🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Thanks to @BShark for first announcing. Figured this needed its own thread.

Mid-Season Transfer from Arizona St.

What are we getting:

Sam was averaging 9.5 points per game, 4.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists off 34% FG's, 40% from 3 point range in 10 games before abruptly leaving the Sun-Devils.

Cunliffe was the highest rated recruit to play for Arizona St since James Harden. He was a prolific High School player known for his scoring, athleticism and deep range on the jumper.

His freshman year was too short to make much judgement from but it was met with much criticism after he left. Some of it might be valid. Does any of it really matter? Not really, if you don't get with the program here you don't last, you don't play, you will find your exit. I hope that the year off gives him the opportunity to mature and work to become a rotation player next year for this squad.

Congrats Sam on joining the good guys!!

In case anyone hasn't read the first article: http://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/story/sam-cunliffe-transferring-to-kansas-jayhawks-010717 ↗

Self told him he's gonna start. Damn.

Also he really hit it off with Lightfoot apparently. Which is good, because Mitch is a hard worker.

JayhawkSlant Verified account ‏@JayhawkSlant 11m11 minutes ago

According to Sam Cunliffe, he'll be in Lawrence by next Thursday.

@BShark said:

Self told him he’s gonna start.

Not sure I buy that story! How many people think it probably went something like, "I can see you as a starter if you work hard because we really need good talented kids."?

Great news. Lets hope more good news is on the way

Are there any practice restrictions?

@HawkChamp said:

Are there any practice restrictions?

No.

@HawkChamp

not that I know of. he's going to arrive next week and start practicing. Basically like getting a 2017 top 40 prospect that played 10 games, now transfers and gets acclimated here for a year. I imagine he will be a solid addition to this team. His claims of coming in and starting might be true if the team loses Svi

Now we need Trae Young. Any word on when he is announcing?

Can someone refresh me on what the permission to contact rules mean in this case? How this must have played out?

http://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/current/permission-contact ↗

As I read that, it seems Sam applies for permission to contact, was granted such from AZ St. and this was permission to contact for any coach? I'm unclear because of Sam's comment that he felt Kansas was risky when they started recruitng him. So how do coaches become aware that students are looking to transfer? And when they may be contacted?

@HawkChamp

no actual date but January was always his supposed timeline. All the recent smoke is for the good guys!

@BeddieKU23 said:

@HawkChamp

not that I know of. he's going to arrive next week and start practicing. Basically like getting a 2017 top 40 prospect that played 10 games, now transfers and gets acclimated here for a year. I imagine he will be a solid addition to this team. His claims of coming in and starting might be true if the team loses Svi

The way that article read, it seems like the staff feels like Svi will leave. We will see though.

Oh. And welcome aboard Sam! Rock chalk!

@BeddieKU23 I am glad there are no restrictions because now he has a chance to get acclamated to the system like BMac and Newman

@HawkChamp

Word is Newman has been slaying it and Self and co are excited about him for next year.

@BShark it would be nice to get either Svi or Devonte back. Devonte and Trae Young would be awesome

@BShark I believe it - Newman was highly recruited and the extra year of practice will do wonders. Dang, if we get Trae Young we will be loaded and the front court will be dynamite.

If Devonte leaves and Trae comes, who else is available for point guard? Seems like we need one more.

@HawkChamp said:

If Devonte leaves and Trae comes, who else is available for point guard? Seems like we need one more.

Grad transfers mostly. I believe Duval ends up at Duke.

Maybe a reaaaaally small chance for Darien Jackson from KC. Now, I don't think he's a KU level player. He was supposed to be done for KSU, but he still hasn't popped for them so who knows what that's about? Anyone here tied in to the KC scene?

The article indicates that after he plays the second semester of next season he will have 2 years left...shouldn't it be 3 years?

@JayHawkFanToo No. The reason why Withey got 3.5 years to play was because he never played for Arizona before he transferred so that first year he split between Arizona and KU was a redshirt year.

Cunliffe played a semester, which makes him ineligible for a redshirt this year. When Cunliffe becomes eligible in mid December next year, he still won't be redshirt eligible if he plays as soon as he's eligible. It is possible for Cunliffe to play 3 years for KU, but he would have to sit out all of the 2017-18 in order to play 3 full seasons instead of 2+ years.

@BShark Thanks for that link. Definitely sounds like they believe Graham or Svi or both will be gone.

I like him - looks like a real smart player.

@Hawk8086 if that's the case, why don't we have a point guard commitment right now?

@HawkChamp Trae Young hasn't announced yet, that's why.

There is a pretty brutal post re: devonte on the Phog right now.

http://www.scout.com/college/kansas/forums/2481-hoops-talk/15298357-cunliffe-to-ku-official?s=172&page=4 ↗

Friend of a friend type of deal so take it with a grain of salt.

@Texas-Hawk-10 said:

@HawkChamp Trae Young hasn't announced yet, that's why.

I like your thinking!

@BShark

can't really take much of what is said there with any substance. Discussions go 0-100 real quick. We've known from our own coach that he thinks Devonte is gone. The other stuff said in that post are just made up

@BeddieKU23

Yep. Attention seeking most likely.

@BeddieKU23 has Bill come out and said Devonte is gone? Unless he picks up his play, he will be back.

@HawkChamp said:

@BeddieKU23 has Bill come out and said Devonte is gone? Unless he picks up his play, he will be back.

You're using too much common sense. If you are not pretty sure you are going in the first round...........stay as long as you can. The kids don't always look at it this way. Based on the link posted above, it appears he just wants to be done with school and thinks he will make it somewhere.........similar to Selden.

He was probably in a better position at the end of last season when his stock was high. Unless he improves dramatically in the reminder of the season, I just don't see him being drafted.

@JayHawkFanToo I don't either..........that doesn't mean he won't leave though.

Does anyone know why he is transferring after one semester? Specifically?

@JayHawkFanToo 1/2 year at Az St. 1/2 year at KU, 1 year burned for transfer- 1/2 year each season is used up during the red shirt.

@JayHawkFanToo I agree. That was the time to go. I am fine if he decides to leave after a final four run, though.

@Hawk8086 said:

Does anyone know why he is transferring after one semester? Specifically?

He (and his dad) were at odds with the coaching staff. That's the short short version.

Welcome aboard, Sam!

Size, athletic, skilled... but I think the real chemistry Sam has with Bill is toughness.

The one thing I've always loved about Self is his impatience with divas. Seems Coach is mellowing in his age.

When he practices against Josh Jackson for 4 months, the diva party is over. This kid has serious skills- all he needs is the right mentality. This guy is extremely talented with the ball, and can shoot lights out from the 3. The beauty is he doesn't need any help creating his shot.

Sounds like Sam comes from a very athletic family, his 7 sisters all play different sports seems like a competitive family. If Self can harness him into his type of player we will see a guy who will help us win many games

At 6'6 and very athletic he will have the chance to play bigger then his frame. Might give self flexibility in his lineup choices again. Maybe even runder the 4 guard offense

@KUSTEVE I wonder how it is for mid-year transfers to a team like KU? Do they accept him right away and show him all the ropes immediately, or do they pounce on him in practice to make him prove himself?

@mayjay Pounce on him. Make him earn his mettle. It's that way with all teams. They don't care about your accolades- you better come ready to play if you're the new guy.

@mayjay seems like transferring has been positive w/our past guys.

@Crimsonorblue22 Tarik has millions of reasons to agree with transferring.

@KUSTEVE Kevin young, withey.....love those guys!

@BeddieKU23

If he can develop a shot he will be a stud. Now people are going to point the the 3pt% but check the other numbers too.

The video bothers me a bit. Could this turn into another Micah Downs "Strong" father situation? He's got the Hops, speed and the muscle, but can he slide on defense and hit the three?

@BShark The way I'm looking at SVI is, in the latest mock projected draft has him goin in the 1st round and like 27th pick. I just don't really see his stock improving a whole lot more then that, not raising a lot higher. Which makes me feel that much stronger he will be gone. - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY

@jayballer54

Jmo but I'm thinking Svi, Josh and Graham all leave after this year and Bragg stays.

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article125317844.html#wgt=trending ↗ ↗

@BShark Losing Svi, Josh, and Graham. That is what I think, as well.

So - concerning Mr Graham- I just want to make sure I have this right.
Rumors are strong that He is going to leave next year despite the fact that he should be nowhere near the top two NBA draft rounds ?? So he can play in the d- league ?? Instead of playing on national tv regularly for the Jayhawks for another year?
My god I just really don't get this at all ...

@Bosthawk doesn't make sense does it? Every game is televised, play at the cathedral of all basketball, play on a top 5 team, have a chance to go to the final four and win the national championship and be mentioned as one of the all time greats - I don't know why anyone would pass that up. No amount of money he can make in the NBA can give him that experience. Totally baffling.

@HawkChamp Well, he hasn't left yet, you know.

@mayjay really? I thought he was gone. Oops I read the wrong article.. (sarcasm of course)

@mayjay My post is really in response to the Selby types that cant get to the league soon enough and completely miss the opportunities they cant get back. The money will always be there - but once you leave, you cant do it over again.

@HawkChamp I probably should have relied to the post to which you had replied, as it was about DG directly. Yours was a general musing that certainly reflects our many shaken heads over Selby, Xavier, Selden, --heck, I thought Norm Cook was a numbskull for leaving early, and that is going back a ways... Ben McL I could see, and even Selby on second thought since his mother was so poor. Greene, I assume, was invited out.

Glad we got him, but it's amazing how many factory seconds Self has to take to fill the roster.

@jaybate-1.0

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