.

Xavier Henry to be a Jayhawk?

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 04:48:00 +0000

Find out at our all new site with expanded staff and coverage ....................CLICK HERE.........

Orton Update per Jerry Meyer

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 19:29:00 +0000

Daniel Orton is down to six schools- Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Kansas, Ohio State and Kentucky, which is his favorite.

"I'm really interested in Kentucky and their program," said Orton. "I've known the coaches for a long time. Coach Gillispie recruited my brother, and (Assistant) Coach Cyprien coached him at Oklahoma State." - Article

Game Summary for USA Team 3

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:49:00 +0000

Here is the summary of Daniel Orton's teams game from yesterday.

The most anticipated game of the Nike Global Challenge opening day ended up exceeding expectations. USA-3 has arguably the strongest roster in the field, featuring John Wall and Jeremy Tyler, considered by many to be the #1 players, respectively, in the ‘09 and 2010 classes, plus 2011 sensation Michael Gilchrist and ‘09 stud center Daniel Orton. Not to mention USA-3 was supposed to have ‘09 two-guard Xavier Henry, a Top-10 talent who isn’t playing this weekend due to injury.
Meanwhile, the Serbians came to Oregon toting a roster of mostly 19-year-old pros, led by a handful of players who could conceivably be taken in the NBA Draft over the next few years.

In another hotly-contested battle, Serbia found itself down by nine points with under three minutes to go, but stuck back-to-back threes and got a Tayshaun Prince-like running lefty hook from 6-8 Milojko Vasilic to pull within one point in what seemed like no time. They finally took the lead with 43 seconds left on a tip-in by 6-9 Nikola Markovic, which led to one of the Serbian coaches leaping in the air for a chest-bump with Markovic (17 pts, 13 rebs, 5 stls) on the ensuing timeout.

Serbia had a chance to extend the lead, but Orton made a spectacular block at the rim to give the U.S. the ball back and a chance to win. Inbounding under their own basket with nine seconds left, the U.S. got the ball to DeShaun Thomas, but the 6-6 forward from Bishop Luers (Ind.) who’d scored a team-high 22 points had his driving layup blocked by Vasilic. John Wall chased down the loose ball and fired a three from the corner that looked good, but rattled in and out, giving Serbia the win.

Wall put up 18 points and four steals, and for stretches showed why he might be the best player in the country. When he wanted to, he directed the offense like a coach diagramming plays, literally telling everyone on the floor where to go while he worked his magic. Wall constantly beat his man off the dribble and seemed to score at will, and had way more amazing passes than his two-assist stat line implied. He also wowed the crowd with a blocked shot that he pinned on the glass near the top of the backboard square, and dove for loose balls more than a couple of times. - Article

Nike Global Challenge: Harrison Barnes and Daniel Orton

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 01:38:00 +0000

Harrison Barnes is playing for a loaded USA Team 1. That includes one time UK target Demarcus Cousins. Today Barnes and his talented squad enjoyed a victory over Senegal 81-68. Tomorrow they will go up against Team Canada.

Head Coach: Otis Hughley, LeFlore HS, Mobile, AL

Assistant Coach: Jeffrey Pope, LeFlore HS, Mobile, AL

Phil Pressy
G-5'10-160-2010
Episcopal School
Dallas, TX

Tommy Mason-Griffin
G -5'10-206 -2009
Oak Hill Academy
Mouth of Wilson, VA

Harrison Barnes
W-6'5''-1962010
Ames
Ames, IA

Rodney Williams, Jr.
W-6'5-180-2009
Robbinsdale Cooper
New Hope, MN

Royce White
F-6'7''-213-2009
De La Salle
Minneapolis, MN

Jamil Wilson
W-6'5''-203-2009
Horlick HS
Racine, WI

Roger Franklin
W-6'4''-203-2009
Duncanville HS
Duncanville, TX

Mason Plumlee
F-6'11''-210-2009
Christ School
Arden, NC

Alex Oriakhi
C-6'9''-224-2009
Titon School
Titon, NH

Demarcus Cousins
C-6'11''-269-2009
Le Flore HS
Mobile, AL

Daniel Orton will also be participating in the games. Orton is playing for an equally talented USA Team 3. Orton is teamed up with Jon Wall. Xavier Henry was also supposed to be on the team however is unable to participate due to an injury. Today Orton's team squared off against FMP-Serbia and as of now the results have not been posted.

Head Coach: Dwayne Bryant, Georgetown Prep, Kensington, MD

Assistant Coach: Renard Phillips, Georgetown Prep, Kensington, MD

Gary Franklin, Jr.
G-6'4-203-2010
Mater Dei
Santa Ana, CA

Aaron Dotson
W-6'3-194-2009
Rainier Beach
Seattle, WA

John Wall
G-6'3-188-2009
Word of God Christian
Raleigh, NC

Michael Gilchrist
W-6'6-199
2011
St. Patrick
Elizabeth, NJ

Dion Walters
W-6'3-214-2010
Roman Catholic
Philadelphia, PA

Jereme Richmond
W-6'7-191-2010
Waukegan HS
Waukegan, IL

Mike Moser
W-6'7-179-2009
Grant HS
Portland, OR

Milton Jennings
F-6'9-205-2009
Pinewood Prep
Summerville, SC

DeShaun Thomas
W-6'6-208-2010
Bishop Luers
Ft. Wayne, IN

Jeremy Tyler
C-6'9-240-2010
San Diego HS
San Diego, CA

Daniel Orton
C-6'9-258-2009
Bishop McGuinness
Oklahoma City, OK

Xavier Henry
W-6'6-214-2009
Putnam City HS
Oklahoma City, OK

2008 Boost Mobile Elite 24 Rosters Announced

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:28:00 +0000

The annual event is held in the prestigious Rucker Park in New York City on August 22. The event is host to 24 of the nations most talented basketball players. 2010 Center Josh Smith and 09' point guard John Wall will both play in the event. The event also is host to New York's native son Lance Stephenson. One time Oho State verbal and UK target Trae Golden will also participate in the event. The rest of the roster are as follows.

Name, High School, Pos., Class

Abdul Gaddy, Tacoma, PG 2009
Brandon Knight, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., PG, 2010
Derrick Favors, Atlanta, Ga., PF, 2009
Dexter Strickland, Elizabeth, N.J., PG, 2009
Dominic Cheek, Jersey City, N.J., SG, 2009
Doron Lamb, Mouth of Wilson, Va., PG, 2010
Durand Scott, New York, N.Y., SG, 2009
Erik Murphy, Southborough, Mass., PF, 2009
Jared Sullinger, Columbus, Ohio, PF, 2010
Jereme Richmond, Waukegan, Ill., SF, 2010
Jeremy Tyler, San Diego, Calif., PF, 2010
John Wall, Raleigh, N.C., PG, 2009
Jordan Hamilton, Compton, Calif., SF, 2009
Josh Smith, Covington, C, 2010
Karron Johnson, Durham, N.C., PF, 2009
Kenny Boynton Jr., Plantation, Fla., SG, 2009
Lance Stephenson, Brooklyn, N.Y., SG, 2009
LaQuinton Ross, Raleigh, N.C., SG, 2011
Maalik Wayns, Philadelphia, Pa., PG, 2009
Michael Gilchrist, Elizabeth, N.J., SF, 2011
Ryan Kelly, Raleigh, N.C., PF, 2009
Tony Wroten Jr., Seattle, SG, 2011
Trae Golden, Powder Springs, Ga., PG, 2010
Tristan Thompson, Newark, N.J., SF, 2010

Turmoil Turns to Triumph for Chase Tapley

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:25:00 +0000

Chase Tapley may be somewhat of an unknown commodity in this neck of the woods, but he is a rising name out west. His father Tommy played his high school ball with Sidney Moncrief at Little Rock Hall High. Tommy went on to play college ball for Arkansas State and Moncrief for Arkansas. Tapley didn't play much as a freshman and unfortunately broke his leg early in his sophomore campaign and was forced to missed the teams final 20 games. The folks around him have had faith in the kid all along. The rest of the nation is starting to see why. Is the kid from Sacramento High that good?

Last season Tapley burst back onto the scene. The athletic youngster was awarded the Division III player of the year. Delivering when the lights are their brightest was the kids forte, he tailed 35 points and 9 rebounds and 4 steals in the state final and averaged 22.2 points, 4.8 assists and 4.6 steals per contest. The 6'3 180 pound combo guard has a knack for getting to the rim and a sweet stroke. His well rounded game was on display throughout the run to the State Championship game. Tapley is rated just inside the rivals.com 150 for 09' at 149. Tapley just might be better than the ranking suggests.

Though Orange County Register columnist Adam Maya has only seen the kid play once, he recently told us that the hype being pumped out of Sacramento about this kid, is real.

"He was one of the 3 or 4 best high school players I saw all year." Maya told us.

Simply stated the kid is superior to his competition on most nights, he has the strength, agility and smarts to out whit the majority of them as well. After all, Tapley does sport a 3.0 GPA. Maya was quick to point out the best qualities in the young man's game:

"Tapley found a way to get whatever shot he wanted. He rarely settled for jumpers but instead looked to exploit defenses that could not cover him in man defense. There probably aren't many kids that can stay in front of him. He is great at drawing contact and also giving himself a chance to finish after being fouled. He is good enough to make an impact as a freshman at a major Division-I program. The kid is an athlete and a scorer. He also worked hard on the boards and was an aggressive defender."

This kid is a solid overall player but he does have some rough edges to his game. Maya went on to complete his analysis by summing up the areas that may need some improvement:

"My only question is how he would fare in a more disciplined offense. It looked like he had to do too much the night I saw him in the state title game against Santa Margarita. Also, having just seen him once I'm not sure whether he is a streaky shooter. He certainly looked like a true scorer who needs to take a lot of shots to be effective."

According to Rivals and Scout Tapley does list Kentucky, however in his most recent interview that was done by Bill Patterson of the Sacramento Bee today, there was no mention of the Cat's. Stanford seems to be the school that the academically oriented student is most intrigued with at this time.

"Tapley plans to make his first official college visit this weekend to the University of San Diego. He said Sacramento State, Baylor, San Diego State, Wyoming, Pacific, UC Davis and Saint Mary's also have offered scholarships.

He admits the Stanford offer is enticing. Tapley, who has a 3.0 grade-point average, went on an unofficial visit to Palo Alto earlier this summer. He said he spent 3 1/2 hours talking with Dawkins, a U.S. Olympic men's basketball team assistant to head coach Mike Krzyzewski.

"I felt really comfortable around him," Tapley said of the former Duke star and longtime Blue Devils assistant. "He's someone who has done what I'd liked to try – been an All-American and played in the NBA. I think I could learn a lot from him."

Patterson has covered a lot of Dragon games and is constantly raving about Sacramento's hometown hero. Patterson recently updated Tapley's progress while on the AAU summer circuit.

Tapley was a key player on the star-studded Pump 'N Run Elite team that won several major Amateur Athletic Union tournaments and lost in the semifinals of the talent-filled adidas Super 64 tourney in late July in Las Vegas.

During that event, Tapley fared well against some of the nation's top recruits – he hit a three-pointer with under a minute left to help beat the pre-tournament favorite and defending champion Atlanta Celtics 72-68.

Tapley said having played on Pump 'N Run the summer before with UCLA freshman Jrue Holiday and other potential NBA players was a huge benefit.

"Jrue was a great role model because of the way he plays the game," Tapley said. "He wants to win, has the killer instinct and ... he always wanted to guard the best player."

Tapley may have his sights set on some of fellow Sacramento High School alum Kevin Johnson's records this coming season. In the end even though the chances of him attending a school in this area are seemingly an Olson twin away from disappearing, kind of slim, Tapley may be a name that you hear for the next four years. Most of all the kid is coachable and truly enjoys the game. His coach holds him in high regard and has a lot of respect for him. In turn he embraces the lessons offered by his coach.

"He is unselfish almost to a fault," said Sac High coach Derek Swafford. "I've been fortunate to have a kid like him. He's so talented. But what's even better is that he sets a good example and is a good student. He's a jewel."

"We have the best relationship," Chase Tapley said. "We talk about everything, basketball and life. Without him, I don't know where I'd be." - Tapley on Coach Swafford

A special thanks to Adam Maya of the Orange County Register for contributing information for this article. Photo and other quotes courtesy of Bill Patterson of the Sacramento Bee.

When Will Daniel Orton End His Recruitment?

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:44:00 +0000

This is an update from Jim Calhoun's Elite Camp day 1. It goes in detail about some background information on the kid. A really nice read. His father said that he would like his son to end his recruitment this fall, however Orton said that it would likely be spring before a decision is made.

Jim Calhoun and the UConn men's basketball team's coaching staff welcomed 25 local and national recruits to Gampel Pavilion Sunday for the first day of Calhoun's elite camp. Here are a few notes and observations, in addition to those in today's story:(1) Daniel Orton, the top-10 prospect out of Oklahoma City, is a beast. At 17 years old (he'll turned 18 on Aug. 6), he looks 25, and his 6-foot-10, 267-pound frame proves as much. Why 267? At least, that's what he weighed at Sunday."It depends on what day it is," Orton said, drawing a chuckle from the ground of reporters around him. "I can be 265, 270."

Some key things to know about the Scout.com 5-star recruit:a) At the moment, Orton, ranked No. 10 overall in the Class of 2009 by Rivals.com as well as the No. 2 center, has been praised for his defensive skill set, and says he draws parts of his game from past UConn defensive stalwarts such as Emeka Okafor and Hilton Armstrong, as well as Charlie Villanueva. That said, his offensive game has room to grow, though there certainly is loads of upside. In the few hours I got to see him Sunday, he showed off a number of powerful dunks in drills as well as good instincts around the rim during a scrimmage, including some pretty interior passing.

Orton said he's working primarily on refining his jump hook this summer "because I figure in high school, I can get those down over the small 6-4, 6-5 guys.""I have to say so right now, yes (my defense) is (the best part of my game), but I'm improving everything," Orton added. "I'm trying to become an all-around player. My offensive game has come a long way and it's developing really well. I like it."b)

Orton has his list of schools down to seven: UCLA, Kansas, Texas, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, UConn and Kentucky. He's not sure which ones he'll make an official visit to, though he said he plans to wait until the spring to declare."That's something new," his father, Larry said. "I would like him to get it over with in the fall (during the early signing period). I thought he wanted to get it over with in the fall. But you know kids, they change every day."So far, Orton said he's yet to visit Ohio State, Texas and Kansas unofficially."I know he went to Kentucky and really liked it," Larry Orton said. "The fans were great. (Oklahoma State), he grew up as the ball boy at OSU because my son (Terrence Crawford) played there (between 2000 and 2005)."Orton said playing time is a significant factor for him as a freshman, as he is looking to stay one, maybe two years, in college. With Hasheem Thabeet seemingly a lock to leave following this season (barring injury) and Jeff Adrien guaranteed to leave (graduation), there would be immediate opportunity for Orton in Storrs. It's notable, too, that UConn has never had a one-and-done.

"But I look for a college that I can see myself at for four years because you never know what can happen," he said. "You can get hurt, you never know what can happen."c)

Why has UConn caught his eye? For one, the Huskies put players in the pros, and "the development of the big men, I really like that," Orton said.Larry Orton, who said his family plans on moving to wherever Daniel goes to school, has also taken a liking to UConn, he said."I think it's excellent," he said. "It's what we thought it was, one of the top three programs in the country. ... (The campus) kind of reminds me a little of OSU because it's kind of sitting in the back when you get of the highway. The campus is really nice. And I grew up on the East coast. I was telling the young lady that picked me up that it reminded me a lot of home and where I grew up in (Virginia)."d)

Some background on Orton: He didn't start playing basketball seriously until the seventh grade, roughly about the time he grew 15 inches in a single year, his father said."Me and my older son, we used to laugh at Daniel," Larry Orton said. "We didn't think Daniel was going to be a basketball player because he didn't really get into it until his seventh grade year. He was just a short, chubby, fat kid. I have pictures I can show you. And then he grew 15 inches — and I knew it was coming, I just didn't know when. Then between 14 and 15 (years old), he grew 15 inches."The first game he played he scored 16 points, never played in an organized game (before)," he added. "He was just doing things that were unbelievable. The guy didn't believe he was seven years old."e) Just a very well-spoken kid, and is seemingly very aware of the recruiting process and how things go. He also has a rather hectic summer planned. From UConn, he heads to Kentucky for its elite camp, to Portland for the Nike Global Challenge, to San Francisco to work out — “But I don’t think my mom’s going to let me,” he said — and finally Brazil for another Nike competition. -Article

Chris Colvin: a Solid Prospect

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:51:00 +0000

Chris Colvin is the recent recipient of a scholarship offer from the University of Kentucky. I found this great article about the kid and thought that I would share it with you guys. This article was written back in June by Roy and Harv Schmidt but it does a great job of summing up some things about the kid. Please note that Colvin's list of schools have changed since the time of the article and Kentucky is now in the mix, I don't know the degree of interest on Colvin's side but one would assume strong interest from UK since an offer has materialized.

Before others misinterpret what we are about to say, let us emphasize that we still believe Warren's Brandon Paul is the #1 player in the state from the class of 2009. However, Whitney Young's Chris Colvin is rapidly making a strong push for that spot. And we are not saying that based on one game--we are saying it based on the solid performances that he has turned out throughout the spring.

The bottom line is that over the course of the past two and a half months Colvin has been nothing but a model of consistency. He played extremely well when we saw him in April at the King James Shooting Stars Classic in Akron, OH with his Chicago Express traveling team and also at the Windy City Classic at the University Of Illinois-Chicago's Physical Education Center competing with Top Flight. Since that time Colvin has also played at a high level at a number of team camps at which Whitney Young has participated.

At the University of Illinois' elite camp last weekend in Champaign, there were many who thought that Colvin was the best player there. While we aren't going to quite go that far, there is no question that he was among the top five players based on performance. At the Illini's satellite camp at Moody Bible Institute which concluded yesterday, Colvin was undoubtedly the best player in attendance, as he helped lead Whitney Young to the camp championship.

What we like the most about Colvin is that unlike many of the other talented guards in Illinois from the class of 2009, Colvin is a pure point guard. In fact, he doesn't try to be anything else. With that being said, he brings a huge amount of leadership and intangibles to the table.

Colvin is an outstanding ball handler who is virtually unstoppable in a one-on-one situation. We believe that there is no one capable of staying in front of him when guarding him man-to-man. Colvin is absolutely explosive to the basket and when he finds a free path in the open court, not only is he going to leave his defender in the dust, he is either going to score or get fouled almost every time. Simply put, he does everything well except shoot. Recruiting-wise, Colvin's frontrunners include Florida State, Oklahoma, Iowa and Providence (all of whom have offered), and he is also receiving heavy interest from Marquette.

Last season there were times when it was difficult for Colvin to even get minutes for Whitney Young because of the enormous amount of depth that existed in their back court. We can guarantee everyone that won't be the case next season. Colvin, along with Marcus Jordan, are the undisputed leaders of a team that is already making a strong argument to be ranked as the preseason #1 team in the state come November. Add 5'8 junior Ahmad Starks into the mix, and it goes without saying that Whitney Young has a guard trio that ranks as the best in the state.

At the present time, we would break down all of the top guards in Illinois from the class of 2009 in this way: Brandon Paul is the best defender, the most well-rounded and has the best up side; Peoria Central's D.J. Richardson is the best scorer and the one guard that you want to have the ball in crunch time; Sterling's Joe Bertrand is the best shooter; North Lawndale's John Taylor may actually be the most naturally talented and Colvin has been the most consistent and offers the most intangibles.

In a class which is undoubtedly guard heavy, all of these aforementioned players are unique in their own special way. That is perhaps the biggest reason why we have long said that there is no clear-cut #1 player from Illinois in the class of 2009. We still give the nod to Paul right now, but at the rate Colvin is going, he is quite capable of laying claim to that honor by the end of the July evaluation period. -Roy & Harv Schmidt

Pulley Gets Pulled...For Good

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:51:00 +0000

Curtis Pulley has seen his last snap as quarterback and receiver for the University of Kentucky. Coach Brooks made the announcement today during the schools media day. Coach Brooks was asked about the dismissal and stated that Pulley's recent troubles coupled with other factors was the reasoning behind the decision. Ken Taylor told Rick Bozich this afternoon on Louisville's ESPN affiliate 93.9 the Ticket that Brooks would not elaborate on the "other reasons" that paired with the known factors in this situation.

Though Pulley had only started 1 career game the team and fan base always had high hopes for the once heralded youngster. After all, Pulley was Kentucky's Mr. Football in 2004. Pulley was also the recipient of the Paul Hornung award as Kentucky's Player of the Year. Pulley had an illustrious career while playing in talent laden Christian County at Hopkinsville High. Pulley was a four year letter man while playing quarterback and safety. He accumulated over 6,000 passing yards and 62 touchdowns. On the ground Pulley delivered more punishment to the opposition adding another 3,000+ yards and over 50+ touchdowns. Pulley was also a proven winner. Leading his squad to a 31-8 record in three seasons as the starter under center.

Pulley's career numbers at UK will fall short of the expectations finishing 39 of 64 for 280 yards no touchdowns and three interceptions. Pulley's rushing and receiving statistics also fell way short of his potential. 72 career rushing attempts for 273 yards and three touchdowns. 23 receptions for 220 yards and one touchdown.

If I had to sum up my feelings about Pulley in one word it would be, disappointment. This kid had so much talent, a great staff ready to develop it and a bright future ahead of him. I don't think that the young man realized how much stock the citizens of the Commonwealth had wrapped up in him. Kentuckians take pride in their homegrown athletes and talented people who actually make it. It is almost like folks see some of themselves in kids and in turn expect the kids to embrace the opportunity to represent our state the way that they felt like they would have if given half the chance.

Overall the Wildcat's have taken a bit of an early season blow these past couple of days losing 3 projected starters.. The news that cornerback Paul Warford would not be eligible for the upcoming season. Warford is a Junior from Richmond, Ky who started 11 games last season. Warford does plan to re-enroll this spring and redshirt this season. David Jones who has spent his time bouncing back and forth from receiver to cornerback is expected to take Warford's spot in the lineup. In addition, news that offensive lineman Christian Johnson would likely miss the season due to a back injury or could be ruled academically ineligible for the upcoming season has surfaced. Johnson is a senior from Fort Campbell Kentucky and has not used his redshirt.

The Cat's can ill-afford to lose many more players from the depth chart. Depth is what separates the Cat's from being a consistent top 25 program. I do believe that the staff has done a great job adding talent to a once barren roster. However the team is still a couple of seasons away from having injuries and defections not playing as critical of a role on the win/loss column.

2009: Optimism is in the Air

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:59:00 +0000

"Since April 2007 Brain imaging findings offer a possible mechanism mediating the behaviorally observed optimism bias. The rostral anterior cingulate has previously been shown to be involved in the regulation of emotional responses. The current results suggest that in Kentucky fans this region may help integrate and regulate emotional and autobiographical information to generate a positive view of the future."

One would naturally think that the list of players that the Wildcat's staff has a chance to land has began to dwindle. Although the players that the staff seemingly have the highest on the list are still in tact, some of the second and third options are committing. August is finally here, and the summer shuffle has begun. However, the staff's hard work has the team firmly in the mix with some quality talent.

Christian Watford has pretty much ruled the Cat's out. Darius Morris has chosen to play at Michigan. Junior Cadougan has committed. Shawn Williams seems o be a long shot. Mike Moser, Noel Johnson and Lakeem Jackson have all chosen their collegiate destinations. Long time UK target Clarence Trent has also apparently ruled out Lexington as a destination.

Jon Wall's recruitment is an apparent auction rather than the usual courtship. Oklahoma St. and Baylor are now caught up in a strategical tango for his services. This excerpt is from an article written about Arkansas Elite Camp. The quotes are from A.J. Walton.

Baylor is close to landing Rivals. com’s No. 1 point guard, John Wall of Raleigh (N. C. ) Word of God Christian Academy, but Walton says that won’t have an impact on his decision.

“No, me and John Wall are pretty cool,” Walton said. “We got to play against each other down at the Baylor camp. We kind of talk and text it up a little bit. His coach is getting a job over there, but it hasn’t effected my decision at all.”

The one sure thing that has come from thee rash of commitments is that the staff has time to focus on other prospects. Thomas Robinson is a great looking prospect that UK has offered. AJ Walton has recently said that UK remains on his list of four schools. Walton is a really good player and his 3 star rating is rather deceiving. Chris Colvin out of Illinois has now received an offer from the staff. Colvin and 2010 prospect Anthony Johnson are team mates at Whitney Young . Daniel Orton is planing on attending the 1 day elite camp on Wednesday and the Cat's appear to be in the drivers seat him as of now. Ferrakohn Hall is still in consideration for an offer. Hall really does like UK and an offer may be hard for him to turn down. Terrence Boyd is another player that has a good possibility of ending up a Wildcat. There is good reason for optimism, with every commitment a new name surfaces.

Wildcats Basketball Schedule Released

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:11:00 +0000

Nov. 3 (Mon) MISSOURI - ST. LOUIS [Exh.] 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 7 (Fri) TBA [Exh.] 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 14 (Fri) VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 18 (Tue) at North Carolina 9:00 p.m. ESPN
Nov. 22 (Sat) DELAWARE STATE Noon
Nov. 24 (Mon) LONGWOOD 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 28 (Fri) vs. Kansas State 11:59 p.m. ESPN U
Nov. 29 (Sat) vs. West Virginia/Iowa TBA 7:30/10:30 p.m. ESPN U
Dec. 3 (Wed) LAMAR 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 6 (Sat) MIAMI (FL) 5:30 p.m. ESPN
Dec. 7 (Sun) MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE 3:00 p.m.
Dec. 13 (Sat) INDIANA 4:00 p.m. CBS
Dec. 20 (Sat) vs. Appalachian State (at Louisville) Noon
Dec. 22 (Mon) TENNESSEE STATE 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 27 (Sat) FLORIDA ATLANTIC 3:00 p.m.
Dec. 29 (Mon) CENTRAL MICHIGAN 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 4 (Sun) at Louisville 1:30/4:30 p.m. CBS
Jan. 10 (Sat) • VANDERBILT 2:00 p.m. Raycom
Jan. 13 (Tue) • at Tennessee 9:00 p.m. ESPN
Jan. 18 (Sun) • at Georgia Noon Raycom
Jan. 21 (Wed) • AUBURN 9:00 p.m. Raycom
Jan. 24 (Sat) • at Alabama 3:00 p.m. Raycom
Jan. 27 (Tue) • at Ole Miss 7:00 p.m. ESPN
Jan. 31 (Sat) • SOUTH CAROLINA 3:00 p.m. Raycom
Feb. 3 (Tue) • MISSISSIPPI STATE 7:00 p.m. Raycom
Feb. 10 (Tue) • FLORIDA 9:00 p.m. ESPN
Feb. 14 (Sat) • at Arkansas 1:00 p.m. CBS
Feb. 17 (Tue) • at Vanderbilt 9:00 p.m. ESPN
Feb. 21 (Sat) • TENNESSEE 1:00 p.m. CBS
Feb. 25 (Wed) • at South Carolina 7:00 p.m. Raycom
Feb. 28 (Sat) • LSU 2:00 p.m. CBS
Mar. 4 (Wed) • GEORGIA 8:00 p.m. Raycom
Mar. 7 (Sat) • at Florida 2:00 p.m. CBS
Mar.12-15(Th-Su) 3 SEC Tournament [Tampa] / TBA

Check local listings
• All times Eastern
• SEC Game

Kentucky Poised to Produce

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 14:57:00 +0000

It seems like it has been quite sometime since the state of Kentucky has been among the top in the nation in producing talent. The 80's and early 90's saw a boom of players from the bluegrass state making a huge impact on division 1 games around the country. There were those Kentucky teams that were loaded with homegrown players. Then there were the Louisville teams that hosted names like Griffith, Morton, Wheat and Osborne. For the last 10 years the state has been seemingly in a slump. Sure there were solid players like Carrier, Stockton and Lofton and Rondo but not like before?

Now the state looks poised to solidify itself as a top 15 producer of talent again. There are the names we have all heard of: Darius Miller, Scotty Hopson, Jon Hood, Jacob Jenkins, Aaron Cosby, Dakotah Euton and Chad Jackson. However the state has talent that goes deeper than the household names for the first time in a long time.

Some of the top players in the state are also young. D'carlo Hayes (left) helped to lead his Male Bulldogs to a 23-7 record last season. Hayes was also named the MVP of the Derrick Smith shootout at Hoops. Thomas Blakmore (center) averaged 15 points a game last and helped to lead Butler to a respectable 19-12 record. Ian Chiles (right) is possibly better than his older brother Adam. Ian's Ballard squad finished 21-10 last season.

Darnell Davis plays out one of the top producers of talent per capita in the nation, Hopkinsville. Davis is a solid prospect. Davis is 6'5 has a wide frame and is a solid post player.

Shaquille Wilson has been on Xavier's radar for sometime and is a long smooth athlete also out of Hopkinsville. Wilson is a terrific shooter and should flourish during the remainder of his high school career.

The state is also host Clint Stepp who attends June Buchannan. Stepp burst onto the national scene at the Adidas Super 64 in Vegas. Stepp had games with 26 and 33 points respectively. His family is associated with high scoring production so this doesn't come as a shock locally, however nationally Stepp is now on the radar.

Richie Phares out of Scott County is a 6'7 power forward that can shoot as well. Phares has been contacted by all of the local mid majors and will be a solid player at that level.

In the end the best way to sum things up in this agricultural state is that the drought just may be over.

You Gotta Love Kentucky Fans

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:36:00 +0000

Article by Brad King

I sometimes wonder if Kentucky basketball fans are the most fierce and organized fan base on the planet. If our state's mind was focused, who knows what we could accomplish. So it seems after the UK fans completely annihilate a CBS poll by Gary Parish that matched the top programs over the past 100 years with the best players from their national championship teams. The results were outstanding. Kentucky did not just win, but destroyed the likes of IU, UNC, and UCLA...and it wasn't even close. So here is to you, UK fans... here is to taking over the Presidential elections in the fall as well. Link to Article: http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/10913833.

Adidas Super 64 in a nutshell

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:46:00 +0000

The 15 and under division was won by Playaz Basketball Club White as they beat M33M CIA Bounce 75-63. The MVP was awarded to Myles Mack .

The 16 and under division was won by the DC Assault. The Assault defeated New Heights NYC 72-55. Tyler Thornton of the Assault was awarded the MVP.

The 17 and under gold division was won by Net Gain Sports. They defeated the Student Athletes Broncos 76-56. The MVP was awarded to Cole Stephan.

The 17 and under division was won by Grassroots Canada Elite. The Elite defeated Pump N Run Elite 79-55. Texas commit Tristan Thompson was awarded the MVP.

Numbers of interest from the tourney

Derrick Favors had 18 points, his Atlanta Celtics defeated The Ohio Basketball Club 84-75

Derrick Favors had 24 points as his Celtics defeated Playaz Basketball Club Gold 63-52.

Derrick Favors had 28 points in a Celtics win over Texas D-1 Ambassadors 99-80.

Jon Hood had 20 in a 96-66 win for the Nashville Celtics over Oakland Rebels 17S .

Jon Hood had 24 points as his Nashville Celtics defeated Houston Select Black 80-65.

Jon Hood had 15 points in an 83-42 win over Arizona Premier Blue.

Rakeem Buckles had 21 in a 98-76 win for his Florida Rams team over the AZ Warriors.

Trae Golden had 21 points in a 66-64 win as the Atlanta Celtics beat the Playaz Basketball Club.

For complete final scores please click here

2010 Big Man Myers Leonard Commit's to Illinois

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:12:00 +0000

According to Evan Daniels of Scout.com Leonard has chosen the Illini over Louisville and Purdue. Kentucky had been turning up the heat lately on the big fella. Leonard is widely considered to be among the top centers in the 10' class. His performance in Vegas last week might have catapulted him into the 5 star echelon.

09' Name to Watch: Thomas Robinson

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:32:00 +0000

Robinson (center) is a 6'8 forward from Washington D.C. Despite posting respectable numbers as a junior (17 points 14 rebounds and 5 blocks per game) Robinson's recruitment was surprisingly quiet. Well not anymore. This summer Robinson has become that player that seemingly every coach in the nation is pursuing. Robinson averaged 17 points and 12 rebounds per game on the summer circuit. The talented forward has offers from no less than 17 schools including Kentucky and Louisville. Robinson's most recent list does have Pitt and Virgina at the top however he has stated that he will not make a decision for a few months.

"A Washington, DC native, Robinson continued to show why he’s become so highly regarded; Thomas dominated, particularly on Sunday, where he displayed his total package in both drills and games, including paint play, defending, and the occasional long jumper. Robinson, a 6’8” long armed, rising senior frontcourt player, has worked on his outside game, and will continue to do so, along with open floor ball handling." - link

Card's pick up another Verbal

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:04:00 +0000

Josh Langford who is considered to be a solid top 100 prospect in the class of 2010 has verbally committed to play for the University of Louisville. Langford plays his AAU ball for the Alabama Lasers and was recently in town for the Hoopfest.

Also here is a video of a 10 year old kid scoring 41 points. His name is Cory Barrios Jr. out of Castro Valley, Ca. Found it on You Tube just thought that I would pass it along.

Dicky Lyons: Has a Dream

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:30:00 +0000

Dicky Lyons Jr. does not shy away from attention. If you haven't heard about his run in at media day then take a moment to read what happened. I think that Mr. Dawson over at the Courier site has the full article.

When Lyon's first approached the podium he swallowed a fly, and had to cough and gag for a couple of minutes before regaining his composure. Lyon's then went on to tell a story about how he has been having some weird dreams about his fiance leaving him. In the end of the dream Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford punches Lyon's in the face.

Needless to say Lyons had the entire media cracking up as he told his story.

Last Name Recruitology

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:03:00 +0000

Article by Brad King

I have this theory when it comes to recruiting. Certain players have certain names that fit certain schools. For example, Abdul Gaddy, completely an Arizona name. I don't know why but it sounds like it. Kenny Boynton. Duke name. Liggins really seemed like a Kansas name to me to go with Chalmers, Rush, and Collins. However, if a player commits, then by this theory, his name automatically becomes a name of the school he committed to... and now, Liggins is a Kentucky name.

Orton - Kentucky name. It just fits
Barnes - Richie Farmer, Sean Woods, Jeff Sheppard, Harrison Barnes - Kentucky name
Brandon Knight - Florida name
John Wall - An NC State name
Samardo Samuels - Due to the several nicknames his name could provide, A UL name lock. Though, since he committed, of course it's a UL name.
Jon Henson - Brandan Wright name like name in feel, UNC name
Olek Czyz - White guy with eastern European name = Duke name lock
Glen Rice Jr - A name associated with big city basketball in Glen Rice Sr., GT name lock
Renardo Sidney - UCLA name
Dominic Cheek - a Big East name
Karron Johnson - Cincinnati Name
Farrakohn Hall - Images of Louis Farrakohn, stays in south, Alabama name.
Shawn Kemp? - A Kentucky name
Kenny Boynton - A Duke name

This system is foolproof, I tell you.

Kentucky's Backcourt Quagmire

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 03:09:00 +0000

Article by Brad King

Much has been made in the off season about Kentucky's lack of depth in the backcourt. After losing Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford, and Derrick Jasper; Kentucky is left with having to fill the void left by the loss of UK's 2 most prolific guards and perhaps the most reliable ball handler on the team in Jasper. However, it's not all bad for the UK guards. Assuming they will both become eligible (which as reported by AlleyOopScoop.com's David Money is probable), Kevin Galloway and DeAndre Liggins are a step in the right direction.

The Kentucky backcourt consists of three point guards and a shooting guard. . Liggins at 6'6 and Galloway at 6'7 will inevitably create a barrage of mismatches for just about any opponent the team will see next season. Both are highly athletic players and good defenders due to their quickness and size. Michael Porter returns for his 3rd season at Kentucky, and while he might be a role player, it's very possible he could receive a good amount of playing time at shooting guard filling in for Jodie Meeks.

The biggest probalem this team faces is rooted in the backcourt. Kentucky has one reliable outside shooter in Jodie Meeks, who could very well face more injuries in the future. After Meeks, Kentucky's perimeter shooting is on the shoulders of players such as Liggins and Galloway (who are not good outside shooters by any stretch of the imagination), Darius Miller, Ramon Harris, and Michael Porter. The shooting contribution of the new comers, in this light, could very well mean the difference in 20 wins or 25 wins.

In short concerning the backcourt,

the good:

Size
Athleticism
Ballhandling
Defense
Rebounding

The Bad:

Untested freshman and JUCO transfers
Lack of shooting prowess

Ferguson and Hood Looking Good in Vegas

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:39:00 +0000

Kentucky commit Dominique Ferguson played very staunch against a very big French Hoops team. The core group of 2010 five-star talent definitely played the part very well.

Ferguson scored from deep, drove to the lane, challenged the shot-blockers and finished with a hard earned 17 points. He hit the boards took it awfully personal on the offensive end when challenged by a number of big men. Already classified as one of the top players of 2010, Ferguson’s length mixed with athleticism was enough to get the wheels moving.

Ferguson’s Indiana Elite LNO colleague Terone Johnson was also exciting in triumph. The 6-foot-2 shooting guard from the class of 2010 posted 16 in the game. His recruitment is booming at the moment as he gave a long and inspiring list that consisted of Kentucky, Louisville, Indiana, Purdue, Marquette, Ohio State, Tennessee, Miami-FL, Butler and Cincinnati (offer).

Jon Hood had a big game today as his Nashville Celtics went toe to toe with the Oakland Rebels. The Celtics won the contest going away 96-66. Hood posted 20 points.

Also highly coveted offensive lineman Sam Simpson who attends Henry Clay in Lexington has said that in the next few weeks he will narrow his list in the next few weeks. With Jordan Whiting (Trinity) and Justin Greene (Male), two of the top 09' prospects in Kentucky committed to Ohio State, the local schools can ill-afford to whiff on Simpson.

2009 Names to Watch

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:29:00 +0000

Karron Johnson (Center) and Bawa Muniru (left) are both 2009 prospects that are starting to get a lot of attention. Both play for Team Vigilance out of Alabama on the AAU circuit.

I was able to watch this team win a game 62-54 recently and was impressed with Johnson he posted 22 points had multiple assists and a good feel for the game.

Muniru is about 6'10 and is an athletic freak. During warm ups he was doing reverse dunks in one fluid motion. Bawa certainly has the size and athleticism to succeed. Even to the untrained eye it is clear that Muniru game remains largely unpolished. Muniru had 2 fouls in the games first couple of minutes and was sent to the bench. In the second half Muniru had 8 points on 4 huge dunks and blocked a couple of shots. He has drawn the attention of a large list of high major programs including Louisville. Travis Ford was in attendance at this game. Scout.com has him rated as a 2 star prospect.

We were able to catch up with the leading scorer of the game Karron Johnson.

Where is Team Vigilance out of

"Huntsville Alabama."

You looked pretty composed out there on the court, the team looked like they were familiar with one another?

"This team has gone through a lot. We have been together for a couple of years. We have played against each other so we all know how each other tick. I mean it's easy to be composed with guys that you know how to play with."

Do you have any schools looking at you at this point?

"I recently gave a soft verbal to Belmont. If other offers come up I am willing to at least look them over."

What do you think about these facilities?

"Man, these things are amazing. There is nothing like this in Huntsville Alabama. It's just great to have an opportunity to play in something like this with all of these coaches it's a great opportunity."

Josh Childress Bolts For Greece

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:00:00 +0000

Childress signed a 3 year deal with Olimpiakos in Greece. Childress averaged 11.1 points and over 5 rebounds a game last season as the 6th man for the Atlanta Hawks. This move is a common one but usually among lower tier foreign born players. Earlier this month hoops prodigy Brandon Jennings opted to go play ball in Europe for a year rather than try to qualify academically at Arizona. This promoted Lute Olson to say that he was done pursuing "one and done players".

Usually the offers form foreign clubs are just used for leverage but this could be a trend that has more young men born on American soil jetting overseas for big time contracts.

Tracy Webster: One Cool Dude

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:50:00 +0000

When coach Gillispie was introduced as the head coach last season Kentucky had officially hired their third member of the Henry Iba tree. These coaches tend to play very physical man to man defense and put a strong emphasis on moving the ball on offense. Years of being tutored by some of the most knowledgeable men in the game and a head coaching job at a top tier university are among the things needed to succeed. However their is one thing that you can't teach, coach or instill that some men have.

As we all know recruiting relationships play a vital role in a teams success. It would make sense to assemble a staff with individuals who have a huge knowledge of the game. The nuances, fundamentals hard working, and forward thinking are probably among the credentials a head coach looks for in his assistants.

However, it seems that the Wildcats current regime have gone beyond the resume. Tracy Webster, who played for the University of Wisconsin Madison in the mid 90's. Webster is more often than not the coach laying the foundation with the most heralded players in each class. Darius Morris of the 2009 class is a prime example.

"He's a cool dude," Morris said. "When he first started recruiting me, he made a huge impact. He came on really strong."

Overall people skills and having a good ability to relate with young men is a huge cog in the proverbial recruiting engine. I am sure that other schools have coaches that are just as valuable for their rounded life, people skills and up bringing as their on the court savy.

Players that are blessed with the gift of gab are also a nice addition to the team. Dwight Perry may not contribute much on the court. but his ability to relate to other young men is second to none. This is stated clearly here.

On a side note Mfon Udofia has committed to Georgia Tech.

The Quick Moving Recruiting World

noreply@blogger.com (David Money) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:26:00 +0000

Chim Kadima (class of '10 above) gave us a list of school that included Louisville and Clemson. Kadima seemed to like Louisville so much that he mentioned the Cardinals twice. Kadima did mention Iowa St. and Marquette as well. He said that he feels like he is playing good even though he is recovering from a serious knee injury.

We had a chance to talk to Stephen Van Treese recently. Last summer the young man solidified himself as one of the top prospects in his class. He said that Louisville is remains on his list of 5 schools. Van Treese also added that he loves their facilities.

Ray McCallum Jr. has been looked at by Kentucky. McCallum is a 6'1 junior to be and plays his summer ball for the Indiana Elite. McCallum attends the prestigious Country Day high school in Detroit. His father is currently the head coach at Detroit and he could very well wind up there. However the kid is a consensus top 50 player in 2010 and might want to play at a larger school and rightfully so. Don't know how much interest their is on either side but I do know that he is on the radar.