The head coach of Kentucky recently discussed his criteria and the reasons he won’t work with a player who has poor shooting mechanics. Mark Pope is frank, particularly when it comes to hiring. He discussed his criteria for a player with campers at a recent camp. The second-year head coach of Kentucky talked extensively, sharing his thoughts on what, regardless of a prospect’s athleticism or productivity, instantly turns him off. Furthermore, it is unrelated to effort, attitude, or even statistics.
“If His Shot’s Broken, I’m Out!” — College Coach Drops Brutal Truth About Recruiting Shooters”
Coach Pope isn’t sugarcoating it: if a recruit has bad shooting form, he’s not interested — at all. “I won’t touch him,” he says, stressing that college is no place to rebuild broken mechanics.
Why? Simple math. By the time a player hits college, their shot has been burned into muscle memory — tens of thousands of reps deep. Fixing that? Nearly impossible.
And don’t get it twisted — Pope doesn’t care if you’re missing shots. But your form? It better be clean, consistent, and mentally locked in. That’s what separates prospects from projects.
“Never Do This After Shooting!” — Coach Pope Exposes the #1 Red Flag in Players
One player took a shot and instantly turned to run back — and Coach Pope called it out as a major mistake.
Why? Because real shooters don’t bail. Pope says if you’re sprinting away before the ball even hits the rim, you’re not just out of position — you’re mentally checking out. “They’re subconsciously running away from their shot,” he warned.
Want to impress Pope? Stay locked in. Follow through. Watch it drop. Or risk being labeled a runner, not a shooter.
https://x.com/chipwilliamsjr/status/1814077303116239128?s=46
“This One Move Could Make or Break Your Career” — Coach Reveals What Separates Real Shooters from Pretenders
In the clip above, Jaylen Wells nails it — literally. He holds his follow-through until the ball drops. That tiny detail? It’s everything to Coach Pope.
Pope doesn’t just scout talent — he reads body language. If you’re already running back before the ball hits, he sees it as a red flag. “It screams a lack of confidence,” he says.
While other coaches chase raw athleticism, Pope’s building his team around one thing: perfect form and unshakable mindset. Miss that, and you’re off his radar — no matter how elite you are.
Pope’s approach makes shooting a must in a time when it defines space and expands the floor. What if a recruit is unable to shoot correctly? They are eliminated regardless of how many points they achieve.
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