Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
Here is why making predictions in recruiting is a fool’s game. One week ago, EVERYONE believed that Kentucky and Florida were the top two choices for Anthony Bennett. All the national experts, local “insiders” and random message board legends thought the two SEC schools would battle it out for the services of the best player left in America. Now it is Sunday, and it looks as if Bennett will be headed to the West Coast. Florida officially dropped out earlier this week and after conversations I had at the Derby yesterday, it seems as if Kentucky is all but out as well. On Friday, Dave Telep first reported that Kentucky was third for Bennett and after conversations I had on Saturday, I am told that the likelihood of Bennett ending up at UK is “equivalent to a Hail Mary at the end of the Super Bowl.” The reasons for this are two-fold. One, there are some academic issues in place that make it unlikely Bennett will know about his eligibility until right before the start of the Fall Semester. A person familiar with Bennett’s situation told me that it was “probable” that in the end Bennett gets eligible, but it was by no means sure and that both UK and Florida have to assume as if he will not. Plus, there have been other “character related” concerns that caused both schools to pull back and have led to UNLV becoming the solid leader at this time. The combination of grades and these other issues has made the SEC seem like an unlikely destination for the stud big man.
So where does UK go from here? My guess it that the announcement of Amile Jefferson’s latest postponement was in part due to the Bennett change. UK has been behind throughout Jefferson’s recruitment but his decision to not pick a school while UK floundered, suggests that he is very interested. I also believe that UK is VERY INTERESTED in Julius Mays, the talented Shooting Guard from Wright State. He was top 25 in the country in three-point percentage last year and UK has expressed a great deal of interest in him. He may even visit campus this week.
Now all of this could of course change. A week ago we thought we knew, but we didn’t know. That should be the mantra of recruiting news. But for now, the Bennett dreams seem unlikely to come to fruition.
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May 6th, 2012 at 4:24 pm
All this team is missing is a shooter (Mays) and a forward (Jefferson?) and we’re set. In Cal we trust.
May 6th, 2012 at 4:31 pm
1), exactly, Bennett would be GREAT of course, but give us Jefferson and Mays (assuming Mays is as good a shooter as he seems to be), and we are good to go!
May 6th, 2012 at 4:39 pm
mays should be able to shoot, he turns 23 in september … he’s always been a good ft shooter, too
May 6th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Mays also doesn’t take a scholarship away from the 2013 class unlike Graham or Brzoja does. Jefferson would be a stud and I would be happy to get him.
May 6th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
WHY does this site keep professing how great Julius Mays is by posting incorrect stats and information? Sure, he is a nice piece at Wright State…who shot 42% from the field and from three. Not 48%. Not top 5 in the country. Or even top 5 in theMAC. And that was his GOOD shooting year compaed to the 29% at NC St…where he left. Billy G is gone, we don’t need MAC hand me downs…
May 6th, 2012 at 4:45 pm
If we were lucky enough to get Jefferson and Mays or Harrell and Mays i’d be a happy camper going into a college basketball season that will be down,down,down next year.
May 6th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
Sorry, that would be Horizon League hand me downs, not the MAC.
May 6th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
#5 Mays would be for one year you imbecile. IF he doesn’t work out it’s no big deal. Why not take a chance? Makes complete sense to bring him in to see if he can give us something.
May 6th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
Knew the kid had academic issues when he was announcing just after the espn special with Noel & Bazz.
Knew it.
May 6th, 2012 at 4:48 pm
*wasn’t
May 6th, 2012 at 4:48 pm
@NumbersNeverLie: Speaking of incorrect ‘stats.’ Wright State isn’t in the MAC…Horizon
May 6th, 2012 at 4:48 pm
I would take Jefferson over Bennett.
May 6th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
What is the biggest mistake UK fans make? Trying to tell Cal and his staff who and how to recruit. They may have a pretty decent track record.
May 6th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
5 – they said he was top 25, not top 5 … but, i hear ya … mays wasn’t even in the top 100 in the ncaa last year in 3%
May 6th, 2012 at 4:51 pm
42% from three is pretty damn good
May 6th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
#5 your stats are incorrect also FG % 68% and 3 PT FG was 42%!
#6 who cares if your a happy camper Cal is the coach not you!They will be fine!Go Cats!!!
Here comes Jefferson next one to commit!:)
May 6th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
Jefferson will be a CAT.
May 6th, 2012 at 4:58 pm
Bennett’s academic transcript looks as bad as Eric Bledsoe’s.
May 6th, 2012 at 4:59 pm
16- calm down, #6 is entitled to his own opinion and doesn’t need you attacking him for no reason.
May 6th, 2012 at 4:59 pm
If we get Mays and Jefferson we will be the best team in the country next year. Gives us shooting, experience and post versatility.
Harrow-Mays
Goodwin- Mays
Poythress- Jefferson
Wiltjer- Jefferson
Noel- Cauley
That’s a great 8 man rotation right there.
May 6th, 2012 at 5:02 pm
What about me? I said missing Oriakhi and Lyons means UK is done for. Please pay attention to me. It is all about ME!!!!
May 6th, 2012 at 5:05 pm
This does not bode well for Kentucky. With Lyons, Shabbazz and now Bennett not picking UK, it seems as if the recent national championship is setting the bar too high for most recruits. This is evidenced by MORE RECRUITS GOING TO OTHER SCHOOLS THAN THOSE GOING TO UK. Cal should have seen this coming when he recklessly chose to go for it all this year opposed to leaving something to be desired. With the Cats losing 90%+ of their scoring, one can only think that W’s will go in the same direction. Now I’m no math expert, but even if we give UK 10% of the W’s from 11-12, then the 12-13 Cats will only win 3.8 games. That’s not going to cut it for a coach and staff who recently added some extra padding to their wallets. Not only have recruits been jumping ship, but UK will be without their two biggest non-conference games in IU and UNC. Those schools don’t want to hurt their SOS. Louisville only keeps UK around because they’re required by law to.
May 6th, 2012 at 5:06 pm
#11 I corrected that myself…4 posts before you. Thanks for the backup
#16 wow, you really are cookin the numbers at68%…might wanna check again
Just wondering why the false numbers. We will be the third program in 3 years for a very slightly above average shooter…is he worth the risk? Are you missing Darnell Dodson?
May 6th, 2012 at 5:32 pm
lots of cargo pants there
May 6th, 2012 at 5:45 pm
Jefferson is a must and Mays will be ok.
May 6th, 2012 at 5:52 pm
His has been a very odd recruitment…didn’t even take a single official until the last month of his senior year. There has to be something more going on…its not like he could be waiting for his stock to rise, he’s already best available and before that he was the 3rd best available for months…Just odd. I don’t like the use of “character issues” on 18 year olds. With that said, there probably is a story if sources are saying it. Said story is probably worse than just saying he has character issues
May 6th, 2012 at 5:56 pm
yes “truth”, I am sure you have had a conversation with Bennett before. If it makes everyone feel better to bash a kid for not coming to BBN then that’s sad indeed. UK won a NC and have the #1 class already without Bennett, but the real joy is in slamming a kid for making a personal decision for what is best for him.
May 6th, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Sources are not saying it. Matt Jones is saying it. Find it anywhere else before this. Academics are the issue as far as I have heard, but never have heard a single word about character.
May 6th, 2012 at 6:06 pm
28. I’ll be sure to start visiting your website starting never
May 6th, 2012 at 6:17 pm
When Bennett choses UK the same ones bashing him now will be the ones saying I knew we had him.Flordia was his favorite last week now their dropped. Just shows the kid is having a hard time deciding that’s it. This is a big choice for him.I would take my time too. If he gets cleared he will be at UK.
May 6th, 2012 at 6:22 pm
It’s amazing how success causes in-fighting in the family. All you wanna be jocks, couch coaches and whistle blowers should give up that welfare check and try coaching.
May 6th, 2012 at 6:26 pm
Calm down BBN. IN CAL WE TRUST!! GO CATS!!
May 6th, 2012 at 6:28 pm
First, dude in the red shorts gets mega props for frontin’ phools that match – like sorority sisters.
Bitches, cool to go the extra mile; but dressing in same/similar short & a tee….screams UNORIGINAL!
May 6th, 2012 at 6:35 pm
When it looks like a kid (KID, mind you) is deciding to go play for another school, it looks pretty petty & small to publicly publish ‘character issues’ as a reason to pull back. Kid (KID, once again) has been pretty heavily covered for a while now…not a peep about his character until we fell in the race to get him. Give a known ‘character-issue’ incident that’s occurred, point made. If not, just as a blanket statement, it comes off poorly. Plus, he hasn’t announced even an unofficial decision, which means he’s still in the running (remember T. Jones to Washington?). So cranking up the rumor mill against him hurts UK, whether he’s decided or not. If Dave Rice & UNLV (really good coach & program BTW) land him & can wait to wade through all this KID’S known issues (aka his grades), fine. Like Cal let Shabazz & everyone else know last month, UK isn’t for everybody. My question…what or who made UK and Florida the 2 favorites in the first place for a kid that never took a visit anywhere? Believe nothing until the KID opens his mouth, then only believe as 100% when he signs the letter.
May 6th, 2012 at 6:39 pm
Yea as soon as he turns down Kentucky he has “character issues” apparently his character changed throughout his recruitment right at the end
May 6th, 2012 at 6:46 pm
Mays has only averaged less than two three pointers per game.
May 6th, 2012 at 6:46 pm
22# hilarious
May 6th, 2012 at 7:11 pm
Hey Amile seen you at derby classic ,your just what we need so step on the big blue bus and lets head to alanta
May 6th, 2012 at 7:14 pm
#22- you are full of complete bullshit, you know nothing so shut up.
May 6th, 2012 at 7:23 pm
A couple of issues in AB’s character made me go “hmmmm”. When I have gone to his twitter account on a number of occasions over the past year I have seen a relative lack of seriousness and focus compared to other top recruits (same with Devonta Pollard btw). Yeah, he’s a high school kid…they’re like that. BUT others like Shabazz, Archie, Alex, etc know they are NBA prospects and know they are walking a tightrope of sorts. They know missteps cost them. They’re focusing on the future. Bennett not so much. Reminds me of Terrence Jones during his pre-committment, but worse. Second concern: toughness. Bennett has not played as much as his teammates due to injuries. It always seems that he was out for something. To top it off when post season all-star games came around, he never seemed to perform. Afterward, I think I remember one excuse being due to jet lag. I almost wished I had saved these examples to illustrate my points better about the “red flags” for people to see but didn’t because they were just incidents and you give someone the benefit of the doubt. But when they add up and now add academics to that..BBN could have it’s hands full with this guy.
May 6th, 2012 at 7:37 pm
Funny how these concerns come up now. Everyone thought he was the greatest when it looked like BBN had a chance. Now we gotta rip him apart for whatever his reasons are. BBN will be just fine with or without him and will contend again. Stop killing this kid and move on to Amile Jefferson. He can’t be allowed to go to Puke.
May 6th, 2012 at 7:40 pm
“So where does UK go from here? My guess it that the announcement of Amile Jefferson’s latest postponement was in part due to the Bennett change. UK has been behind throughout Jefferson’s recruitment but his decision to not pick a school while UK floundered, suggests that he is very interested. I also believe that UK is VERY INTERESTED in Julius Mays, the talented Shooting Guard from Wright State.”
Yeah, Matt. And Micheal Chandler is going to UK like you said a few years ago.
May 6th, 2012 at 8:04 pm
NumbersNeverLie, can you please explain how taking Mays would be a risk??
May 6th, 2012 at 8:12 pm
if it is true about his academics (national media can be kind of, well, wrong about these things), then it is just another recruit that Calipari has backed off of because of it…so much for the theory that UK and Coach Cal only care about winning above all things…another propped up lie that again proves to be untrue…go Cats…bring down Amile Jefferson (who doesn’t have those academic issues…quite the opposite)…I think he would be a great fit for the Cats…versatile
May 6th, 2012 at 8:23 pm
Since when did UNLV move to the west coast?
May 6th, 2012 at 8:42 pm
Jokes on you #39! Unless you’re joking, then the jokes on me
May 6th, 2012 at 8:42 pm
39. Thank you, you are clearly the smartest person in the room all but 100% of your life
May 6th, 2012 at 8:44 pm
46. #ThunderSnatcher
May 6th, 2012 at 10:15 pm
#39 very stupid. He very funny. lmfao.
May 6th, 2012 at 10:32 pm
#39… first visit to KSR?
May 6th, 2012 at 11:53 pm
When it was reported that he dropped Florida because there was too much frontcourt competition in Young and Murphy, it seemed logical he would not come to Kentucky for the same reason.
May 7th, 2012 at 11:55 am
bennett eliminated kentucky from his short list…