Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
With the NBA Draft right around the corner, what better way to celebrate the eve of six Kentucky players being selected, than to celebrate a former player that survived and eventually thrived in his time as a Wildcat. DeAndre Liggins, the No. 28 player in the 2008 class from Findlay Prep in Nevada, was brought to Lexington by Billy Gillispie as a point guard and committed on this day in 2007. At the time, Liggins was one of a handful of recruits that had committed to Clyde in a span of just a few short months.
If I may quote a post from right here on Kentucky Sports Radio shortly after his announcement.
It was a big get by Coach Billy Gillispie and [is] proof once again of his amazing recruiting prowess. At this point, Gillispie has been on the job for a little over two months and has brought in five recruits that were Top 40 guys in their class.
Coming to Kentucky, Liggins struggled in his time under Gillispie – like so many others in his system. We now know what happened under his watch and it’s tough to think about. But the turnaround that John Calipari has put on not only the program but those Billy Gillispie era players is remarkable. Josh Harrellson and DeAndre Liggins would have never been NBA Draft picks, but Calipari turned them into something. Darius Miller is another piece of that Gillispie era who will graduate to the NBA tomorrow. (Jon Hood, you’re next.)
Liggins became a fan favorite with his defensive tenacity and vivacious on-the-court attitude. Though we begged him to stay another year, and it pained us to see him go, we were so very happy that he had the opportunity to not only continue his basketball career, but actually be drafted by an NBA team.
It couldn’t have been the path he chose, but DeAndre Liggins just five short years ago to the day, committed to play for the Cats. Here’s to you, Liggins! Thanks to my Season Never Ends calendar for bringing this anniversary to my attention.
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– This morning began with a little Twitter bashing. Newcomer to the SEC, South Carolina head coach Frank Martin apparently didn’t take too kindly to John Calipari’s newest techniques of, ”recruiting by non-recruiting.” Martin’s message was a little blurred, but the jab was evident.
@UKCoachCalipari I love u & u r the best but while u talk 2 the NBA I will talk 2 the future NBA players
— Frank Martin (@FrankMartin_SC) June 27, 2012
So yeah. Whatever that means.
– The basketball haters were out in full force today. Royce White let loose in an interview with Sports Illustrated, taking a shot at Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, saying, “I don’t like that kid. He’s too hyped up. He’s not as good as they think he is. He’s a kid. I’m a man.” Yep. A man who is too scared to get on an airplane. He apologized on Twitter, saying the context was based on what Kidd-Gilchrist said about him before Kentucky played Iowa State during the NCAA Tournament. Sure thing, Royce!
– ESPN announced that Kentucky basketball has been nominated for four – count ‘em FOUR – ESPY’s including Best Team, Best Coach, Best Male College Athlete and Best Breakthrough Athlete. Fan voting is a significant part of who wins, so do your part. I also noticed that Louisville was not nominated for any, and I feel kind of bad… Maybe we could make some categories for them? What about Best Player-to-Transfer Ratio? Best Unoriginal Billboard Ideas? Best Steeplechasers and Individual Swimmers?
– The NBA Draft green room was full today with the 14 invitees and a swarm of media. As you might expect, Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had two of the largest crowds surrounding them. Kidd-Gilchrist said he wants to dunk on Davis in the league. A little friendly competitive never hurt anybody.
– Joker Phillips and the football staff picked up a commitment today for the 2013 class. Blake McClain, a stocky three-star cornerback out of Florida made the decision to be a Wildcat over a host of other schools including Louisville and Mississippi State. He is the seventh guy to commit to the Cats for 2013.
– For six former Kentucky players, tomorrow begins a new chapter of their lives. David Stern is going to call their name and a team will sign them to a deal worth millions of dollars to play basketball wearing their jersey. If you are a Kentucky fan, or better yet and SEC fan, tomorrow has the potential to be a monumental day. It could be the first time two teammates are selected 1-2 in the draft. It could be the second time a conference goes 1-2-3 with the first three picks. It could be the first time a conference has more than eight players taken in the first round. It could be the first time a team has more than five guys taken in the first round. You better be watching! Coverage begins on 7 o’clock on ESPN.
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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June 27th, 2012 at 11:09 pm
It’d be awesome if Cal tweeted out something along the lines of, “I apologize to recruits again, for having to talk to Frank Martin while I’m focused on the draft.”
June 27th, 2012 at 11:15 pm
Hey 1 the wait is over. It’s my turn now.
June 28th, 2012 at 12:03 am
Real cool to make fun of Royce White’s disorder.
June 28th, 2012 at 12:06 am
2 Yeh, just too lazy to change it.
June 28th, 2012 at 12:06 am
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8096247/on-road-nba-draft-prospect-royce-white
June 28th, 2012 at 12:10 am
5 ESPY nominations counting mine!
June 28th, 2012 at 12:15 am
Wow Stuart Hammer. Way to stoop down to a level of idiocy by making fun of White’s disorder. Keep making statements like that and you will never get anywhere in your journalism career, very unprofessional. It’s amazing Matt let you put that up there.
June 28th, 2012 at 1:20 am
Whose side are you people on. His condition? Since when is being afraid of something a condition? He should have kept MKG’s name out his mouth.
June 28th, 2012 at 3:24 am
#9 thank you, I was thinking the same thing forget Royce white. And Stuart, you make fun of him as much as you want! Royce white is just butt hurt from that butt whoopin last march! MKG RULES SUPREME!!!
June 28th, 2012 at 5:00 am
Joker Phillips, is he still at UK? Huh.
June 28th, 2012 at 6:30 am
UK gets a good football recruit and it’s buried under something stupid Frank Martin (?) said on Twitter. That’s why this site cannot be taken seriously when in comes to football. Actually, anything Drew Franklin has his name attached to is a joke.
June 28th, 2012 at 6:42 am
Joker is racking up the 3 star recruits. Meanwhile all the other schools in the SEC are getting 4 and 5 star recruits. Joker will always be mediocre at best. He needs to go. I pity the fools that purchase season football tickets. Why waste your money, just to hear Joker give excuses week after week?
June 28th, 2012 at 7:09 am
Don’t make fun of White’s anxiety disorder, that’s crass. Make fun of his criminal record.
June 28th, 2012 at 7:47 am
Hey. Anthony Davis is on the front page of TMZ.com. You do have to scroll down a little bit to get to it. There is a video of them debating the brow and calling out a guy for saying Thomas Robinson will be the first pick. Pretty good stuff. I don’t know how to contact the guys to pass this along. If someone could help that would be great.
June 28th, 2012 at 7:47 am
12. If you come here to get serious news about sports….. You are missing the point of this site. KSR isn’t attempting to be ESPN. Chill out. If you don’t like the site or having to read a point or two before getting to a football tidbit then go somewhere else. The info is out there. You come here for the atmosphere of ridiculousness.
June 28th, 2012 at 7:59 am
Almost choked on my cheerios when I read this comment on the Liggins Post:
billy harrison Says:
June 28th, 2007 at 7:12 am
The official drink of the Kentucky Wildcat fans and the team should now be without question DOCTOR PEPPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And I thought K and Williams and Calipari could recruit! Move over little dogs big dog has come on the porch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 28th, 2012 at 8:23 am
Props to Muffinman16 from that post in 2007
muffinman16 Says:
June 28th, 2007 at 12:32 am
Liggins looks tough, great playmaker. Also though, Derrick Rose…..WOW! thats a name you’ll be hearing as a lottery pick in a couple years.
June 28th, 2012 at 8:29 am
My favorite:
biggus Says:
June 28th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
I’m overwhelmed with how quickly Coach G has turned this not-so-good, not-so-exciting team into one which is overflowing with talent. You know things are looking great when there are arguments over which five star player we want. We’re looking stacked for years with just the players recently brought in. Be excited for D’baby Liggings; he will dominate. All hail BIG BILLY
June 28th, 2012 at 8:51 am
friendly competitive? there is NO way that 5 are taken in first round.
June 28th, 2012 at 9:02 am
This site’s purpose will eventually be its undoing, IMO. Sharing news in the most ridiculous manner can only be sustained for so long before the act gets tired if the right balance isn’t met. So Royce called MKG a kid. Who cares? We beat Iowa St. in the tourney easily and Mike is going in the top five. I don’t think he’s going to lose sleep over it, so why take that and weave White’s fear into a retort? That’s even beneath the goal of KSR. I just don’t get it.
Surely this site wants to at least publish stories “in the most ridiculous manner possible” while having a smidge of professionalism to it. If not, there are better options out there. Free UK news comes at a price. Having to read middle school slams just isn’t worth it.
June 28th, 2012 at 9:03 am
RE: Royce White’s “condition”
I wouldn’t make fun of someones “condition”, not at all…
BUT, I will however, make fun of a grown azz man wetting himself when he sees an airline commercial.
Royce, you can be dumb and scared of life all ya want – but leave #BBN members names out ya mouth.
June 28th, 2012 at 9:21 am
Wow, first of all if you don’t like the site please don’t come here and read it, second quit complaining about people talking about Royce, he disrespected one of the most respected CATS ever, so I believe people have the right to say what they want.. Please stop coming on here an crying about everything, find something better to do with your time than crying about how KSR runs their own site.. Please find something new.. gets old listening to people complain about everything!!
June 28th, 2012 at 10:06 am
Screw Royce White…sissy-boy…
June 28th, 2012 at 11:47 am
Louisville wins the ESPY hands down for working the most lucrative arena deal screwing your state and city of tax revenue.
June 28th, 2012 at 2:46 pm
wow another terrible post by Stuart. Again, please stop trying to make Frank Martin’s tweet into something its not. It was a joke get over it. And this site is going down hill. get better writers.