill the passion or discipline to reach that goal.
Going to Georgia Tech is likely to result in reasonable minutes he’d probably never see here. So why not go where he can enjoy getting on the court and playing the game he appears to love. As Cal is fond of saying, Kentucky isn’t for everybody – and that is very true.
A multi-year project for Cal
It will be interesting to see how Willie Cauley develops at UK. After seeing Jorts the past three years it’s clear anything can happen.
Yeah, probably.
Everyone seems of the opinion that he has limited offensive skills. The article says he’s 6-11, 230 lbs., but Scout lists him at 210. Unless you’re a 6-10, 215 lb. center named Anthony Davis, a 210 center will need some time to develop his body and game to be an effective contributor on the low block. You can’t teach height, but you have to learn the rest of the skill set.
Good find, Glenn
Really excited to see Cauley in college. I think he’ll be a pleasant surprise and get more PT than people expect next year.
I think he will certainly get a lot of minutes.
Right now Cauley is the only real big coming in. If we get Anthony Bennett or Tony Parker, then I think Cal goes with a double strong forward front court of Bennett/Parker and Poythress with Cauley coming in off the bench. If we don’t get either Bennett or Parker and wind up with someone like a Amile Jefferson, then I think Cauley may well be our starting center with Poythress at the SF spot. I believe Cal would play Cauley for his defense and hope his offense develops quickly – this scenario would probably need a Shabazz commitment to avoid being a mediocre bridge year to 2013, imo.
Have You Forgotten Wiltjer?
I don’t buy the 210 as an accurate weight because he appears more physical and larger (pads considered) in his FB videos.
"In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a revolutionary act." - George Orwell
WW, ...
No, didn’t forget about Wiltjer, just not sure what to make of the guy projected into next year. The developmental jump between the freshman and sophomore year is normally the greatest and I hope Kyle blossoms into some kind of beast. But, truth told, I don’t see him getting any more minutes next year than this one, because if Cal is forced to play/start him due to a lack of better options – we’re in big trouble.
Yeah, the 210 lbs. number may well have been from the beginning of his Junior year or something and never been adjusted.
Kyle Wiltjer
I think Kyle will be a lot better next year. However he may have to give up that hook shot. It was beautiful in the old days but now a player just does not get the room needed to spin and get it over his
head.
His dad says he is actually 6’ 10" and he has become much more agressive lately. Like Jorts, he is going to have to start jumping and powering the ball to the hoop with both hands. He’s big enough and strong enough to do it.
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