Reeves in transfer portal, Birds need to get busy.

[BirdGrad2011]

Seems he’s playing a dangerous game. These schools he’s considering are looking at other guys just as good. He waits too long and he may be left without the NIL and playing time he wanted.

 

[DBird]

Really starting to hate college basketball.

Been there a while!

 

[Denali2x]

Really starting to hate college basketball

Really starting to hate college basketball.

There is so much less opportunity to build a team over a few years ... just buy players like the NBA ... how can you expect students and alumni to attach ... likely becomes less of a priority to all.

 

[Adunk33]

Seems he’s playing a dangerous game. These schools he’s considering are looking at other guys just as good. He waits too long and he may be left without the NIL and playing time he wanted.

I think is biggest concern is what he saw with his pal Yesufu at Kansas. I'm sure Yesufu was sold the "significant role" card and committed. His opportunity quickly evaporated when AZ State's Remy Martin came over and Yesufu collected his 2.1 ppg and right around 7 mpg. Granted, that National Championship is nice. Seems Reeves is taking the approach of wanting to be the last domino to fall, so he avoids getting recruited over.

 

[cpacmel]

Kentucky for Reeves

 

[PurpleRedbird]

He forgot...could provide the best NIL deal. I hate it but certainly don't blame the players for chasing the money.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

He forgot...could provide the best NIL deal. I hate it but certainly don't blame the players for chasing the money.

Illinois St. transfer Reeves commits to Kentucky

Antonio Reeves, who averaged 20.1 points and 3.5 rebounds at Illinois State before entering the transfer portal, has committed to Kentucky over Nebraska, Xavier, Oregon and DePaul.

www.espn.com

"My decision had nothing to do with NIL. I made my decision based on the basketball and the school I wanted to graduate from," Reeves said.

 

[Bird Friend]

Illinois St. transfer Reeves commits to Kentucky

Antonio Reeves, who averaged 20.1 points and 3.5 rebounds at Illinois State before entering the transfer portal, has committed to Kentucky over Nebraska, Xavier, Oregon and DePaul.

www.espn.com

"My decision had nothing to do with NIL. I made my decision based on the basketball and the school I wanted to graduate from," Reeves said.

 

[DWRedbird]

Seems telling when the two biggest factors are having a clear role and NIL money. Nothing about winning or education. Perfect example of college basketball today.

I mean, players getting paid has been happening for a long time a bigger schools. NIL has just brought it all out into the light and let boosters/companies be more open about it.

 

[gobirds85]

I mean, players getting paid has been happening for a long time a bigger schools. NIL has just brought it all out into the light and let boosters/companies be more open about it.

Sort of like weed, it couldn't be controlled so like the government, the ncaa gave in and now everything is out in the open. It's only illegal if we say it's illegal. The ncaa has been a joke for quite some time, the NIL is just one more example.

 

[cpacmel]

Sort of like weed, it couldn't be controlled so like the government, the ncaa gave in and now everything is out in the open. It's only illegal if we say it's illegal. The ncaa has been a joke for quite some time, the NIL is just one more example.

While I totally agree with you about the NCAA being a joke, when it comes to NIL they had no choice. Individual states were already making it legal for athletes to make $ on their likeness. I think California was the first after the Ed O'Bannon lawsuit. 7 states already had laws / acts in place when the NCAA allowed NIL's across the board.

 

[BTbird]

Illinois St. transfer Reeves commits to Kentucky

Antonio Reeves, who averaged 20.1 points and 3.5 rebounds at Illinois State before entering the transfer portal, has committed to Kentucky over Nebraska, Xavier, Oregon and DePaul.

www.espn.com

"My decision had nothing to do with NIL. I made my decision based on the basketball and the school I wanted to graduate from," Reeves said.

I wouldn't have held it against him if he did do it for the NIL. As much as I hate where college basketball is going, I would have it as a consideration. Good luck to Reeves and thanks for the memories!

 

[Trey_Guidry4three]

Brilliant move by Antonio. I hope he gets to play!

 

[DWRedbird]

Brilliant move by Antonio. I hope he gets to play!

I believe he'll play pretty consistently. Kentucky needs shooting, and Tone now comes in as their top 3pt shooting guard, and just a percentage point lower than Toppin.

 

[DougSutton]

Yeah, I'm very happy for Antonio. If I had a chance to play at Kentucky or any other blue blood like that, I wouldn't hesitate. From my perspective, playing at Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina and Kansas from historical perspectives as well as relevance today (I wouldn't include UCLA for a number of reasons) would be incredible life experiences that would be too good to pass up.

I've been on the Kentucky campus and have been to games there. The entire town of Lexington is Kentucky blue and I've never witnessed this level of fan passion and culture. When they sing "My old Kentucky home" before the game, fans are there bawling their eyes out. It's a religion and they are most certainly the blue blood program of the SEC when it comes to basketball.

Additionally, when I visited there, I went into what at the time was called "Wildcat Lodge" which was an absolutely insanely incredible facility that just the basketball team lived and stayed at. They would have one "manager" live there as well to be somewhat compliant but it was absolute luxury with high ceilings, an incredible open airway with lounges, big screen TVs on the walls, pool tables, gaming rooms, etc. Think of the nicest Fraternity house you could imagine only built especially for the men's basketball team. That is Wildcat Lodge and if MTV is still making episodes of Cribs, it would be an incredible episode to watch that would blow you away! I'm not sure what today's version of that is now but even if it was what I saw in the 90s, it was insanely awesome! Way before the days of NIL, Kentucky fans around Lexington with their large horse ranches and properties are very supportive of their basketball players. I'll just leave it at that.

Antonio seems like a really good kid and I'll be cheering for him all season next year and will watch Kentucky whenever I can. He wants the opportunity to earn the right to play in the NBA and I love that he's not shying away from the big stage.

There have been plenty of kids that put up lower numbers at their former school (Seth Curry from Liberty to Duke is the first that comes to mind) that had great success at the next school they went to. Love this choice and the memories he'll create by being there.

 

[jwa123]

A c

Really starting to hate college baske

Yeah, I'm very happy for Antonio. If I had a chance to play at Kentucky or any other blue blood like that, I wouldn't hesitate. From my perspective, playing at Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina and Kansas from historical perspectives as well as relevance today (I wouldn't include UCLA for a number of reasons) would be incredible life experiences that would be too good to pass up.

I've been on the Kentucky campus and have been to games there. The entire town of Lexington is Kentucky blue and I've never witnessed this level of fan passion and culture. When they sing "My old Kentucky home" before the game, fans are there bawling their eyes out. It's a religion and they are most certainly the blue blood program of the SEC when it comes to basketball.

Additionally, when I visited there, I went into what at the time was called "Wildcat Lodge" which was an absolutely insanely incredible facility that just the basketball team lived and stayed at. They would have one "manager" live there as well to be somewhat compliant but it was absolute luxury with high ceilings, an incredible open airway with lounges, big screen TVs on the walls, pool tables, gaming rooms, etc. Think of the nicest Fraternity house you could imagine only built especially for the men's basketball team. That is Wildcat Lodge and if MTV is still making episodes of Cribs, it would be an incredible episode to watch that would blow you away! I'm not sure what today's version of that is now but even if it was what I saw in the 90s, it was insanely awesome! Way before the days of NIL, Kentucky fans around Lexington with their large horse ranches and properties are very supportive of their basketball players. I'll just leave it at that.

Antonio seems like a really good kid and I'll be cheering for him all season next year and will watch Kentucky whenever I can. He wants the opportunity to earn the right to play in the NBA and I love that he's not shying away from the big stage.

There have been plenty of kids that put up lower numbers at their former school (Seth Curry from Liberty to Duke is the first that comes to mind) that had great success at the next school they went to. Love this choice and the memories he'll create by being there.

I will root for him except when they play Arkansas. I live here now with the university close by. Arkansas is now my second team after the Redbirds.

Otherwise I agree with your sentiments. Excellent post on your part.

 

[Hamdonger]

Great post, Doug. Best wishes, Antonio! I strongly dislike this landscape of today...but under the landscape of today, if Antonio is my son I'm telling him to 100% go.

I hope he becomes their best player next year. He represented Illinois State very well.

 

[Localfan]

Really starting to hate college basketball.

Its very sad to see. It was allways my favorite sport.

 

[Bird Friend]

Yeah, I'm very happy for Antonio. If I had a chance to play at Kentucky or any other blue blood like that, I wouldn't hesitate. From my perspective, playing at Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina and Kansas from historical perspectives as well as relevance today (I wouldn't include UCLA for a number of reasons) would be incredible life experiences that would be too good to pass up.

I've been on the Kentucky campus and have been to games there. The entire town of Lexington is Kentucky blue and I've never witnessed this level of fan passion and culture. When they sing "My old Kentucky home" before the game, fans are there bawling their eyes out. It's a religion and they are most certainly the blue blood program of the SEC when it comes to basketball.

Additionally, when I visited there, I went into what at the time was called "Wildcat Lodge" which was an absolutely insanely incredible facility that just the basketball team lived and stayed at. They would have one "manager" live there as well to be somewhat compliant but it was absolute luxury with high ceilings, an incredible open airway with lounges, big screen TVs on the walls, pool tables, gaming rooms, etc. Think of the nicest Fraternity house you could imagine only built especially for the men's basketball team. That is Wildcat Lodge and if MTV is still making episodes of Cribs, it would be an incredible episode to watch that would blow you away! I'm not sure what today's version of that is now but even if it was what I saw in the 90s, it was insanely awesome! Way before the days of NIL, Kentucky fans around Lexington with their large horse ranches and properties are very supportive of their basketball players. I'll just leave it at that.

Antonio seems like a really good kid and I'll be cheering for him all season next year and will watch Kentucky whenever I can. He wants the opportunity to earn the right to play in the NBA and I love that he's not shying away from the big stage.

There have been plenty of kids that put up lower numbers at their former school (Seth Curry from Liberty to Duke is the first that comes to mind) that had great success at the next school they went to. Love this choice and the memories he'll create by being there.

And the horses at many of those ranches are treated even better than the UK players! Those ranches are a sight to behold.

 

[Bird Friend]

I find it kinda funny that Pedon is NOW following Reeves on twitter.