Welcome home, fellow Gator.

The Gator Nation's oldest and most active insider community
Join today!

Riley Kugel

Discussion in 'Nuttin but Net' started by tampajack1, Apr 22, 2022.

  1. tampajack1

    tampajack1 Premium Member

    8,736
    1,465
    2,453
    Apr 3, 2007
    I haven’t seen a separate Kugel thread on NBN, so here goes. I honestly think that this kid might be more talented than Kowacie Reeves. He has great size for a 2-guard, he is a tremendous and quick leaper, he has great form on his jump shot from deep, he is a very good passer, and he appears to be an unselfish player. He is way underrated right now. This will be a huge coup for the Gators if we get him.
     
    • Like Like x 5
    • Informative Informative x 2
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
  2. ApexNC

    ApexNC GC Hall of Fame

    13,100
    16,121
    3,173
    Apr 8, 2007
    NC
    Were we even recruiting him with the other guy?
     
    • Funny Funny x 1
  3. tampajack1

    tampajack1 Premium Member

    8,736
    1,465
    2,453
    Apr 3, 2007
    We are recruiting him now. Dr. Phillips had 3 really good players on the team. Their big man, Udeh, is going to Kansas. Denzel Aberdeen signed with Florida. Kugel signed with Mississippi State, but he has since decommitted. He also has exploded into prominence. He is now listed as #62 on the ESPN top-100 list. Udeh is #23. Aberdeen is not listed. Jalen Reed is #85. Reneau is #22. Kugel purportedly outplayed Nick Smith head to head at the City of Palms. Smith is rated #3 by ESPN. I have watched 30 minutes of highlights of Kugel which were limited to 2 games against very good teams. Kugel was spectacular. I need to see more film on him, but he looked like a future NBA player on the film that I watched.
     
    • Informative Informative x 6
    • Agree Agree x 3
    • Like Like x 1
  4. jareduf

    jareduf GC Hall of Fame

    2,898
    245
    303
    Apr 3, 2007
    Bala Cynwyd, PA
    I agree with you 100%. Can't believe how underrated is. Watched several Dr. Pepper games and he consistently is the best player on the floor. He's extremely athletic and can take the ball to the rim, but also shot 40% from 3 last year. He's 6'6, can play the 2 or 3 and has a high basketball IQ. I think Golden should lock him up immediately if he's ready to commit. I believe he can contribute right away and be a solid SEC starter his sophomore year, if not even better.
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 2
  5. gatortenor37

    gatortenor37 GC Hall of Fame

    1,917
    1,632
    1,968
    Jan 29, 2016
    Arkansas
    Grades may be an issue here. We will know in a few days.
     
    • Informative Informative x 4
  6. rserina

    rserina GC Hall of Fame

    Apr 3, 2007
    Ringwood, NJ
    He was a late riser. Not sure why. Some scuttlebutt about grades, but who knows? We seem to be prioritizing long, athletic, skilled wings, maybe because in this system they can play four positions.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  7. tampajack1

    tampajack1 Premium Member

    8,736
    1,465
    2,453
    Apr 3, 2007
    That sucks. Can you tell us where you heard that from? Thanks,
     
  8. gatortenor37

    gatortenor37 GC Hall of Fame

    1,917
    1,632
    1,968
    Jan 29, 2016
    Arkansas
    He wants in, but academics need to be cleared or he may get passed up with another. If academics clear, expect him in the class.
     
    • Informative Informative x 4
    • Fistbump/Thanks! Fistbump/Thanks! x 3
    • Like Like x 2
  9. g8wayg8r

    g8wayg8r GC Hall of Fame

    1,227
    251
    1,848
    Apr 8, 2007
    St Charles, MO
    Clearing up academics. That has a fishy sound.
     
  10. Gatorhead

    Gatorhead GC Hall of Fame

    16,098
    4,855
    3,313
    Apr 3, 2007
    Philadelphia
    Gotta like some of these moves by the staff.
    Our roster is going to be vastly different and from all appearances, improved.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
  11. GatorLurker

    GatorLurker GC Hall of Fame

    8,552
    3,601
    2,843
    Apr 8, 2007
    We need to recruit some UNC academic advisors.
     
    • Funny Funny x 9
    • Winner Winner x 1
    • Best Post Ever Best Post Ever x 1
  12. jeffphillips21

    jeffphillips21 GC Hall of Fame

    3,397
    819
    1,983
    Jun 20, 2009
    Vancouver
    was just thinking the same exact thing
    We should start a new course - or hell even a new program - called "How to make money off your likeness" designed specifically for athletes with poor grades. A new NIL degree.
     
    • Funny Funny x 2
    • Creative Creative x 1
  13. jeffphillips21

    jeffphillips21 GC Hall of Fame

    3,397
    819
    1,983
    Jun 20, 2009
    Vancouver
    "Clearing up" and "clearing" sound like 2 different matters entirely
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  14. gatortenor37

    gatortenor37 GC Hall of Fame

    1,917
    1,632
    1,968
    Jan 29, 2016
    Arkansas
    Yes, this is why it isn't an automatic take. Not sure what all that entails, but it was enough to hit the brakes. Should know in the next few days.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1
  15. gatortenor37

    gatortenor37 GC Hall of Fame

    1,917
    1,632
    1,968
    Jan 29, 2016
    Arkansas
    Bullis
     
    • Informative Informative x 1
  16. wdcurtis4

    wdcurtis4 VIP Member

    221
    124
    1,883
    Apr 3, 2007
    Indeed we are, and it's about time.. It's been scientifically "proven" that if you could create the ideal College Basketball player he'd be 6'6"ish with a 7'0" wingspan and be about 210-225 lbs, with good lateral quicks.

    These players can legitimately guard 3-4 positions as rserina said. If they are on the small side of ideal, they can guard 1-3, and maybe the 4. If on the large side, they guard 2-4 and maybe the 5.

    This is what Musselman is stockpiling at Arkie. He has 6 top 90 Wings, all incoming Freshman. 3 of whom are in the top 20. That's his entire class. He must already think he has a pg. Need one of those too.

    The closest player we've had recently too that was KJ. He was the total package. 6'5". 225 lbs. 7'0" wingspan. All the movement indicators, plus he was vertically explosive and could shoot any shot, hence his quick rise from Top 60 recruit, to starter, scorer, and after 2 years he's PreSeason Player of the year.

    Since you can't clone KJ's (yet), the closest thing is to go out and sign a lot of like body types. Just another way Golden and his staff are using analytics to get every edge they can.

    Golden knows every one of these small edges translates into more stops on defense, more points scored per possession and more games won; something the former regime openly dismissed as really just hocus pocus.
     
    Last edited: Apr 22, 2022
    • Like Like x 2
    • Winner Winner x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1
  17. rserina

    rserina GC Hall of Fame

    Apr 3, 2007
    Ringwood, NJ
    ^ Another sense in which Donovan was ahead the game.

    1999-2000: Weaks, Wright, Parker, Miller, Hamilton—all longer, skilled, athletic kids who could play multiple positions at both ends of the court.
     
    • Agree Agree x 4
    • Fistbump/Thanks! Fistbump/Thanks! x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
  18. tampajack1

    tampajack1 Premium Member

    8,736
    1,465
    2,453
    Apr 3, 2007
    Based on your post, KJ has a surprisingly short wingspan. I followed KJ throughout 11th and 12th grade. The top-60 label likely resulted from the gurus not paying much attention to him. He was as good as anyone on his IMG team as a junior, and he was one of the top-2 players on Oak Hill as a senior along with Keldon Johnson. Both of those teams were loaded with big time talent.
     
    • Funny Funny x 2
  19. SJB612

    SJB612 GC Hall of Fame

    4,971
    1,162
    2,088
    Apr 12, 2007
    Like a T-Rex with that 7 inch wingspan.
     
    • Funny Funny x 4
  20. rserina

    rserina GC Hall of Fame

    Apr 3, 2007
    Ringwood, NJ
    But he was always a complementary player who didn’t demand the ball like Keldon Johnson. The sites that obsess over travel ball always favor those types of players (Ballard, for instance).
     
    • Agree Agree x 1