Ashton Hagans is officially on campus. What can the BBN expect?
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Todd Burandt | adidas[/caption]
Kentucky's newest point guard is officially on campus.
This afternoon, Ashton Hagans tweeted that he has landed in Lexington, KY, where he will now start preparing for the 2018-19 college basketball season.
https://twitter.com/H23Ash/status/1008381214187810816
So what is Kentucky getting in the 6-foot-4, 185-pound point guard?
A defensive freak-of-nature athlete with a vicious dog-like personality, at least if you ask his (now) current teammates.
In an interview with KSR back in April, Wildcat shooting guard Tyler Herro said Hagans fits the exact alpha-male personality he and his teammates possess, if not to a greater extent.
“You know everyone knows Keldon is a dog, and I’d like to say I’m a dog. Immanuel (Quickley) is a dog. Ashton is just as much a dog as us, if not more. The way he picks up 94 feet, full-court defense. He gets downhill a lot, as a point guard, he gets downhill. Comes off in transition, makes the right play. To have him as a point guard, we're lucky,” said Herro.
Kentucky small forward Keldon Johnson agrees.
“I’d say he’s definitely a dog, picks up 94 feet, steps up on defense,” he said.
Corey Evans of Rivals.com called Hagans a “defensive master” back in April, going as far as to say the newest Cat was the best in all of high school basketball.
“Hagans again put his Game Elite squad on his back...” he said. “While he does have to cut down on his turnovers, Hagans’ defensive mastery remains the best in high school basketball.”
Rivals' Dan McDonald says Hagans has "star" written all over him.
"I've been watching 5-star PG Ashton Hagans play for so long now that it's hard for him to impress me," he said. "But man, he makes life so easy for his teammates. He's going to be a star for Kentucky."
His former coach at Newton High School, Rick Rasmussen, said he has Jason Kidd-like court-vision.
"He's like Jason Kidd as far as his vision. If you don't stop him, he's going with reckless abandon to the basket," he said.
His father said he models his game after John Wall, another 6'4'' point guard with ridiculous speed both with and without the ball in his hands. Some say he compares to former Kentucky guard De'Aaron Fox and Louisville guard Terry Rozier.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="824"]
Photo credit: @jkylemann/dimedrop.net[/caption]
He's a pass-first player with incredible court vision, finding his teammates in even the smallest windows of opportunity. He's intense, methodical, and gifted when it comes to getting to the rim and finishing. Most importantly, he puts his team in position to win.
And we'll get to see him this season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY6FoXrmzeM
Welcome home, Mr. Hagans!
Todd Burandt | adidas[/caption]
Kentucky's newest point guard is officially on campus.
This afternoon, Ashton Hagans tweeted that he has landed in Lexington, KY, where he will now start preparing for the 2018-19 college basketball season.
https://twitter.com/H23Ash/status/1008381214187810816
So what is Kentucky getting in the 6-foot-4, 185-pound point guard?
A defensive freak-of-nature athlete with a vicious dog-like personality, at least if you ask his (now) current teammates.
In an interview with KSR back in April, Wildcat shooting guard Tyler Herro said Hagans fits the exact alpha-male personality he and his teammates possess, if not to a greater extent.
“You know everyone knows Keldon is a dog, and I’d like to say I’m a dog. Immanuel (Quickley) is a dog. Ashton is just as much a dog as us, if not more. The way he picks up 94 feet, full-court defense. He gets downhill a lot, as a point guard, he gets downhill. Comes off in transition, makes the right play. To have him as a point guard, we're lucky,” said Herro.
Kentucky small forward Keldon Johnson agrees.
“I’d say he’s definitely a dog, picks up 94 feet, steps up on defense,” he said.
Corey Evans of Rivals.com called Hagans a “defensive master” back in April, going as far as to say the newest Cat was the best in all of high school basketball.
“Hagans again put his Game Elite squad on his back...” he said. “While he does have to cut down on his turnovers, Hagans’ defensive mastery remains the best in high school basketball.”
Rivals' Dan McDonald says Hagans has "star" written all over him.
"I've been watching 5-star PG Ashton Hagans play for so long now that it's hard for him to impress me," he said. "But man, he makes life so easy for his teammates. He's going to be a star for Kentucky."
His former coach at Newton High School, Rick Rasmussen, said he has Jason Kidd-like court-vision.
"He's like Jason Kidd as far as his vision. If you don't stop him, he's going with reckless abandon to the basket," he said.
His father said he models his game after John Wall, another 6'4'' point guard with ridiculous speed both with and without the ball in his hands. Some say he compares to former Kentucky guard De'Aaron Fox and Louisville guard Terry Rozier.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="824"] Photo credit: @jkylemann/dimedrop.net[/caption]
He's a pass-first player with incredible court vision, finding his teammates in even the smallest windows of opportunity. He's intense, methodical, and gifted when it comes to getting to the rim and finishing. Most importantly, he puts his team in position to win.
And we'll get to see him this season.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY6FoXrmzeM
Welcome home, Mr. Hagans!
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