Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
A flood of the Big Blue faithful will be piling into Bullitt East High School in about three hours for Derek Willis’s announcement. Barring a complete miracle by Rick Pitino or one of the two Big 10 schools, all of the UK fans in attendance should be leaving the high school with a big smile on their faces.
There isn’t a single person who covers high school basketball, watches basketball, or has even heard of basketball, who thinks Derek Willis will pick any school but Kentucky. Everyone — I mean EVERYONE — is picking the Cats. Willis made up his mind early last week, he’s supposedly deadset on the decision, and it’s quickly becoming Louisville’s worst secret since Tim Sypher’s afternoon drive to Cincinnati.
If he does indeed choose to attend the University of Kentucky, Derek Willis will be the first commitment for John Calipari in what could turn out to be his most talented recruiting class ever. 2013 is absolutely loaded with talent and UK is in good shape with four of the top six players in the country, plus Willis. The 6-foot-8 kid from Mt. Washington is a top 25 player with the tremendous upside and, more importantly, he’ll fill the much-needed “Kentucky boy” role on Cal’s roster for years to come.
Three hours away.
I don’t want you to get your hopes up. But get your hopes up.
Go Cats.
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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January 20th, 2012 at 1:06 pm
dang. ifrst
January 20th, 2012 at 1:07 pm
it’s a puzzle
January 20th, 2012 at 1:07 pm
I’ll take one of those good old Kentucky boys playing for the name on the front of their jerseys instead of the back…
January 20th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
3.. yeah, b/c the guys we have now are so selfish (eye roll) (smh).
January 20th, 2012 at 1:15 pm
CBB has changed, old guard. Playing for the name on the front of the jersey is gone. So choose… championships, or moral victories because we put together a team that ‘wasn’t supposed to be able to go that deep in the tourney’. Which do you want? The Laettner shot, or #8 hanging? John Wall or Richie Farmer?
January 20th, 2012 at 1:16 pm
Outstanding
January 20th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
4… omg. smh. rotflol.
D
January 20th, 2012 at 1:19 pm
http://hskentucky.scout.com/a.z?s=391&p=2&c=1067412&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2fhskentucky.scout.com
January 20th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
8) Um, that’s dated 04/26/11
January 20th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
8- You do realize that the article is from April, and he has since decommited, which is the reason why he is choosing another school today…..right?
January 20th, 2012 at 1:24 pm
#8 what does your link have to do with today he decommitted from you all if you remember that
January 20th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
Kentucky boy? I thought he was from Alaska and moved to Ky?
January 20th, 2012 at 1:26 pm
Truth, what we need is more moral victories, Laettner shots, tequila shots, Richie Farmer’s mustaches and stolen computers, and mostly we need a coach who cares about the school and the kids, instead of using them as a platform to pimp out frozen yogurt and crappy pizza. You whippersnappers and your win at all costs mentality. Your parents should be ashamed. Have you ever pooped yourself while in the buffet line at Shoneys? Ever seen a koala bear and monkey make love? No? Didn’t think so. Dagnabbit I wish football season would get here.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:28 pm
A girl in my class today said that they went to high school and that they were close friends and he was definitely picking the Cats today.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:30 pm
Am I the only one out here in cyberspace that doesnt want Willis. I believe his early commitment will hurt the Cats later on when they are trying to close on a TOP RANKED player. Go elsewhere Willis!
January 20th, 2012 at 1:30 pm
13-Koalas are not bears. They are marsupials.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
#13 your name says it all…you are an old tool.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
I’ve seen Willis play many times, and have not been impressed! I’ve seen Kelan Martin of Ballard (2014) own him. However I am not a pro at judging talent, if the scouts say he is top talent then I hope nothing but the best for him and welcome tO #BBN. Oh yea his dads a card fan sO I don’t have to like him do I?
January 20th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
hey, #3, stfu
January 20th, 2012 at 1:32 pm
13…..DAMN good writin’ there! I believe we have an answer to Old_School in NJT fashion! (Standing while giving Old_tool a Polo style applause)
January 20th, 2012 at 1:32 pm
Honestly I’m happy we have the Kentucky Boy Role with this kid.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:32 pm
I have a feeling this one is not going our way.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:32 pm
My duaghter does not know him and has never even heard of him, and she says he is picking KY today! It must be true.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
#15 i agree as well
January 20th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
15-I am afraid you are onto something.
Willis, like Teague, is a personal pissing match with Pitino.
I am sure Willis is a good player, but I am sure there are
better players in the class who are NOT being recruited by UL.
I love Cal and I love the state of our program, but I think
he grinds the old axe a bit much at times.
That being said, if Willis comes to Lexington he has my support.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:34 pm
I must admit that I do have some precognitive skills when it comes to forecasting future events. As a matter of fact, after eating a rather large lunch, I had a pent up release of gas that had been building slowly and when it finally passed… I could swear it sounded like – Wiiilllliiissss…
January 20th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Truth-saying you want Richie over Wall and kids playing for name on front not the back…what makes you think this kid isn’t that? Why not take top talent now…the way he shot up in the rankings he might be even higher next year.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
#25 thats what I’m worried about too. Did we go after him because UL and IU did or because we saw him as the best fit in our roster
January 20th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Derek (whatchutalkinbout) Willis would fit in well with the rest of the WBA.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Listen up UK fans. If I’ve offered a kid a scholarship to UK, all you need to know is that I want him… not that you want or don’t want him, or that your Daddy wants or doesn’t want him, or that the Turtleman wants or doesn’t want him, but that I, “Coach Cal” wants him and that is all that matters.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
#12. Not sure if you’re serious or not. He grew up in Louisville, moved to Bullitt County a couple of years ago.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
To build on my previous statement. In the 2013 class UK is interested in 4 other Power Forwards that are ranked HIGHER than Willis & of those 4, UK has already offered 2 of them (Julius Randle & Aaron Gordon) both 5 stars according to Scout.com & the other two are Jonathan Williams & Chris Walker (both 5 Stars)& THEN there is Willis. If UK does accept Willis’ committment, I believe that down the road it could hurt our potential is landing a more solid PF than Willis. Sorry to say it but again I hope he goes elsewhere. I believe that Willis is a mixture of Vargas & a little bit of Wiltjer, thats not something I am excited about.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Topping this years class is almost unthinkable (3 #1′s at their position? Unprecedented by anybody!), but Cal may actually do it.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
I will take “one and done” players and a Final Four. Over 13 years of mediocrity and four year players.
And Willis moved to KY so get off the “KY boy” B.S.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
PLEASE PICK PURDUE
January 20th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
I believe Cal is the very best talent evaluator in the game today
and maybe the best ever. However, he is NOT infallible.
Every recruit he brings in is not a #1 draft pick.
Dodson, Vargas, and Teague are all very good players.
And yes, they are all better than I, but they are not
Knight, Gilchrist, Cousins talented. We can’t
get all the studs, but I don’t want to sign a kid
just to keep Pitino from signing him.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
32. Kyrie Irving was the #1 pg out of high school BUT Brandon Knight took UK to the Final Four.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
30. PREACH ON BROTHER PREACH ON
January 20th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
OK, so I’m a HUGE KY FAN in ALL UK SPORTS……yes, FOOTBALL too and have been all my life 50 plus yrs. and the more I read this website I just don’t understand why so many KY fans can be so frickin stupid!!!! Let the Coaches coach and players play and BACK THE BLUE and please keep your stupid comments to yourself!! GO CATS!!!!!
January 20th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
With the comments Willis’ dad has made in the past… and the fact that he is a Louisville fan… and Derek’s ho-hum attitude about UK’s interest in him… I just hope he and his family do not become a distraction if he doesn’t get a whole lot of playing time in future seasons. He has talent, but is his talent any better than say Jon Hood or Kyle Wiltjer? Definitely not better than Wiltjer. Will he or his dad become a whiner if he sees little playing time? I hope not.
Is this just a case of Cal sticking it to Rick once again?
January 20th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
25. If Cal didnt get Teague who would be the PG? And obviously its not Beckham at this point.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
There was a time not so long ago a Top 25 player wouldnt even think about KY. Thanks to CAL that has changed.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
If he picks another school, please, Matt, yell, “Whatchu Talkin’ Bout, Willis?”
January 20th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
Wow, some of you are absolutely insane. We have a top 25 white kid from Kentucky who grew up a Louisville fan and he’s about to commit to us and there is ample complaining and wishes for him to go elsewhere.
You remind me of the guy from the DirecTV commercials with his micro-giraffe. We’ve had success and now nothing but the best is acceptable. I know that sounds good as a logo on T-shirts but those of us who live in reality think Willis is a great get. No wonder people think we’re all crazy.
“Willis, go to Purdue!!!! LeBron and Kobe might be declared eligible for the NCAA next year and we want to have scholarships available!!!”
smh…
January 20th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
39 – REVEREND!!!
January 20th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
The people talking about how they don’t want Willis, are all the same person posting under a different name each time, to make their point seem valid.
January 20th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
is there a fan base that back-bites more than UK fans seem to ?
for goodness sakes, i trust Cal, i don’t care if he is just driving the stake into Rick’s vampire heart, or if he thinks this kid is legit … I DON’T CARE … i am just riding the wave of success that is UK basketball
January 20th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
Lol @#13
January 20th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
47. Aint it great
January 20th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
I can hear the call-in show now: “Matt, do you think Willis is gonna play tonight?”
January 20th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
why on earth are you all discussing this kid when the real story is that koalas are not bears? Wtf? Not placental? Born immature too, like these kids Cal recruits. Next thing you know we’ll find out wombats are not really bats.
January 20th, 2012 at 2:05 pm
I certainly like what I have seen from Willis. Seems to be a jack of all trades, but not sure if he is a master of any. In that regard, he reminds me of Darius. Big guy who can block, pass, dribble and shoot. The upside is great. He would fit well into Cal’s system. Hope he picks the Cats!!
January 20th, 2012 at 2:06 pm
36, Your dumber than 15…. Cal has had only 2 classes of recruits, both #1, so your point is stupid. You think Cal will bring in bad players just to screw Rick? Why? He is so much better than Rick, on every level.
January 20th, 2012 at 2:06 pm
A white kid from the Louisville area who grows up a UL fan
and comes to UK.
I seem to remember something similar happening in my youth.
Mid 80′s, kid with a feather-do…
January 20th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
every year could be cal’s best recruiting year ever it seems
January 20th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
#46 Thanks T.J. Those darn IP addresses!!!
January 20th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
#34. You’re dead wrong. He grew up a few streets over from me in Okolona. Both of my sons played little league baseball with him. Not sure where you’re getting your information from, but it’s dead wrong. He’s as much of a Kentucky boy as you can get.
January 20th, 2012 at 2:10 pm
As for worring about his recruitment might deter others from signing, what high school 5 star would be worried about a 4 star getting more minutes.
January 20th, 2012 at 2:11 pm
D-will is not from KY he moved here from out of state and went to male. Now he is at be. I see him play all the time and I must say he has a long way to before he ever sees the floor for uk against quality opponents. For at least the first two years he will play the last two minutes against teams like Arkansas little rock.
January 20th, 2012 at 2:11 pm
53-Calm down.
At least I understand the difference of a contraction and a possessive.
If you think there is not a pissing match between Cal and Three Stacks then
you are deeply deluded.
If YOU’RE going to call someone “dumb” in public be sure to correct your grammar.
Ass Clown.
January 20th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
#59 You don’t have a clue. He’s from Kentucky, grew up in Kentucky. I’ve got baseball all star pictures when he was 8 years old if you want to see them. He IS a Kentucky kid plain and simple.
January 20th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
This commitment is essential in Phase 3 of Cal’s plan for total world domination. He must crush the Red Menace!
January 20th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
I suppose we all need to take our expert
opinions and go scout talent.
Obviously Cal needs our help because these paltry
#1 classes aren’t cutting it.
January 20th, 2012 at 2:21 pm
Not saying Willis going somewhere (especially UK) else than uofl is the final straw… BUT, I’d bet money that pitino will move on after this year.
When people call their shot (announce retirement date), they are basically announcing to the world that they are done working hard and are watching the calendar and clock. The entire uofl fanbase knows rick has done all he’s gonna do there – and rick knows it too.
January 20th, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Just out of curiosity, where do we stand with the rest of 2012, besides Shabazz? Any recent talk from Pollard? Bennett?
January 20th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
Is there any way to get the TV show if you upgrade to ATT Uverse and drop Insight?
January 20th, 2012 at 2:28 pm
I havent seen Willis play, or even highlights yet. Better than Jon Hood? I sure hope so…
January 20th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Reading about people not wanting this kid because they think we can get better makes me sad I’m a UK fan with so many dumb 1′s that don’t 2 things about basketball except if it gos in the hoop it’s points. I would take a 6-8 player in the top 30 HS recruits any day.
January 20th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
45 – Amen brother.
January 20th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Some of you are ridiculous, if you aren’t trolls. I have not seen one expert say Willis isn’t good enough for UK. Yet you all think you know better. Give it up. Cal wants him, and that’s good enough for me.
January 20th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Come on down Willis! Love the upside on this kid. Cant wait to see him playing for the Cats!
BTW, let Cal do the recruiting people. He seems to be pretty darn good at it.
GO CATS!!
January 20th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
6’8 white kid from Kentucky wearing the Blue & white for 4 years. I will take it. Sure, there are a WHOLE 24 kids better than him in his class and we’ll likely get 4-5 of them. SHUT UP about not wanting the kid. He will be a great guy to have on the team.
January 20th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
Are we UofL fans? Why is everyone gettin so worked up about a 4 star committing for the 2013 class? I understand he’s a white boy from KY, but you can wake me up when Jabari, Noel, or Randle commit.
January 20th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
I watched him play last night….let Louisville have him!
January 20th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
65) Willis would be Cal’s first committment of the Class of 2013, not next years.
January 20th, 2012 at 4:01 pm
He’s going to the Cards. Laugh if u want, just wait and see. U heard it from me 1st.
January 20th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Nice call IKnow.