DeAndre Liggins: So what do we have here?

by Glenn Logan on Jun 27, 2007 6:08 PM EDT in Kentucky Wildcats Basketball

As you no doubt know by now, DeAndre Liggins of Chicago, who happens to play for Tyler Zeller's AAU team, Indiana Elite, just verbaled to UK this afternoon.

So what kind of player is Liggins? "Completely unique", according to Scout.com. Rivals.com has him ranked as a 5-star, and the 3rd best point guard in the class. JL posted some video of him down below.

As JL noted, Liggins blends in to the team, and loves to dish and handle, and rebounds like a forward. But unlike Derek Jasper, who is in many ways cut from a similar cloth, he can shoot the basketball. He is very quick for his size, and handles the ball extremely well. His jump shot is not a thing of beauty like Alex Legions (see this post from JL to see what that looks like), but it is a far cry from the timid heave that DJ put up maybe 3 times last year.

In short, we got a player who can run, pass, jump, dribble, rebound and shoot the ball at a high level, and could legitimately play 1-3 on most teams, although we have many better options at 2 than Liggins. At 6'6", he gives us one more giant point guard who can slide over to the 3. Very versatile player. He is considered the best player in the Chicago area, and is one hell of a pickup for us.

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Not to mention

that Scout compares his game to Scottie Pippen.

Recruiting has gotten fun again.

a perpetual state of bliss

by piketaylor on Jun 27, 2007 6:13 PM EDT reply actions

Flood

Any thoughts on whether or not this could open the flood gates for UK commitments? It seems UK has aligned itself as one of the "IT" schools again, and if we only have 2 schollies open and Clarke on his way to Lexington, is it possible more commitments are near on the horizon?

by T Svoboda on Jun 27, 2007 6:37 PM EDT reply actions

I'd have to say ...

it is a very real possibility.

by Glenn Logan on Jun 27, 2007 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Seems to me.....

that BCG is creating the illusion of desire by pitting several top recruits against each other.

I can't say that I am too keen on this method, but everyone else is doing something to get the good players, if we did it the right way we would have a team recruited by Tubby. We all know what that got us....

GO BIG BLUE!!

by bluebloodtoo on Jun 28, 2007 1:18 AM EDT up reply actions

I may have skipped parts of the video

but I didn't see a lot of leaping ability there. He relied a lot on his height against smaller players and didn't seem to come off the floor much.

Still, nice to know we've got the guy.

by Logan5 on Jun 27, 2007 7:39 PM EDT reply actions

That's some great video.....

I'm excited to have a PG like that. I think Liggens is a great get for the Cats. I agree that the shot isn't pretty, and it's kinda slow, but he shoots a good high arc so it'll be hard for a guard to get a hand on, definitely another PG.

I do have to say, though, that Jasper didn't look too shabby in his AAU days, and at BBM last year. I think that Jasper has the potential to be that kind of player, except for the speed. If Jasper had a little more confidence (something that all of Tubby's Cats lacked) he could definitely be alot more valuable. What would it be like to have both of those guys rotating in the PG?

GO BIG BLUE!!

by bluebloodtoo on Jun 28, 2007 1:15 AM EDT reply actions