Josh Harrellson as MVP?

I will make my case for Josh Harrellson as MVP of this team. This kid is so great. He has come so far since the days of BCG and being locked in a bathroom stall at half time. I will say he is the key to the success of this team. Of course, there are NBA players on the team that are so much better and have better skills. Still, this kid is the key to victory. If he plays well we win, hands down. Plays poorly and we lose. The other young fellas on the team are amazing but Josh brings it all together. He is a great leader on the court and I only hope Coach Cal keeps in touch with him to bring him on the coaching staff in the future. I have not seen such grit by a UK player since Gerald Fitch...and we all know how he played. Do you disagree or agree? Please, I want to know your thoughts. I am worked up!

BK

I agree, Josh does the little things. The kid shows a lot of heart and thats what I love. To see him improve so much is amazing. Josh is a true Wildcat.

I'm guilty of having reservations about Josh this year when the stuff about Kanter possibly not playing come up. Josh has proven alot of folks wrong and I commend him for his effort and will say he does deserve some sort of award for his effort. When he first came on the scene alot of people were high on him and seemingly expected him to make an impact right away and when that didn't happen, that caused folks shake their heads and feel disappointed in him, but I think that's been all erased lately and will continue to be.

I absolutely love Jorts. He is the posterboy for hard work and effort. I wouldn't compare him to Fitch as I feel that he is the most overrated player in UK history. I'll save that for another thread, because unlike Fitch, Josh deserves this. He is an exceptional player and a key to this team. MVP? He was the MVP today.

Josh is a great story and I respect him, but player of the year?..........No! I'd give that one to Knight. Just take one of them out of the rotation. Who would you rather have?
Please understand I LOVE Josh's play and story, but you've got to give credit where it's due.

Just looked this up. If Knight scores eight points in the next game he passes THE John Wall as the highest scoring freshman in UK History; And he will have played one less game.
John Wall 2009-10 37 616
2 Brandon Knight 2010-11 35 609
3 DeMarcus Cousins 2009-10 38 575
4 Terrence Jones 2010-11 35 565
5 Rex Chapman 1986-87 29 464
6 Chris Mills 1988-89 32 459
7 Doron Lamb 2010-11 35 442
8 Sam Bowie 1979-80 34 440
9 Eric Bledsoe 2009-10 37 419
10 Patrick Patterson 2007-08 25 411
10 Keith Bogans 1999-00 33 411
12 Dwight Anderson 1978-79 29 387
13 Jamal Mashburn 1990-91 28 362
14 Rick Robey 1974-75 31 321
15 Rodrick Rhodes 1992-93 33 299
16 Randolph Morris 2004-05 34 298
17 Jodie Meeks 2006-07 34 295
18 Jason Parker 2000-01 34 293
19 Jack Givens 1974-75 31 292
20 Wallace Jones 1945-46 30 290
21 Ron Mercer 1995-96 36 288
22 Ralph Beard 1945-46 30 279
23 Rajon Rondo 2004-05 34 274
24 Ed Davender 1984-85 31 264
25 Antoine Walker 1994-95 33 259
26 Bob Brannum 1943-44 21 254
27 Mike Phillips 1974-75 31 242
28 Gerald Fitch 2000-01 34 230
29 Eric Manuel 1987-88 32 228
30 Kenny Walker 1982-83 31 227
31 Winston Bennett 1983-84 34 222
32 Jay Shidler 1976-77 28 219
33 Tayshaun Prince 1998-99 37 214
34 Derrick Hord 1979-80 35 205
35 Jim Line 1946-47 35 199
36 Jamaal Magloire 1996-97 40 195
37 Jeff Brassow 1989-90 27 191
37 Darius Miller 2008-09 36 191
39 Chuck Verderber 1978-79 31 189
40 Chuck Hayes 2001-02 32 188
40 Jared Prickett 1992-93 34 188
42 Jim Master 1980-81 27 176
43 Jack Tingle 1943-44 21 175
44 Erik Daniels 2000-01 33 171
44 Dirk Minniefield 1979-80 34 171
46 Desmond Allison 1998-99 36 170
47 Truman Claytor 1975-76 28 168
48 Alex Groza 1944-45 10 165
49 Souleymane Camara 1998-99 37 162
50 William King 1920-21 14 159
51 Wayne Turner 1995-96 35 156
52 Ramel Bradley 2004-05 34 155
53 Derrick Miller 1986-87 29 151
53 Marvin Stone 1999-00 33 151

Freshmen With 30-Point Games
Brandon Knight is the sixth freshman in the past five years to have a 30-point performance in the NCAA tournament.

30-Point Tournament Games by a Freshman
Year Player Points School
2011 Brandon Knight* 30 Kentucky
2009 Tyreke Evans 33 Memphis
2007 Tajuan Porter* 33 Oregon
2007 Kevin Durant 30 Texas
2007 Edgar Sosa 31 Louisville
2007 Stephen Curry 30 Davidson
*Won game

— from Elias Sports Bureau

Mulechops,

I agree that Knight is the truth. If you take any of the young freshman out of the lineup the team falters. All I am saying is that with all them on the floor they still don't gel until Josh does his thing. These guys don't know what it was like to claw their way to the top. Josh was fighting for his life to be a wildcat when Coach Cal took over. I think if you ask Coach he would take Josh's heart and loyalty any day of the week and he is in love with this kid. Harrellson has taught these kids about life and how hard it can be at such a young age. I personally don't think the Cats have a chance without Josh. Of course, they don't have a chance without the other players but here recently they are clicking on all cylinders and Josh is the key. They guy is doing everything right. Knight is having such a great year. He is amazing and one of, if not the best, freshman ever. I personally have never seen a UK player change and develop so much since NAZI Mohammad. I compared him to Fitch for being so scrappy and always having a nose for the loose balls. Fitch was never overrated, maybe overhyped. There was not a coach in America that would not take a Gerald Fitch on their team. No a single one.

BK

bcking00 wrote:I will make my case for Josh Harrellson as MVP of this team. This kid is so great. He has come so far since the days of BCG and being locked in a bathroom stall at half time. I will say he is the key to the success of this team. Of course, there are NBA players on the team that are so much better and have better skills. Still, this kid is the key to victory. If he plays well we win, hands down. Plays poorly and we lose. The other young fellas on the team are amazing but Josh brings it all together. He is a great leader on the court and I only hope Coach Cal keeps in touch with him to bring him on the coaching staff in the future. I have not seen such grit by a UK player since Gerald Fitch...and we all know how he played. Do you disagree or agree? Please, I want to know your thoughts. I am worked up!

BK

I was thinking Josh reminds me more of Chuck Hayes and his heart and grit. A true blue collar player. I'm happy for the kid...Great story.

Chuck Hayes is a good player but not gerald fitch. Chuck is not as scrappy as Harrellson. I will throw it out there how is scrappier Chuck or Josh?

BK

bcking00 wrote:Chuck Hayes is a good player but not gerald fitch. Chuck is not as scrappy as Harrellson. I will throw it out there how is scrappier Chuck or Josh?

BK

Josh is. I know I will get yelled at about this, but in my opinion Chuck Hays was always overrated at UK.

BestdamnUKfanperiod wrote:

bcking00 wrote:Chuck Hayes is a good player but not gerald fitch. Chuck is not as scrappy as Harrellson. I will throw it out there how is scrappier Chuck or Josh?

BK

Josh is. I know I will get yelled at about this, but in my opinion Chuck Hays was always overrated at UK.

I agree with you 100 %. I loved Chuck as a player he was but I remember him dissappearing way to many times against real good competition. So I won't be yelling at you. lol

Chuck was a garbage man, with a strong chin. He played hard, but was never a real option in the offense, IMHO. I loved him at UK. Jorts is a bigger scoring threat, IMHO.

I thought he was overrated because he would miss so many little lay ins around the basket, and then he would slap his hands together and show emotion and Cat fans thought he was awesome. lol I'm glad he was a WILDCAT but he just never impressed me.