My take on the 2009 Class & more

Fewfirstchoice
Wildcats Thunder Basketball/Recruiting Analyst

I am hearing John Wall is starting to get interested in UK again. I know that UK is in his top 3 with Memphis and Okla. St. I think. If Wall commits to UK, look for GJ to de-commit very shortly there after. I believe Billy G is looking for away to force GJ hand and make him de-commit. He doesn't want to take the offer away he wants him to de-commit. I am saying this because, if Coach G was sold on GJ he wouldn't be recruiting all these other PG/leadG like, Silva, Morris, Wall, Udofia, and others. All these PG have a offer from UK which already has GJ committed. It doesn't look like GJ will end up at UK. If I had to guess who will end up at UK for the 09 PG recruit(because they will be one)it will probably be Morris(ranked in the 60's in the new ranking)or Udofia, but I would say it looks like it could be Morris right now. This is just speculation on my part but, I don't think GJ ends up at UK.

Imagine this class:

• Jon Hood Madisonville (KY) 6-7 SG/SF 5* Ranked # 19 2009 Class
• Shawn Kemp Canton (GA) 6-10 PF/C 5* Ranked #25 2009 Class
• Shawn Williams Duncanville (TX) 6-7 PF/SF 4* Ranked #51 2009 Class
• Darius Morris Los Angeles (CA) 6-3 PG 4* Ranked #64 2009 Class

I think this class could totally happen and it isn't a stretch at all. Williams is the more stretch out of all 4 but he is high on UK and I could see him at UK for sure.

Thats 2 5* and 2 4* in the 09 class if that would happen. Can you say top 5 class to follow what probably will be a top 10 class in 2008.

2009 Rivals Top 100 & UK List

Kygoff
Wildcats Thunder Moderator

5 Stars


1 John Wall G 6-4/184
Raleigh (NC) Word Of God Christian Academy
Blazingly fast with the basketball, Wall is an impeccable ball handler with court savvy. The right hander has a penchant for beating defenders with his left hand and can then counter with a terrific left to right behind the back dribble. Finding teammates on the move is his forte, but he is also an excellent finisher at the rim. His jumper is still a work in progress, but it is good enough to keep the defense honest.


3 Derrick Favors F 6-9/220
Atlanta (GA) South Atlanta
Skilled post player with soft touch.


8 Daniel Orton C 6-10/260
Oklahoma City (OK) Bishop McGuinness
Long big man who is good in both the high post and low post.


17 Avery Bradley G 6-3/175
Tacoma (WA) Bellarmine Prep
A big time scoring threat from the off guard position.


20 Peyton Siva G 5-11/165
Seattle (WA) Franklin
A great shooter with athleticism.


25 Shawn Kemp C 6-9/215
Canton (GA) Cherokee
Athletic forward with upside.

4 Stars


39 Mfon Udofia G 6-2/180
Stone Mountain (GA) Miller Grove
Competitive point guard can score and run a team.


47 Christian Watford F 6-7/215
Birmingham (AL) Shades Valley
Long, rangy wing forward who can score the basketball.


51 Shawn Williams F 6-7/215
Duncanville (TX) Duncanville
A sharp shooting wing player with size.


58 Jamil Wilson F 6-7/211
Racine (WI) Horlick
Long, versatile and skilled wing prospect.


59 Ari Stewart F 6-7/190
Marietta (GA) Wheeler
Skilled wing can put it on the floor and shoot the three.


60 Jeronne Maymon F 6-6/235
Madison (WI) Madison Memorial
Point forward with a physical edge.


64 Darius Morris G 6-3/175
Los Angeles (CA) Windward
Point guard with a strong all around game.


73 Richard Howell F 6-7/215
Marietta (GA) Wheeler
Versatile forward with skills inside and out.


79 Mike Moser F 6-7/190
Portland (OR) Grant
Inruiging forward with length and versatility.


87 Reginald Buckner F 6-8/195
Memphis (TN) Manassas
Hybrid forward with strong ball skills.

Rivals 2009 CLASS RANKINGS

NOTE: Click on Photo for Profile

Around the SEC Links-5/13/08

• Auburn may miss SEC Tourney for fifth straight year
• Boynton is final addition to Horn's staff
• Donovan says Van Gundy right man for Magic
• Florida football player shot in shoulder
• Florida's off-season to-do list
• Georgia's Perno building baseball powerhouse
• LSU will free Morgan from commitment
• LSU will miss Perrilloux
• Poe saga continues at Ole Miss
• Vandy sees increased football ticket sales

Joe B Hall Interview....Very funny and interesting

Lwcat
Wildcats Thunder Administrator

Below is two videos....the first is Hall discussing his taking the St Louis job and other tidbits. The second video is Hall discussing Coach Rupp and his superstitions.....Both videos are well worth watching and very funny. Enjoy!

Conversations with - Joe B. Hall (1 of 2)

Conversations with - Joe B. Hall (2 of 2)

Several Basketball Recruiting Links

With the spring basketball signing period here and the University of Kentucky and Coach Gillispie already getting several early commitments for future classes. We thought we'd post the following links for the Basketball Recruiting junkies.

Prep Tournaments and Events	Collegiate Web Sites	College Athletic Conferences
Scout Sports Sites	Rivals-Student Sports Sites	4 Shot Sports (Georgia)
Access Atlanta	Baltimore Hoops	Basketball Beat
Basketball Hall Of Fame	Basketball.Com	Blue Chip Basketball Camps
Blue Grass Insider	Bob Gibbons.net	Boys Hoop Scout
Buffalo Hoops	Center Court Basketball	Chicago Hoops
CHN College Basketball	Coach Like A Pro	College Sports. Com
Dave Telep - Scout.com	DC Sports Fan	Digital Sports
Division II Basketball	Division III Basketball	Fellowship Of Christian Athletes
Florida Hoops	Full Court Press - California	Georgia Elite Magazine
Good News In Sport	GrassRoots Ballin	Guide To College Coaching
Hoop Group	HoopMasters	HoopsReport.com
HoopTown - Canada	Hoopville	Hoosier Hills Hoops
Houston Hoops	HSB Network TV	Idaho Sports
Illinois Hoops	Indiana Basketball News	Inside Hoops
JJ's Huddle (Ohio)	Juco Junction	Long Island Basketball
Madison Square Garden Network	Max Preps (California)	Memphis Hoopers
Mid Atlantic Hoops	My Coach Online	NAIA Sports
New York City Basketball	New York City/New Jersey Hoops	Northwest Hoops
Oregon Live	PA Prep Report	Prep Bulls Eye (IL)
Prep Spotlight	Prep Stars	Ramey Basketball
RCS Sports (Texas)	Scouting Hoops	Southern California Hoops
Street Beat (NY)	Super Hoops (Indiana)	Tennessee Prep Hoops
Texas Roundball	Texas Sports	The Courtmaster
USBA Hoops	Winning Drills	Wisconsin Hoops

Derrick Jasper thoughts

Lwcat
Wildcats Thunder Administrator

First, let me say that I hope Derrick Jasper stays at UK....and I appreciate his gutty play last year.

However, I am very disappointed in Jasper leaving UK....as it now appears he will do. Jasper is playing at a premier program under a great coach.....I just don't get the home sickness deal after two years at UK. I know some have brought up his knee as an issue, but Jasper has 6 plus months to rest his knee. It can't be playing time because Jasper will get lots of playing time next year.

Billy has tried his best to talk Jasper out of leaving. I do know that Billy Gillispie puts a premium on loyalty and I wouldn't be surprised that after reaching out to Jasper....telling him he was needed at UK and Billy wanting him to stay.....that at some point with Jasper still talking about leaving.....that Billy has made up his mind to quit trying to convince Jasper to stay and moved on in his recruiting. Jasper made a commitment to UK and UK has honored his commitment by treating him very fairly.

I fully understand kids transferring when they can't get playing time, but for Jasper to leave UK after two years when Billy is working his butt off to restore UK to greatness leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

We will learn how big an issue 'home sickness" was when we learn which college Jasper ends up at.

Jasper has to know that with UK losing Bradley and Crawford that his presence on the court next season as an experienced player is much needed. I don't mean to sound harsh regarding Jasper, but I wish he would have shown more loyalty to UK who very much needs him.

If Jasper stays...that would be great.....if he leaves.....I will still wish Jasper the best, but I will still be very disappointed in his decision.

Is UK Mens Basketball already better?

wakeupky
Wildcats Thunder Member

This was a really good question and one I've thought on this morning.

(I'm assuming Jasper is gone and Liggins qualifies.)

Here are the reasons I say no.

1. We lose XX% of our scoring with Joe and RB.
2. While some of the kids coming in our talented they have yet to play D-1 Basketball.
3. Experience means a bunch and we don't have a lot. Harris, Stevenson and Patterson are the only guys coming back with a lot of minutes under Gillispie.
4. UK lost their most versatile player in Jasper.
5. Can Harrellson bang night in night out in the SEC and help Patterson in the paint?

Here are some of the reason I say UK will be better. While I don't think UK will have a 6-7 struggle in the early season, there will be growing pains getting all the new guys to mesh.

1. Galloway, Miller, Liggins, Harrellson make us much more athletic and longer on the perimeter.
2. As the season goes UK will be better able to get more scoring from others than just Patterson and Meeks.
3. The more players will allow UK to be more up tempo and get out and run. No more grind it out in the 50 games.
4. One of the new guys along with a better Stevenson make UK much better on the baseline.
5. There are guys who've been through the preseason workouts to help the others along this time.

Again, there are some holes to fill in the roster and we don't know who plugs those yet. Best case scenario, IMO is UK can be a top 12-15 team next year. I still think they might be 1-2 years away from a F4 run. But things are definitely moving forward at a quicker clip.

Big Big day for UK Recruiting....But not done just!

Fewfirstchoice
Wildcats Thunder Administrator Basketball/Recruiting Anlyst

I know UK has had a big day on the recruiting front, but don't hold your breath just yet. I'm hearing more is coming and coming soon.We all know that Zollo will probably commit to UK next week. But Zollo isn't who I'm talking about.

Look for 2 more 2010 class recruits to commit to UK in the next month and maybe sooner.Also there could be a 2009 recruit commit in the next 2 weeks also. I know there has been a lot of talk going around about Evan Anderson and UK, and it does hold water. I have been told that Anderson is very, very close to committing to UK and could do so as soon as this weekend. He and Euton are great friends and play on the same AAU team this summer. Anderson is also friends with the newest commit Ferguson. Zollo and he also know each other pretty good. He wants to play on a team that has a chance to win and he believes UK is his best option.His family really wants him to go to Wisconsin, but I was told his heart is in UK. Something like the Harrellson situation. So with everything I have heard I believe he will commit to UK before the end of May and maybe, hopefully this weekend or the first part of next week. So maybe UK could get both Zollo and Anderson to commit on the same day or close together.

The other name I have heard is Jereme Richmond. He is a top 5 kid for Illinois. He plays 2G and would make a huge impact at UK, if he comes. But the big hang up here is that he is committed to Illinois and you know Coach G doesn't recruit committed players. But I have been told that he is very close to decommitting or may very well have decommitted this week. Not sure if he is decommitted yet, but I know he is looking in that direction. It is rumored that if he decommitted UK will be his likely destination. You see Webster(assistant at UK) is very close to he and his family. In fact Webster is the reason he committed to Illinois. So now that Webster is at UK it would only make sense that he follows his friend. So if he does indeed decommits, look for a UK commitment shortly after.

Then theres JT Terrell another 2G along with Chad Jackson. Now Anderson, Terrell, and Zollo have offers. Richmond will have one as soon as he decommits. The only player without one is Jackson. So from what I have heard Anderson and Richmond are the 2 players most likely to commit. But if it is found out that Richmond isn't going to decommit his offer will go to Jackson then it becomes a first to commit between Terrell and Jackson. Jackson will jump on a offer as soon as he is offered from what I have heard. I know UK could have as many as 7 schollys so why will it be first come first serve. Because Billy G will look to take 2 guards on Ross-Miller and one of these maybe the other. The rest will go for the players that he loves, the 6-7/6-8 type slasher forwards.

So lets hope next week or weeks only adds to what was a great day for UK fans today. Lets hope Billy G keeps up the great work and lands some more studs.

For more info and details click here.

RECRUITING FOR KNUCKLEHEADS!

AMH
Wildcats Thunder Administrator Basketball/Recruiting Analyst

While I'm a proponent of free speech, I don't support inane and salacious remarks directed towards the coaching staff.

I've seen Billy bashed all ways to Sunday, for "missing" on guys like Majok, Hopson, etc., but let's look at it like a reasonable person; instead of a complete jackass.

Clyde and crew were lucky to "get in" with the recruits that they have this late in the process. He's been on the job for how long? When he arrived, it was to get some folks in that we needed for last year...Don't penalize the staff for having to unwind the tangled recruiting MESS left behind by OTS and his band of fair weather lack-clusters!

When coaches "get in" with a kid it's generally very early - as seen by Billy landing dudes like Euton, etc. They made an effort early in the kids basketball development to build a relationship and make an offer for the future. Did Clyde recruit Hopson etal when they were freshmen or sophomores? Did he attend these guys AAU games or regular season matchups? No you say? Then what would we be holding them accountable for?

It's grossly irresponsible and malicious to the program as a whole to bash it for something that isn't their fault. With Clydes work ethic and attitude towards recruiting, it's safe to say that we would have been in with quite a few elite prospects if he was afforded the time to build over a period of years rather than a year. Isn't that a fair statement? I think it is.

I always loved it here because regardless of the free flowing thought, there wasn't a lot of humiliating pissy pants posters. I hate the LOD approach to the program that festered for years and spread like cancer throughout Kentucky forums.

Let Clyde and the staff work on these freshmen and sophomores etc and watch what transpires. They deserve the opportunity to fulfill realistic expectations. As time goes on, the fruits of their labor will show.

In all due respect I think he does a tremendous job getting the UK brand out all over the country. I cannot remember a time when we were after so many damned players at one time. Count your blessings people.

To keep you focused...

"Greed is sin-and contrary to the character of God" Mark 7:22

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall". Proverbs 16:18

For more details and discussion click here.

Four Cats Drafted Three Free-Agents

The University of Kentucky had four football players drafted in 2008 NFL Draft and three signed as Free-Agents. With the Cats going this late and signing as Free-Agents hopefully they will show the other teams that over looked them the mistake they made by don't selecting them.

• TE Jacob Tamme, fourth round by the Indianapolis Colts (127th overall)
• WR Keenan Burton, fourth round by the St. Louis Rams (128th overall)
• QB Andre' Woodson, sixth round by the New York Giants (198th overall)
• WR Steve Johnson, seventh round by the Buffalo Bills (224th overall)
• Center Eric Scott, signed free-agent contracts with the Tennessee Titans
  
• RB/Kick Returner Rafael Little, Titans signed free-agent contracts with the Tennessee Titans
• Linebacker Wesley Woodyard, has signed a free-agent deal with the Denver Broncos.

NFL Draft Rd 4: UK's Tamme & Burton Drafted

Jacob Tamme(left) Drafted in the 4th Round at # 127 of the NFL Draft by the Colts.

Keenan Burton(right) Drafted in the 4the Round at # 128 of the NFL Draft by the Rams.



"WHO's NEXT" of the UK players to go in the 2008 NFL Draft?

• Steve Johnson, WR
• Dominic Lewis, DE
• Rafael Little, RB
• Eric Scott, C
• Roger Williams, SS
• Wesley Woodyard, LB
• Andre Woodson, QB

UK Baseball: Cowgill and Carroll named for Awards

Collin Cowgill(Profile) pictured left a University of Kentucky junior outfielder was named Southeastern Conference Baseball Player of the Week. Cowgill is third in the league in batting average (.399), second in runs (57), third in slugging percentage (.818), third in on-base percentage (.524), second in home runs (15), fourth in RBIs (45) and fifth in stolen bases (16). Cowgill, a 5-foot-9 195-pounder, also recently was named a National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American.

Collin Cowgill along with UK teammate Sawyer Carroll (Profile) pictured right has also been named to the Dick Howser Trophy Watch List, the award is given annually to the top player in college baseball, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.