(Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)
Former Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins is right on the cusp of a return to the hardwood.
Following his torn left quad suffered back on April 16, Cousins is expected to play at some point during the NBA Finals.
In an official press release, the Golden State Warriors said today that the 6-foot-11 big man is making “good progress” and practiced with the team today.
“Cousins also continues to make good progress with his rehabilitation and practiced with the team today for the first time since suffering the injury on April 16,” the release said. “It’s anticipated that he will play at some point during the 2019 NBA Finals, but the exact date is to be determined and depends on his progress.”
After sitting out one more week, Cousins’ status will be updated next Wednesday.
During his first media appearance since the injury, the former Wildcat said he doesn’t know which game he’ll play in during the Finals, but he’s “feeling better than [he] did before.”
“I’m taking it one day at a time, but we’ll see what happens,” he said.
Here is the entire clip:
DeMarcus Cousins speaks in front of the group for first time since his injury. Says he’s not targeting specific Finals game, but clear he’s near return. pic.twitter.com/w1DCQ2fB1T
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 23, 2019
In nine years playing in the NBA, Cousins has been active in just two playoff games.
Now, the former Kentucky star finally has the chance to return to the hardwood and help his team win a ring.
Late Tuesday night, under the cloak of darkness, one of the last big puzzle pieces in the 2019 recruiting class officially fell. After a back-and-forth recruitment, one that left even the best recruiting experts uncertain of where he’d land, Jaden McDaniels officially decided to play at Washington.
Although Washington was the spot that McDaniels’ recruitment had trended for weeks, no one really knew where he’d end up… until he actually ended up there, choosing the Huskies over Kentucky while most fans slept the night away.
But with McDaniels’ recruitment officially closed, another reality set in for Kentucky on Wednesday morning: For the Wildcats to reach their full potential next season, they need EJ Montgomery to come back to Lexington. As a matter of fact, I think you could make a legitimate case that of all the players who are still truly “testing the waters” in the NBA Draft process, Montgomery is the most important decision left anywhere in college basketball.
— Jmac (@Jmcdaniels7) May 22, 2019
Now to be clear, this isn’t just about McDaniels’ decision to go elsewhere, as it was never really an “either/or” kind of deal between the two. Although both are listed at 6’11, they play a completely different style of game, with McDaniels much more comfortable putting the ball on the floor as more of a hybrid, new-age four-man in the mold of Kevin Durant, Tracy McGrady or Michael Porter Jr. (to be clear, I’m not comparing McDaniels upside to any of those players – just his style of play). Montgomery, as we all saw last year, is more of a traditional four-man, not quite as comfortable making plays for himself, but more competent around the rim and in the paint.
Had McDaniels chosen Kentucky he wouldn’t have necessarily been a player to “replace” Montgomery, but instead one to compliment him.
Still with McDaniels finally of the picture, Reid Travis graduated, and PJ Washington gone after his sophomore year, there is in fact a gaping hole in the Kentucky front-court. And the best option to fill that spot and maximize the potential out of this entire Kentucky team would be for Montgomery to return.
The bottom-line is that Montgomery fills an incredible void for the Wildcats next year as a big-time threat down low. Admittedly, he didn’t have a great offensive season last year (averaging just four points a game) but did show flashes, with 11 points and 13 boards against South Carolina, and a couple other double-figure scoring games, to go along with several more where he helped the team on the glass. Considering his pedigree as a McDonald’s All-American it doesn’t seem far-fetched to assume that he would make a leap similar to PJ Washington last summer and become a focal point of the offense. He might not become an All-SEC caliber player like Washington. But it isn’t necessarily inconceivable either.
Just as important, his skill-set certainly fits with the other guys that Kentucky is projected to have back. If the Wildcats want to go big, Montgomery can play the four-spot, with Nick Richards (assuming Richards returns as well) serving as a rim protector and true center. If they want to go small, Montgomery would fit in well as a new-age five-man, with Kahlil Whitney stepping in at the four-spot. John Calipari wants to play position-less basketball, and the two of them really would make a dynamic duo together.
Because of that, Montgomery is the missing piece for Kentucky. The guy who makes them the heavy favorite in the SEC, and a legit national championship contender.
But without him? There is that gaping hole in the middle, with no obvious replacements available.
Looking at the other options, we all know that Richards doesn’t have the offensive upside of Montgomery, and I do worry about Nate Sestina’s ability to transition to the increased competition in the SEC. Kerry Blackshear is of course a possibility, but he seems hell bent on staying in the draft if at all possible. Beyond that, it seems like a reach to get any other high school players to reclassify, and no other grad transfers have been linked to UK either.
Yup, EJ Montgomery remains the best available option for a consistent front-court presence for the Wildcats next year.
Will he be back?
It could be the difference between the Wildcats being a legit title contender and a good, but not great team.
Construction is underway in Butchertown to complete a soccer-specific stadium for Louisville City FC. After starting the franchise at Louisville Slugger Field, the two-time defending USL Champions will move just a mile or two down the road into a home of their own next spring.
“I don’t see a scenario where we won’t be ready,” said one of the Messer construction officials. During the brief tour of the construction site, steel work was being installed on the roof of the facility.
The roof of the $65 million, 11,600-seat facility is set to be finished by July 4. Once that is complete, grass will be installed on the field as crews construct the surrounding infrastructure. The stadium overlooks the Louisville skyline, will feature suites just over the field level and host restaurants as tenants in the surrounding area.
The future club suites.
The view of downtown through the open end of the stadium.
Pull out your pocket schedule for Kentucky football’s 2022 season and pencil in Northern Illinois as an opponent on the home slate.
College football insider Brett McMurphy tweeted the breaking schedule scoop that NIU will play against UK in Lexington in 2022.
Cats and Huskies in three years. SEC versus the MAC. Get excited.
And that’s all I have to say about that.
Kroger Field continues to get better. Installation is underway to add bench backs to the North upper level, the latest upgrade in a series of renovations to Kentucky Football’s home.
Bench backs will be added to all seats in sections 201-203 and 209-211 that did not previously have bench backs. In total, nearly 5,000 seats will be affected by the project, which started in early May and will be completed prior to the start of the 2019 season. UK Athletics has now reached its goal of installing bench-back or chair-back seating throughout Kroger Field, with the exception of the student section, where bleachers will remain to accommodate as many students as possible.
More good news: even though bench backs are being added to the North upper level, season and single-game ticket prices in the affected areas will remain the same. Season tickets are now available at UKFootballTix.com. Single game tickets will go on sale later this summer.
Following a banner year for the program, season ticket sales are strong, with 90% of 2018 season ticket holders renewing soon after the priority renewal deadline on April 12. With nearly 3,000 new season tickets sold, overall sales have reached 98% of last year’s final total as of April 23.
Go Cats. Go Krogering.
@Jaguars
Josh Allen is officially a Jacksonville Jaguar.
College football’s consensus 2018 National Defensive Player of the Year put pen to paper Thursday afternoon to sign his first NFL contract with the Jaguars.
“It feels good to focus on football now, and just worry about football – and not worry about anything off the field,” Allen said. “I know everything’s settled in now. I’m ready for my family to get down here, and be a Jacksonville Jaguar for life.
“I’m just ready to make a name for myself in the National Football League. It’s official. I’m officially a Jaguar. It feels great.”
The terms of his contract have not yet been leaked to the public. Last year the other Josh Allen was picked in the same spot, seventh overall. He signed a 4-year contract worth more than $21 million that included a $13 million signing bonus. If Allen gets anywhere near that, today was certainly a good day.
Even though Allen will briefly be sidelined with a knee contusion, the former Wildcat is still in good enough shape to get PAID.
@CoachCalDotCom
The Kentucky basketball father/son camp has been a staple in the Bluegrass for years. Now it’s the girls’ turn.
This summer John Calipari will host the first ever Kentucky Basketball Father/Daughter Camp. Fathers and daughters will receive individual instruction from UK basketball players and coaches during the one-day event. The skill work is designed to give both father and daughter drills and techniques to take home and continue working on together.
The camp is set for June 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Joe Craft Center and costs $198 for the father-daughter combo. It’s open to all fathers and daughters from ages 6-17, regardless of basketball experience. Campers will receive two sessions of instruction, lunch, a camp t-shirt and photo/autograph opportunities with the players and coaches.
Online registration is now open. Click here to find more information on the camp. If you’re interested in other Kentucky basketball camps, you’ll find all that information here.
Today, Tyler Herro is showing off his skills at Excel Sports’ Pro Day in New York City, and in case there was any doubt, he’s still a bucket. Watch Herro nail three after three from NBA range in this shooting drill:
And again in the same drill pic.twitter.com/xksp6n9G6k
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 23, 2019
Here’s Herro breaking down his shot at the NBA Draft Combine last week:
From the NBA Draft Combine: Breaking down film with one of the most versatile shooters in the draft, Kentucky guard Tyler Herro. pic.twitter.com/ik8RiOtdRE
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) May 23, 2019
Herro is just outside the lottery in most major mock drafts, with ESPN’s Jonathan Givony projecting him to go No. 16 to the Orlando Magic in his post-lottery mock last week. It’ll be interesting to see if shooting performances like today’s cause his stock to rise.
Xavier Peters hopes the NCAA will grant him immediate eligibility at Kentucky next season. The former Florida State linebacker will apply for a hardship waiver, explaining the need to be closer to his young son as his reason for transferring to Kentucky. Peters is from West Chester, Ohio, just outside of Cincinnati.
He took to Twitter on Thursday to say, “I hope the @NCAAFootball respect my decision by coming home to take care of my son the right way. I needed to play closer to home so I can show him how much love him & how much I missed him. It’s a dream come true to be playing in front of my son.” (@XavierPeters22)
The tweet was a response to a story written by Larry Vaught, in which Vince Marrow is quoted as saying, “If I was at the NCAA and a guy really wants to be a father, especially speaking as an African-American man, I would like to see him get that opportunity. Obviously we would like to have him but mainly I would like to see him get it (the waiver) being a young African-American father who wants to be around his kid.”
Peters appeared in only two games as a true freshman in Florida State last season, which should help his case.
It is only the second day of OTAs down in Jacksonville and Josh Allen is already sidelined with an injury. Don’t worry, though. Reports out of the Jaguars camp say it is only a minor injury, a knee contusion suffered in his first practice, and he was held out Thursday to play it safe.
Allen’s new head coach, Doug Marrone, said, “We’re just keeping him on the side, working. He’ll be fine. We’re not concerned about it.” Marrone added he has “zero” concern about the injury long term.
The news may be a little scary and all too familiar to Jags fans. You may remember: Dante Fowler Jr., the team’s top pick in the 2015 draft, who also happened to be an elite pass rusher, tore his ACL on the first day of mini-camp and missed his entire rookie season.
Allen’s situation isn’t nearly as significant or as drastic as Fowler’s, but he is expected to miss practice once again on Friday.
(Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports)
Remember Mikel Horton? He was the Kentucky running back who scored the late game-winning touchdown to beat Louisiana-Lafayette, back when Kentucky needed a late game-winning touchdown to beat Louisiana-Lafayette. It was one of his five touchdowns on 144 carries in 27 career games.
Horton came to Lexington as a highly-touted, four-star prospect out of Ohio; ranked as the 12th-best running back and the No. 150 overall talent in the Class of 2013; but decided to transfer early in his junior season once he slipped down the depth chart behind a young Benny Snell and a junior Boom Williams and a senior JoJo Kemp. He never returned to college football.
So where is he now?
If you guessed pursuing a rap career in Cincinnati under the name Fuego Tunez, you’re the winner. You can catch some of his bars in this music video I found on YouTube (lyrics not appropriate for work or children):
I will now use this space to shout out his Spotify page because I don’t know what else to add to the Mikel Horton is a rapper story. I just thought some of you UK football fans might find this interesting because Horton was an exciting pickup for Mark Stoops early on and then he completely disappeared from football for a life of auto-tune.
The holiday weekend is coming up — but before you hit the road, make sure to download the newest episode of the Aaron Torres Sports Podcast. Aaron discusses Jaden McDaniels commitment and what it means for Washington and Kentucky, as well as the hire of Juwan Howard at Michigan. Then he is joined by his old friend Eric Musselman, who recently took the Arkansas Razorbacks head coaching gig. Here is a rundown of today’s show:
Jaden McDaniels commits to Washington: Late Tuesday one of the last big dominos in college basketball recruiting fell when Jaden McDaniels committed to Washington. Aaron explains why its huge for the Dawgs, and why Washington should start the season in the Top 15. Also, he explains what it means for Kentucky, and why the return of E.J. Montgomery now becomes that much more important.
Juwan Howard is the new head coach at Michigan: Aaron breaks down the decision by Michigan to hire Juwan Howard as its next head coach. While some in the media have questioned the hire, Aaron actually thinks it works. He explains why you shouldn’t compare Howard to Penny Hardaway or Chris Mullin, but instead, another former NBA star turned active college coach.
Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman joins the show: So a little over a year ago Aaron got everyone on “The Muss Bus” and Eric Musselman once again makes his return to the Aaron Torres Sports Podcast. Musselman talks about his decision to leave Nevada, why the Arkansas job was so appealing, and how he plans to recruit and build the program. Also, can he convince Aaron to make a trip down to Fayetteville for a game next season?
Get the podcast delivered directly to your phone by subscribing to the Aaron Torres Sports Podcast feed on iTunes or via Android’s Podcast Addict app. You can easily listen on the KSR App, available on iTunes and Google Play. Streaming online is simple through Pod Paradise. Don’t forget to follow the show on Instagram too.
(Photo: Buccaneers.com)
Mike Edwards is off to a great start at his new job.
The former Kentucky safety, now a promising young professional with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is making big plays in his first offseason season workouts in the NFL. The Buccaneers’ website posts daily reports after each OTA workout, and Edwards is responsible for two of the “The Best Thing I Saw” plays in the first five days.
Edwards’ first big play came on Day 2 of OTAs when he batted down a pass on a blitz:
THE BEST THING I SAW:
Rookie safety Mike Edwards was coming in on a blitz, never took his eyes off the quarterback and as soon as he went to throw, Edwards got UP and smacked the ball down. If this were the NBA, it would have been on a poster. The ball stood absolutely no chance and it was incredible to watch. [Buccaneers.com]
Then on Day 4 of OTAs, he jumped the read and picked off a pass:
THE BEST THING I SAW:
I feel like I probably shouldn’t be surprised anymore, but rookie safety Mike Edwards made a great read and jumped in front of an underneath route to nab himself an interception on the first field today. He was drafted for how smart of a player he is and he’s showing that very early on during his first couple of weeks with the team. [Buccaneers.com]
Edwards is already getting time with the first team and is expected to be a serious contributor on Tampa Bay’s defense next fall.
On today’s edition of Kentucky Sports Radio radio, Matt Jones and Ryan Lemond are at KSJail for the third straight day to talk about the latest in BBN and Ryan’s incarceration. Tune in.
Join in on the fun by calling (502) 571-1080 or send a text to the KSR Texting Machine at (772) 774-5254.
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Less than a week away from the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline, workouts for pro prospects are cranking up around the country. Tyler Herro will take the court today in New York City to show off his skills in front of scouts in a pro day setting. He appears to be in good form ahead of the event.
Kentucky's Tyler Herro scorching the nets In NYC as he prepares for his Pro Day tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/FTIPMH7aF1
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 22, 2019
E.J. Montgomery got things rolling yesterday. The power forward was in San Antonio to workout for the Spurs. Keldon Johnson had a pro day of his own in Phoenix in front of NBA scouts. One of the more polarizing players in the draft, teams either love his potential or hate his inconsistency.
Kentucky wing Keldon Johnson showing off his explosiveness today. Powerful athlete when he gets downhill. pic.twitter.com/RIDOhwhfYF
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) May 22, 2019
Slow-motion look at Keldon Johnson’s shooting stroke. He converted over 38% from 3 as a freshman at Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/Ce8k3ENZ9C
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) May 22, 2019
Aside from the players on the hardwood, there’s plenty of other news circulating around the Big Blue Nation.
Mitch Barnhart Named AD of the Year
Sports Business Journal confirmed what we already knew — Mitch Barnhart is the best athletic director in America. Over the last 17 years in Lexington, he’s improved facilities and raised the standard for every athletic program.
“I am honored and thankful to represent the University of Kentucky in receiving this award,” Barnhart said. “It’s truly a testament to the incredible work our student-athletes, coaches and staff have done to build a program to make the Big Blue Nation and the Commonwealth proud. I also want to say a special thank you to my wife, Connie, and my entire family for taking this journey with me. We have much work ahead of us though, and we can’t wait to do it.”
Louisville City Stadium Tour
Louisville’s professional soccer team will get a new stadium next spring. Today construction crews are opening their doors to show progress on the $65 million facility. I’ll be wearing my hardhat with KRC crew to check out the new digs and share with the KSR audience.
OTAs are Underway
NFL teams have reported back to camp for a week of practice, which means guys like Benny Snell and Josh Allen are getting their first taste of action against NFL vets. I’ll let you know how they’ve fared so far a little later today.
@jawaan_taylor74
A HUGE Game 5
I’ll admit, I haven’t watched a lot of these NBA playoffs. That changes tonight when the Milwaukee Bucks host the Toronto Raptors at 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT. The series is currently dead even at 2-2. The winner of tonight’s game will more than likely be the team tasked to take down the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. No pressure.
You People are Crazy
Somebody is driving around Lexington with “Free Ryan Lemond” on the back of their car.
Join the movement. @DrewFranklinKSR @KySportsRadio @ryanlemond @ShannonTheDude pic.twitter.com/ZsX0u0zbzV
— Jordan (@JordanMathus) May 22, 2019
Even the Bang This Twins have gotten involved.
My boys, the #BangThisTwins have a special message for @ryanlemond @KySportsRadio @DrewFranklinKSR @KSBarAndGrille @MrsTylerKSR pic.twitter.com/KGURSw2hP2
— J.D. Shelburne (@JDSHELBURNE) May 23, 2019
People have taken Ryan Lemond’s “Putt for Prison” failure to hilarious and generous extremes. To shorten Ryan’s sentence, Matt Jones tasked fans to raise $10,000 for charity. That goal was reached in just a few hours. Matt upped the ante, offering to stay a night with Drew and Ryan if fans reached the $15,000 mark. This morning the GoFundMe has exceeded $16,000. Incredible.
Why stop now? Click here to continue to help CASA of Lexington, the Epilepsy Foundation of Kentuckiana and SCORE International. The KSR crew will be back on air with the latest from KSJail in just an hour.