Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
The Pangos All-American Camp came calling this weekend and many prospects who find themselves on UK’s radar made the trip out West. This is a top notch event, which crowned John Wall as their most outstanding player a year ago. Here’s a run down of how some of the UK recruits performed:
- Harrison Barnes didn’t start the first game with his best jump shot available but the big news was that he was able to make the adjustment and began driving the ball to the hole and took the hacks while finishing at the rim. The 6′6″ wing was confident with the ball, scored when he had to and made the defense pay for their mistakes. Overall, Barnes continues to receive great assessments for his basketball IQ and his ability to help his team win. It was reported this past week that Barnes will stay after the tourney and take unofficial visits to UCLA and Stanford. Barnes is smart kid with a high GPA, so many believe he’ll pick his school with academic considerations somewhere on the list. Duke has been rumored as one of the schools to beat along with Kansas and Bill Self. Cal wasn’t recruiting Barnes at Memphis, so this is one of the catch-up recruits for UK but all reports seem to lead one to believe that Cal is doing a good job of getting in with him.
- Will Barton was another 6′6″ wing getting a lot of respect in Cali. Barton was able to find the rim almost every time he tried and was finishing with either hand. He has the ability to slash with the best in the class and, from what we’ve seen so far out of him through the spring, he is in for a great showing this AAU season. Scout.com feels like he has solidified his spot as a top 2 guard and top 10 overall prospect in his class. I haven’t been able to read anything remotely associated with AAU basketball without hearing people swoon over how Barton is playing. Its really getting a little old, unless of course he commits to UK…then I’ll start enjoying it a little more. Otherwise, it just makes me covet him in a John Wall-esque unhealthy sort of way and I find him consuming too many of my thoughts throughout the day.
- Quincy Miller, a 2011 wing, is showing that he has a lot of potential. He’s one to continue to follow throughout the summer to see how his game develops against the better competition. At Pangos, he hit 4 three-pointers on the first day of play, showing off his outside game. He’s a prospect that recently moved to North Carolina and seems enamored with the scene in his new home state. He’ll be a hard one to pull out of NC but many top coaches are willing to give it a shot as his list boasts big names like Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, South Carolina, Purdue and all the North Carolina-based universities.
- 2010 PG prospect Joe Jackson showed off his usual skills: speed and defensive pressure. He has the ability to make quick passes and blow by defenders to get to the rim. Jackson grew up a Memphis fan so Pastner has a leg up on the rest of the competition. However, Cal did develop a good relationship with Jackson while he was at Memphis and has carried that over to UK. Tennessee and Bruce Bruce are also recruiting Jackson but I’ve not heard any word yet on whether Jackson has aspirations of a future rap career, so his interest in UT is not yet fully known.
- Doron Lamb, 2010 SG, was highly touted for his ability to carry his team. He played great defense and was knocking down his jump shots. The second day proved to be more of the same as Doron continued to shoot spot on. When his shot is falling, he is really able to fill up the score card quick. Lamb plans on trying to work a UK visit into his busy schedule this summer, according to Scout.com. He also noted that he is a big fan of UK assistant coach Rod Strickland who, like Lamb, also attended Oak Hill Academy.
- Terrence Jones is a prospect who is being followed by many of the top schools and UK is reportedly one that has recently jumped in. The 2010 PF is what you would call the classic matchup problem. At 6′8″ 220 lbs. he has the size to bang down low but also has the ability to step outside and knock down the three pointer from time to time. Jones’ inside-outside game begs comparison to Ohio State commit Deshaun Thomas. When players of their size can knock down threes consistently, the defenders are at their mercy because there are no weaknesses to play off of. Jones may be developing that type of game and, if so, he’ll be a force at the next level. He’s a lefty with a long wing span and is having a good spring and summer so far.
A couple of youngsters have been added to the list of prospects that UK is pursuing:
- Keaton Miles told Scout.com that Kentucky has been working their way into the mix with him. This 2011 Texas wingman that has an interesting background. He was being recruited by Billy Gillispie’s staff and is playing fairly well on the AAU circuit this summer. He also plays for the Dallas Mustangs which is the old AAU team that Nolan Dennis, the former Calipari commit, played for. Cal has the “foot in the door” with that AAU team, obviously, so it’ll be interesting to see how he uses it and how strongly he tries to woo Keaton. With his size, there were questions about which way he would develop his game, either more power or small forward. Scout.com believes that he is going more in the small forward direction. He is also starting to feel more confidence for his game and that has led to more assertiveness on the court. Arizona, Indiana, all the teams in Texas and Oklahoma State are involved as well.
- 2011 wing Ramon Eaton told Scout.com that he is hearing from the Cats. He is from Sacramento, CA and is made from the athletic mold that Calipari seems to enjoy. Rivals.com has described him as a long, skilled, smooth forward. He is two years away from stepping foot on a college campus and is already 6′8″ so he’ll most likely be projected as a big man with abilities to face the basket. Southern Cal and Kentucky are the two big name schools looking at Eaton at this time, according to Scout.com.
Other Notes:
- Jesse Berry spoke to Rivals and said that he is not sure whether Kentucky has offered a scholarship yet. Through channels within his camp, he believes that they have. He also spoke rather glowingly about playing for Coach Cal. He is a good shooter but probably needs to work on not disappearing during certain points in his games. He is on an extremely talented team, which includes Dominique Ferguson, and that may have something to do with that. When he puts his best effort into his matchups, he has the ability to be a good combo guard, making athletic drives toward the rim and knocking down outside shots. Its seems like Cal’s interest is growing and landing Berry might be a step in the right direction to landing Ferguson, although, AAU relationships aren’t necessarily that close amongst players.
- Espn is reporting that Coach Sean Miller is excited to show newly open Justin Martin his new toys at Arizona. Martin re-opened his commitment earlier this week after being previously committed to UL. Martin and Miller were close when Miller was at Xavier and this only confirms what many had believed, that Martin would give Miller another shot this time around especially since he is at Arizona now.
- I’ll have a few more notes from the rest of the Pango’s tournament tomorrow.
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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May 31st, 2009 at 6:53 pm
New thread… Take it away, SaveUk….
May 31st, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Terrence Jones has to move up two more spots to be a five star from Rivals and then that will qualify him to be a Cat.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Great writeup Dustin. This is great. I love having your articles on here.
Great job
May 31st, 2009 at 7:07 pm
2. True
May 31st, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Strong post.
Good Job
May 31st, 2009 at 7:19 pm
thanks again dusin
May 31st, 2009 at 7:20 pm
From Kiges twitter “NCAA Baseball game Fla St - 32 Ohio St - 0 I am not kidding”
I hate baseball, but I would prolly watch that lol
May 31st, 2009 at 7:37 pm
#7 I don’t like baseball either because its to slow but that sounds like a game I would watch because it sounds like at least one team is creating some major action.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:37 pm
2010 Dream Class : Roscoe Smith, Will Barton, Adreian Payne, Dominique Ferguson & Harrison Barnes plus one or two more 5star recruits.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:44 pm
I want Doron Lamb…he’d be one of those 3 or 4 year all-american guards.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:49 pm
#9 You forgot a pg: I take Irving but you can’t go wrong with Irving or
Knight
May 31st, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Anyone know when this coming seasons schedule will be out?
May 31st, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Doron Lamb is a headcase supposedly, and I’ve heard Knight is a Miami lean.
May 31st, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Here is something to think about:
Our 2009 class is amazing, being mentioned in the top 5 of all time.
Our 2010 class will be equally amazing
They both will have nothing on our 2011 class. That class is going to be
freakin unreal and that will be on a team where Dodson/Miller will be seniors
Hood/Bledsoe/Orton will be juniors, and whoever we get in the 2010 class will
be soph. We will be returning a loaded 201
May 31st, 2009 at 8:11 pm
***Will be returning a loaded 2011 squad while adding a unreal 2011
class.
May 31st, 2009 at 8:13 pm
#13… Wall was heard to be a Miami lean too, you see how that worked out.
Who won the KSR picture contest?? anyone know….
May 31st, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Anyone else concerned about the beating we are taking with the media? Its only going to get worse over the next few weeks.
May 31st, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Xavier Henry rumors galore??
http://www.theplaymakersblog.blogspot.com
May 31st, 2009 at 10:17 pm
The Xavier Henry situation is getting strange. Should UK give him a chance or not?
Xavier chose Kansas, so Cal took Dobson.
If if Meeks does not return, I would forget about X Henry.
May 31st, 2009 at 10:28 pm
#17 Why do you say it is going to get worse, is there more to the story?
If not I would think it would die down the more the facts keep coming out.
I think it already has
May 31st, 2009 at 10:30 pm
#19 Did Henry really choose KU or was it just a all of a sudden
ackward situation, he felt pressure, and choose the school his mom
really wanted him to go too? I don’t know but I have always thought
that Henry really wanted to follow Cal to UK but his mother really
pushed him towards KU.
Plus I think (again, I am not sure) that Cal said he would have taken
Dodson no matter what Henry decided to do.
May 31st, 2009 at 10:32 pm
May 31st, 2009 at 10:32 pm
#18 HOLY S***, Reel em in Cali baby. If he could some how pull this off….I will worship him lol
May 31st, 2009 at 10:39 pm
May 31st, 2009 at 10:40 pm
24 - Never say never.
May 31st, 2009 at 10:41 pm
May 31st, 2009 at 10:48 pm
May 31st, 2009 at 10:50 pm
May 31st, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Suave so what happen if Xavier did come here and Meeks came back who scholorship will go away.
May 31st, 2009 at 10:53 pm
He cant away Hood scholorship
because I am sure Mitch B wouldnt like that he tried to take out a ride from a kentucky Kid.
May 31st, 2009 at 10:55 pm
29 - Guessing it would come down to Liggins, Galloway, and Pilgrim, but this is just a guess at this point.
May 31st, 2009 at 10:56 pm
#29 I don’t know but here is what I think I know. If Meeks returns
we need two more openings to get everyone we have in.
I think we may have 3 leave, all of which will leave on their own.
unfortuntley Pilgrim maybe one of those, not because Calipari wants him
to go but because Pilgrim just might want to go but that might depend
on if he can get a waiver or not.
So it looks like it doesn’t matter in terms of scholorships if Meeks stays
or goes because even if he stays we might have a spot still open.
This is just my opinion
May 31st, 2009 at 10:57 pm
#30 Nor would Calipari want to take Hood’s scholorship. Hood fits Cal’s
system and gives him a 4 year player who is very good to help build a
solid foundation.
May 31st, 2009 at 10:59 pm
idiots on Catpauses are saying that Cal should ask Hood to walk on because his family is rich
May 31st, 2009 at 11:01 pm
IMO our point guards from last year are gone if he wants Henry. I think the bigger question is “What is really going on with Henry?” just rumors at this point. Story tommorow could be that none of that had any truth to it lol
May 31st, 2009 at 11:04 pm
35 - Valid points. I doubt we’ll know anything on the brothers Henry until after Meeks makes his decision. I can’t recall the withdrawal date from the draft but thinking it’s June 15th or something similar.
May 31st, 2009 at 11:05 pm
#34 lol Rich people are rich usually because they are cheap asZs I know many like this
I don’t see that happening AT ALL.
I’m the opposite btw, I make it rain everywhere I go! I do it for the lulz
May 31st, 2009 at 11:05 pm
#34 nessa are you serious? That is crazy. Hood is good enough to get
a scholorship at any program with an opening right now. Duke wanted Hood
really bad.
Hood is a lot better than people think he is. He is a 6′7 shooting guard,
who can shoot, handle the ball very well, pass very well, very athletic,
very good bball IQ, and will probably be a leader of the team for the next
4 years.
No way Cal even has thought about taking a scholorship from Hood. Now way
he would take a scholorship from Hood when there are still scholorship players
on the roster who won’t even get to play.
There are a lot of players you take a scholorship away from first before Hood.
May 31st, 2009 at 11:05 pm
30- Actually… would it be that hard, in state tuition, KEES money, possibly academic, get that stuff together for his first year then put him on money next year when we have a TON of scholarships.
May 31st, 2009 at 11:06 pm
34- nessa, pot meet kettle.
May 31st, 2009 at 11:09 pm
There is no one who can say for sure that Dodson is going to be better
than Hood. That is how much potential Hood has.
Hood reminds me a lot of Jeff Shepard and we know what he meant to UK
when he played
May 31st, 2009 at 11:15 pm
My only beef with Hood is that he is REALLY slow. Sure he can shoot and jump REALLY high but he’ll be meeting our player when they are heading the other way down the court. He’ll miss out on most of the offense for being slow. LOL
May 31st, 2009 at 11:16 pm
41- If Hood chose to “walk-on” his 1st year he might make governor before Richie.
May 31st, 2009 at 11:17 pm
i dont want Xavier ugly a## he chose KU over UK…forget that fool…seeyah player…besides Dodson gonna be a stud at the Commenwealth!!
May 31st, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Wouldn’t you think Galloway, Liggins and Harrelson would be gone before Hood??
May 31st, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Weren’t both Dodson and Henry going to Memphis together anyway? The key to this whole thing is Meeks. If Meeks goes pro then Henry is coming to UK. I have a gut feeling and trust me, I gotta a big gut! LOL
May 31st, 2009 at 11:21 pm
but wouldnt the 13 Scholorship now be.
the 6 freshman
meeks
patterson
Miller
galloway
Stevenson
harris
and maybe Josh H.
So wouldnt xavier scholorship come from galloway or Josh H.
May 31st, 2009 at 11:25 pm
wth….why you acting like its a for sure thing X is coming here…just remember he chose KU over UK…that dont sit well from where i am….if UK not first choice with Cal here…then we dont have a jersey for you enjoy watching us cut down the nets in April,while your home cleaning your mothers house!!
May 31st, 2009 at 11:42 pm
48-None of these kids are here for UK except maybe Miller and Hood. Other than that they are here for Cal and that’s what X wanted but momma X had to have her way.
June 1st, 2009 at 8:34 am
If Jodie stays in the draft I look for someone to be added to the roster, just my gut. Cal is a great recruiter and X maybe the player. I believe in this coach. Change will be worth waiting for it just won’t happen overnight. Fans need to be patient and let Cal develope his style of play and team.
June 1st, 2009 at 9:35 am
Dustin, I wasnt very excited about the addition of another contributor to the site, especially being recruiting based. I was thinking you may be starved for info in the slow periods but I really think you have done a great job.