Devonta Pollard Likes Kentucky

Devonta Pollard lives in Mississippi, but he’s feeling some love for Kentucky.

“Really everyone in Kentucky lives and dies basketball, so I like that,” Pollard, the No. 2 small forward in the Class of 2012 out of Porterville (Miss). Kemper County, said by phone from the Kevin Durant Skills Academy. “And I like the program that they have.

“And they always build a strong relationship with all their players.”

When he first heard he had been offered by Kentucky, he said, “I was a little surprised, and I was thankful.”

The 6-foot-8, 194-pound Pollard holds a ton of high-major offers.

http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/06/28/devonta-pollard-likes-kentucky/

NCAA Top 20 non-conference games in 2011-12

By Jeff Goodman


I’ve gone ahead and made your life easy, compiling the ultimate checklist of the top non-conference games of the 2011-12 college basketball campaign. 

TOP 20 NON-CONFERENCE GAMES

1) North Carolina at Kentucky, Dec. 3 -- Nearly everyone will have these two teams at No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation entering the season. Rematch of last year’s Elite Eight contest. 

2) Louisville at Kentucky, Dec. 31 -- There’s nothing like a New Year’s Eve tilt between these two rivals. The fan bases despise one another -- and there’s no shortage of disdain between the coaches, either. 

3) North Carolina vs. Michigan State, Nov. 11 -- This game will take place in San Diego on an aircraft carrier, maybe even the same one that buried Bin Laden. 

4) Duke at Ohio State, Nov. 29 -- This is the top matchup in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. It’ll be interesting to see if the Blue Devils have an answer for Jared Sullinger. 

5) Kansas vs. Kentucky, Nov. 15 -- This game is part of the Champions Classic -- a three-year round-robin involving these two programs -- as well as Michigan State and Duke. It’ll take place at Madison Square Garden this year. 



http://college-basketball-blog.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/26283066/30295826

Early 2012 draft breakdown: Top sophs, sleepers, one-and-dones

Before the 2011 draft had even concluded, NBA talent evaluators were lamenting how strong it might have been had all of the NCAA's elite players been available. The 2012 draft will be loaded and American-centric, with the trade value of top-20 picks significantly higher than it was this June.

"If you redid [the 2011] draft with the top college kids who passed, they all would have gone in the lottery," one scout said. "But that doesn't mean we won't pick apart their games the more we see them."

With that in mind, we present a categorical breakdown of next year's draft pool, beginning with what scouts hope to see from four super sophomores:

Top one-and-done candidates

1. Anthony Davis, Fr., PF, Kentucky: He may be too raw to dominate in college hoops from Day 1, and isn't likely to put up numbers on par with Barnes and Sullinger, but that won't stop scouts from viewing Davis as the best prospect in the 2012 draft pool. He's far from filling out his 6-10 frame -- his late growth spurt was what pushed him from anonymity to five-star recruit -- but he'll make athletic plays around the rim, and will have no trouble keeping up with speedy freshman point guard Marquis Teague (also a one-and-done candidate) in transition.

2. Michael Gilchrist, Fr., SF, Kentucky: Gilchrist is the rare blue-chip recruit who's famous for his defense, and he's expected to be one of college basketball's most feared, tenacious defenders in '11-12. At 6-7, with a 6-11 wingspan, he could feasibly guard four positions for the Wildcats, and make a huge impact on a team that should contend for the national title. Scouts love his aggressiveness, and while he's unlikely to be selected ahead of Davis in next year's draft, Gilchrist won't have to wait long to hear his name called by an NBA team.

3. James Michael McAdoo, Fr., PF, North Carolina: The Tar Heels' abundance of first-round-caliber forwards (Tyler Zeller, John Henson, Barnes) will keep McAdoo from starting, but he'll see the floor enough to show off his offensive polish in the post. He's far more advanced, skill-wise, than Henson was as a freshman, and could have a long career in the pros as a back-to-the-basket power forward.

4. Brad Beal, Fr., SG, Florida: The Gators' backcourt is stocked with scorers, but Beal is the best pro prospect on their roster. He will stand out because of his shooting range and the overall smoothness of his game. At 6-4, he's a few inches shorter than the first shooting guards who went off the board in 2011 (Washington State's Klay Thompson and Colorado's Alec Burks), but his body looks NBA-ready even at the age of 18.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/luke_winn/06/28/2012.NBA.draft/index.html#ixzz1QbWq3iGP

Kanter’s pro career will alter perception of year at UK

Enes Kanter isn’t afraid to be bold with his assertions. He told Utah to “get ready for the Undertaker.” He said his sport of choice outside of basketball is ping-pong. He also said UK would have won the championship if he was eligible to play. That hypothetical may or may not be true. We have no way of knowing. But regardless of the outcome to that theoretical season, a small “What if” segment will always be contained with the 2010-11 season. What if he had been eligible? Would UK have taken largely the same path to the end, except having Kanter would provide the needed boost to win it all? Or would his presence from the start have taken UK on a completely different trajectory, with the inability to know (or even guess) the end point? Would a Kanter-led UK have actually reached the potential we place on that hypothetical squad?


http://kykernel.com/2011/06/26/kanters-pro-career-will-alter-perception-of-year-at-uk/

Josh in the studio New York City

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/sports/Knicks_Rookies_Invade_Mike_d_Up_New_York-124595169.html

John Calipari extended at Kentucky

Kentucky has awarded men's basketball coach John Calipari with a two-year contract extension and a raise, giving him a total of eight more years with the Wildcats, the school announced Monday.

"What John Calipari has done on and off the court in the past two years to reunite and rejuvenate this fan base has been magical," athletic director Mitch Barnhart said. "He understands the responsibility that goes along with this position and there is no other coach out there that is a better fit for the best basketball program in the country."

Calipari's previous contract was $31.65 million for eight years. The new deal is worth $36.5 million with the opportunity to earn performance-based incentives.

Barnhart said he wanted to align Calipari's contract to run concurrently with his own eight-year deal. He said the new contract evens out Calipari's base salary and restructures and adds some longevity bonuses to reflect the school's commitment to keeping him.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6708023

UK REWARDS COACH CAL WITH 8 YEAR CONTRACT

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari, who led the Wildcats to the school’s 14th NCAA Final Four appearance last season, has been rewarded with an eight-year contract worth a total of $36.5 million plus the opportunity for performance-based incentives, UK Director of Athletics Mitch Barnhart announced Monday. See attachments for the actual contract which includes an amendment to the previous agreement along with details of the eight-year deal.

“What John Calipari has done on and off the court in the past two years to reunite and rejuvenate this fan base has been magical,” Barnhart said. “He understands the responsibility that goes along with this position and there is no other coach out there that is a better fit for the best basketball program in the country.”

http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/062711aab.html

4 Wildcats Selected In NBA Draft - Cincinnati News Story - WLWT Cincinnati

4 Wildcats Selected In NBA Draft - Cincinnati News Story - WLWT Cincinnati

John Clay: Gulf grows between UK, NCAA Cats Fans' paranoia isn't far-fetched

          Conflict mediators have to get with it. Their toughest challenge awaits. Think the current NFL lockout is an ongoing stretch of acrimonious road? Think the gap between the NBA and its players' union is so wide it could wipe out an entire season? Child's play, we say.
Try resolving the current fractured relationship that is Kentucky vs. the NCAA.
You might have a better chance getting Charlie Sheen back on Two and a Half Men.
If the NCAA is a membership-driven institution, one of its members is crying foul while the home office claims to be following standard operating procedure. Meanwhile, nits are picked, fingers are pointed and fans are flamed.

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/06/26/1789289/john-clay-gulf-grows-between-uk.html#ixzz1QOSHhRta

Cal Says His Nerves Got The Best Of Him At The Draft | LEX18.com | Lexington, Kentucky

John Calipari was nervous. So nervous he said he felt sick sitting at the draft tables with Enes Kanter and Brandon Knight at the NBA draft on Thursday.
He said on his website, CoachCal.com, that the draft was once again all about "the Kentucky effect."
Cal said that's part of the reason why Josh Harrellson and DeAndre Liggins were drafted. The Kentucky effect.
Here's what Cal had to say on his website:
One of the toughest days I have is that Draft Day. Your worry is that a young man won't get drafted or he'll slip in his draft position. No one knows and to say you do know, well, you don't. NO ONE knows anything.


Cal Says His Nerves Got The Best Of Him At The Draft | LEX18.com | Lexington, Kentucky

5 questions with Enes Kanter

Enes Kanter is a 6-foot-11 center who was taken by the Utah Jazz with the third pick of the 2011 NBA Draft on Thursday night. The 19-year-old from Turkey had hoped to play collegiately for the University of Kentucky last season, but was ruled ineligible by the NCAA for money he received while playing in Europe.

Q  =Where did the nickname "Undertaker" come from?

A = "I am a fan of WWE and my favorite wrestler is the Undertaker. In Kentucky, friends call me Underkanter because Underkanter and Undertaker it's pretty like close names. So they just started calling me Underkanter and my nickname is Underkanter."

Read More Here

Knight's potential for stardom forces backcourt shake-up with Pistons

DETROIT -- The euphoria over Kentucky point guard Brandon Knight falling into the Pistons' lap at No. 8 in Thursday night's NBA draft wasn't necessarily shared with other members of a now-crowded backcourt.

The Pistons have an important decision to make. Knight's not coming here to sit. He's playing. And those minutes must come from somewhere. Knight's arrival forces the Pistons' hand in choosing either Rip Hamilton or Ben Gordon.

One definitely must go with Knight ordained as the new point guard and Joe Dumars still believing Rodney Stuckey is salvageable with another new coach, especially now that he's liberated from lead guard responsibilities.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/25/3726453/knights-potential-for-stardom.html#ixzz1QJihl8ZV

NBA: Knight Discusses Joining Pistons

Kanter Excited To Play for Jazz

Kanter, Knight among top eight NBA Draft picks; Harrellson, Liggins go in second round

For the second straight year, the University of Kentucky figured prominently in a NBA Draft. Only in comparison to last year's unprecedented five first-round picks would two players taken among the first eight Thursday night seem less than extraordinary.

Enes Kanter, the would-be UK player who never got the chance to play college basketball after being ruled permanently ineligible by the NCAA, was taken by the Utah Jazz with the third pick in the 2011 draft.

By contrast to the widespread speculation that Kanter would be picked third, former UK point guard Brandon Knight slipped to the eighth pick when he was taken by the Detroit Pistons. He did not work out for the Pistons before the draft, and now will join another former UK star, Tayshaun Prince, in the Motor City.

Knight declared himself "ecstatic" to be going to Detroit.

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/06/24/1786342/kanter-knight-in-top-eight-nba.html#storylink=mirelated#ixzz1QJi5kSp4

The ESPYs: The "John Wall"

Two of the best dancers in the ESPYs Class of 2011, John Wall and B.J. Raji, finally hit the Prom dance floor to see who's best. Seth Meyers decides to referee.

Josh Harrellson's NBA Draft Dream

Enes is Free

2011 NBA Draft Cats

Enes Kanter #3 to Utah

Brandon Knight #8 to Detroit

Josh Harrellson #45 by New Orleans

DeAndre Liggins #53 to Orlando

Go Cats!

Enes Kanter vs. Brandon Knight as Jazz face future

New York • The resignations of Jerry Sloan and Phil Johnson ignited the Jazz’s change. The trade of Deron Williams highlighted it. Tyrone Corbin’s promotion and the late-season ascension of rookies Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors accelerated it. But the true mark of Utah’s movement from the past to the future will be made Thursday, as the Jazz decide how to best utilize the Nos. 3 and 12 picks in the 2011 NBA Draft.

Enes Kanter or Brandon Knight? Jimmer Fredette, Alec Burks, Klay Thompson or Chris Singleton? Another unexpected blockbuster trade or a faithful adherence to a carefully planned script?

It’s decision time for Utah. The future has arrived. The most important draft in franchise history is here.  As of Wednesday evening, the Jazz appeared to be leaning toward Kanter over Knight at No. 3, creating space for a possible selection of Fredette at No. 12. However, Utah general manager Kevin O’Connor acknowledged Monday that the franchise was exploring all options with open eyes.http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/jazz/52058690-87/jazz-kanter-draft-utah.html.csp

Kanter Says He’s Best Player in NBA Draft

NEW YORK –Enes Kanter isn’t bashful. He believes if he had been eligible to play at Kentucky last season, the Wildcats would’ve won the NCAA championship and he would be the No. 1 pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft.
“I believe if I go play, I will go as No. 1 pick,” Kanter, who was ruled ineligible because of his professional background in Turkey, told reporters here Wednesday on the eve of the draft.
When he was asked to expand on his answer, he said, “Because I believe I’m the best player in this draft.”
Asked if he believes there’s a chance the Cleveland Cavaliers might take him instead of Duke point guard Kyrie Irving with the No. 1 pick, Kanter said, “Top three, yeah.”
He also said Kentucky, which lost to Kemba Walker and eventual national champ UConn in the Final Four, would’ve “dominated” college basketball had he suited up alongside fellow draft prospect Brandon Knight and stud freshmen Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones.
“Yes, we would’ve won national title,” Kanter said.

http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/06/22/kanter-says-hes-best-player-in-nba-draft/

2011-2012 Kentucky Basketball: "Written in the Stars (Magazine)"

Brandon Knight goes in the lab at Sports Science

UNC Football receives notice from NCAA of allegations

North Carolina has received a notice of allegations from the NCAA outlining numerous "potential major violations" in the football program, including unethical conduct by a former assistant coach as well as failure to adequately monitor the conduct of former and current players.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6688739

NBA Draft: Guards Knight, Walker offer Jazz options at No. 3

SALT LAKE CITY — For a guy considered undersized, junior Kemba Walker still managed to put the team on his back and carry UConn to the NCAA championship.
All Brandon Knight did as a freshman was produce a pair of knockout shots that propelled a young Kentucky squad into the Final Four.
Both guards figure to be sitting at No. 3 when the Utah Jazz pick in Thursday's NBA draft.

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/06/21/1783913/guards-knight-walker-offer-jazz.html#ixzz1Q0l4dsor

The Ultimate John Wall High School Mixtape: 2010 NBA #1 Draft Pick (Washington Wizards)

Basketball Class of 2012 Top 100

Post players over 6-foot-8 own five of the top six spots in MaxPreps.com's updated Class of 2012 Top 100, headlining a deep year for big men.

Remaining at the top of the list is 6-10, 250-pound Andre Drummond. The uncommitted center was a key member of the United States' gold medal squad last summer at the FIBA U17 World Championship and posted 15 points, 11 boards and four blocks per game last season in what was essentially his senior season at St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Conn.). He is expected to return to the program as a post-graduate next year.

Read More Here

Kentucky Basketball: Is Duke Chicken?

This post over at Duke Basketball Report is the sort of every-so-often shot across the bow that websites from both the Kentucky Wildcats and Duke Blue Devils occasionally fire at each other.  To me, it's kind of fun to go back and forth with the Blue Devil bloggers and their condescending, insufferable fans.  Of course, I'm sure their opinion of Kentucky fans is no less unflattering.
It seems that John Calipari told the assembled masses in the Telford YMCA in Richmond yesterday that Duke "will not play [Kentucky]," implying, apparently, that Calipari and UK had inquired about the possibility of playing a series with Duke which had been rejected by Duke.  DBR had this to say:

Read More Here

Agent says Kanter has shot at No. 1 pick

CLEVELAND — The agent for Turkish center Enes Kanter said he doesn't think the Cleveland Cavaliers have decided who they'll take with the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft.
On Monday, Kanter had his second private workout with the Cavaliers, who own the Nos. 1 and 4 overall picks in Thursday's draft.
Agent Max Ergul said the 6-foot-11 Kanter, who has raw skills but imposing, ready-for-the-pros size, met with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert.
"Enes told me he liked it," said Ergul, who believes the club is still weighing its options. "I have no prediction with what they are going to do and I think they are going to wait and take it down to the very last moment. And why should they announce it now? That would ruin the surprise."

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/06/21/1783182/agent-says-kanter-has-shot-at.html#ixzz1PvnHcPZv

Vitale's dazzling dozen for NBA draft

Dick Vitale ESPN:

This is the time of year when several NBA teams will look to improve. This year's draft doesn't have a great number of instant-impact players, and with labor issues looming, fans will hear the word "potential" a lot when these players are picked.
There is the dream of having an instant-impact star. The bottom line is the players tabbed in recent years have taken time to influence many rosters. The payoff has come; just look at Derrick Rose in Chicago.
My dazzling dozen consists of only players I have seen at some point. I defer to ESPN's Fran Fraschilla for the foreign players who will influence this draft. Obviously, several international players will be slotted into the top 12 of many mock drafts.

1. Kyrie Irving, Duke
2. Derrick Williams, Arizona
3. Brandon Knight, Kentucky
4. Enes Kanter, Kentucky-Turkey
5. Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State
6. Kemba Walker, Connecticut
7. Alec Burks, Colorado
8. Klay Thompson, Washington State
9. Marcus Morris, Kansas
10. Chris Singleton, Florida State
11. Tristan Thompson, Texas
12. Jimmer Fredette, BYU

Read More Here

Jorts inspired Huggies denim??

Huggies® Jeans Diapers Hit the Streets!

Get the real Jort's apparel here.

Wizards Pick Up Wall's Option

June 18, 2011

Washington Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld announced today that the team has picked up contract options on four players and extended qualifying offers to four restricted free agents.
The Wizards have picked up the third-year options on the rookie contracts of Trevor Booker, Jordan Crawford, Kevin Seraphin and John Wall. In addition, the team has extended qualifying offers to restricted free agents Othyus Jeffers, Hamady Ndiaye, Larry Owens and Nick Young.

Mavericks lose their top assistant; Raptors to hire Dwane Casey

Rumors were flying around that this hire was going down, but now, as dallasnews.com is reporting, it’s official: Former Mavs assistant Dwane Casey will be the Toronto Raptors’ new head coach: “Just got a call from a Toronto source saying that Mavericks assistant Dwane Casey is expected to be announced as head coach of the Raptors. It could be announced this afternoon. Casey has interviewed twice with the Raptors and their decision has come down to Casey and Boston assistant Lawrence Frank.”

Read more here 

NBA Draft Analysis With ESPN’s Experts

The Worldwide Leader’s Jay Bilas, Chad Ford and Fran Fraschilla break it down. 

The NBA Draft will be televised on ESPN this Thursday starting at 7 p.m. EST, a time at which NBA fans will learn where the maligned Draft class of 2011 will make its impact whenever the NBA continues its next season. It’s been postulated that this Draft, while relatively deep in potential role players, won’t produce a perennial All-Star. In order to fully discuss that in lieu of its coverage Thursday, ESPN provided in-house Draft experts Jay Bilas, Fran Fraschilla and Chad Ford last Thursday to discuss anything and everything Draft-related.
I joined the conference call from the beginning but wasn’t able to stay on it to its conclusion. Rather than transcribe the 40-plus minutes I was on the call in a word-for-word format, I’ll translate the questions asked from reporters and the answers given by Bilas, Fraschilla and Ford.

 Read the entire article here SLAM Online

ESPN: NCAA's letter to UK opens can of worms

If you thought last week was the merciful end to the debate over John Calipari's 500th win -- which the NCAA essentially "won" when Kentucky agreed to change Calipari's record to include his vacated wins at Memphis and UMass -- oh, how wrong you would be.

It's not that Kentucky and the NCAA are still arguing. After a couple of months of strongly worded letters and mutual rhetorical posturing, which ended with Kentucky's admission that it had honored Calipari's 500th win in error, the two appear to have reached an uneasy détente. But Kentucky fans are far from sated. Already no fans of the NCAA (or any organization or media member that they believe is hostile to Calipari or UK basketball), the denizens of Big Blue Nation are out to ensure Kentucky is treated like every other program in the country.

You know what that means? Look out, Morgan State.

Read More Here ESPN

Cal discusses 500th win and other items at summer camp

OWLING GREEN — Some notes from Herald-Leader writer Jerry Tipton taken at University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari's satellite basketball camp (the first of a series of camps held this month) Monday morning in Bowling Green.
• On whether senior Darius Miller should be concerned about being passed over by the nation's top-rated incoming recruiting class: Calipari lauded Miller saying he had been to an Elite Eight and a Final Four. "He's won 65 or 64 games - we'll have to call the NCAA and check that number."
• On the controversy surrounding UK recognizing his 500th win last season: "I didn't even know I was being recognized that night. Somebody threw me a ball and I said 'what's this all about?' I could care less (about 500 wins). This is a player-first program."

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/06/20/1782243/cal-discusses-500th-win-and-other.html#ixzz1PphgHvl5

Enes Kanter making his rounds, Timberwolves interview.

Darius Miller Summer Interview

Coach Cal chats with SLAMonline about Enes Kanter, NCAA rules and more.

Slam Magazine

by Rodger Bohn / @rodgerbohn




When I was in Lexington in early March working on my Enes Kanter piece for SLAM 150, Coach Calipari invited me to take a tour of the facilities at UK and sit down and rap with him for a bit. It’s pretty easy to see why just about every player in the country has the Wildcats on their list, as their dope Wildcat Lodge (where the players live) and practice facility may very well have the best amenities in the country.


After watching Enes do his thing in front of NBA executives, we chopped it up with Cal for a while. Gotta love how he doesn’t hold back any punches toward the NCAA, keeps it real about DeMarcus Cousins, and gives it to you 100 about Enes Kanter.

SLAM: Tell me a little bit about your experience with Enes in the nine months that he’s been here with you at UK.




John Calipari: If he’s not the youngest freshman in the country, he’s one of the five youngest. He’s the youngest on our team by four months. So you have this big-bodied kid who is basically just a young kid. He works at it, he’s a great kid, and his teammates love him. We had Josh Harrellson offer to give up his senior year for the kid to play. He comes from a family where the father did everything he was supposed to to make sure that this young man could play and the NCAA made its decision early on that this kid was not to play. We jumped all kind of hoops, but this kid was never going to play.


SLAM: You guys got involved with Enes’ recruitment quite late in the game. How did everything come about and get to where things are today?
 
John Calipari: If he’s not the youngest freshman in the country, he’s one of the five youngest. He’s the youngest on our team by four months. So you have this big-bodied kid who is basically just a young kid. He works at it, he’s a great kid, and his teammates love him. We had Josh Harrellson offer to give up his senior year for the kid to play. He comes from a family where the father did everything he was supposed to to make sure that this young man could play and the NCAA made its decision early on that this kid was not to play. We jumped all kind of hoops, but this kid was never going to play.


Read the entire article here

Doron Lamb Summer Interview

UK releases statement as requested by NCAA regarding Coach Cal's 500 wins

After consulting with the NCAA, the University of Kentucky has been informed that the honoring of our head men’s basketball coach for his 500th career victory on Feb. 26, 2011 was in error and that, henceforth, we will reflect our head men’s basketball coach’s career record in our media guides, Internet sites and other publications consistent with the NCAA’s official records and statistics.

Kyle Wiltjer likes to test himself against the best

The final player to join Kentucky's No. 1 recruiting class was also the most surprising.


Kyle Wiltjer had never set foot on UK's campus when he announced in August that he would sign on with the Wildcats. He'd visited all four of the other schools on his list: Gonzaga, Texas, California and Wake Forest. So when he said he'd made his decision a couple of days before he actually made that choice public, most UK fans wrote him off.
It turns out Wiltjer didn't need to see where he would be going. He just needed to know who would be going there with him.
"I want to surround myself with the best players, so I can push myself in practice every day and get better," Wiltjer told the hometown Portland Tribune shortly after committing. "Coach Cal does a great job of pushing players. I've gotten to know him the last couple of months. I feel I can trust him."

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/06/12/1772060/next-cats-kyle-wiltjer-likes-to.html#ixzz1PAnaEmF1

NBA Draft Chatter: Will Jazz Draft Knight or Kanter?

I'm hearing the Utah Jazz really like Brandon Knight but aren't sure if they want him at No. 3 or to trade down. The interest may not be mutual from Brandon Knight, but he will reportedly be in Utah on Thursday for a private workout. We'll see how Knight and the Jazz feel about each other after that.


Even though the Jazz like Knight, they still might draft Enes Kanter as the best player available and look to trade.

The Jazz are actively looking for a trade partner at No. 4, No. 5 or No. 6. The problem is that those teams aren't sure Kanter will be gone before then if the Jazz pass on him.

A Wizards trade makes sense with the Jazz, but the Wizards think Kanter may slip to them and they'd still be happy with a few other guys.

http://thehoopsreport.com/article.aspx?id=746

Harrow already a big name at Kentucky

At only 6-foot-1 and 160 pounds, transfer Ryan Harrow is still expected to, eventually, make a significant impact at Kentucky. As the North Carolina State transfer walked through the terminal at Blue Grass Airport, he was twice asked to pose for pictures with Wildcats fans. ... [NCAA] transfer rules will prevent Harrow from competing for a 2011.

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/289054-harrow-already-a-big-name-at-kentucky?sct=cb_t2_a12&eref=fromSI&eref=fromSI

Marquis Teague used to the spotlight

Everyone knows the list by now: Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, John Wall, Brandon Knight. And now, Marquis Teague.


Teague becomes the latest premier point guard to sign with John Calipari, and he joins a group that has produced two of the last three No. 1 overall draft picks, two of the last three Rookies of the Year and this season's NBA MVP.

That's a lot of added pressure to put on an 18-year-old kid who's expected to start and excel from day one in a Kentucky uniform.

Don't expect Teague to buckle.

"He's been getting attention since he was a freshman. The spotlight has always been on him, so I think he'll handle that just fine," his big brother Jeff Teague told the Indianapolis Star when Marquis committed last April.


Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/06/12/1772056/next-cats-marquis-teague-used.html#ixzz1PAmtEp12

Eric Bledsoe get an extension with the Clippers

The Clippers also exercised the third-year options on forward Al-Farouq Aminu and guard Eric Bledsoe, making the moves just weeks before the NBA's collective bargaining agreement expires on June 30.



http://www.13wham.com/sports/nba/story/Clippers-exercise-option-on-ROY-Griffin/ldY6XEV1ukO_UvyL5mI_yw.cspx

Wolves to workout Kanter, Williams

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves have scheduled their biggest day yet for pre-draft workouts.
Arizona forward Derrick Williams and Turkish big man Enes Kanter are scheduled to workout individually for the Wolves on Thursday.

Minnesota holds the No. 2 pick in the draft, with lots of speculation that Williams will be the pick. But Kanter's size at 6-foot-11 could make him an attractive option as well.
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/323400/group/homepage/

Kanter to Washington to play with Wall?

It's kind of surprising to see that Washington has a workout scheduled with Enes Kanter on Friday.


Unless Washington makes a trade, most of the NBA draft experts don't expect the Kanter to be available with the 6th pick.

Kanter has made it known that he'd like to play with his friend John Wall.

The 19-year-old who never played college ball for Kentucky because the NCAA decided he violated their eligibility rules, has already worked out for Cleveland, Minnesota, Utah and Toronto.

"I think they know he's not going to be there," Max Ergul, Kanter's agent told the Washington Post. "They need to move up," Ergul said of the Wizards.

http://www.lex18.com/news/kanter-and-wall-

Michael Wilbon says UK should tell the NCAA to go to hell

NCAA, Kentucky disagree on Calipari's win total

We couldn't go too, too long this offseason without a Kentucky story, you know?


The latest mini crisis in the Bluegrass State is a debate over the true total amount of wins John Calipari has collected in his career. Calipari has seen two of his seasons -- the two seasons that, coincidentally, featured Final Four appearances -- get wiped out by the NCAA. The first was with the '96 UMass team; the second was the '08 Memphis squad, which was two Derrick Rose free throws away from a championship. Those are now seasons non grata in the NCAA's record books.

http://eye-on-college-basketball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/26283066/30003626

Michael Gilchrist the cornerstone of UK's class

He's the one who started it all.


When Michael Gilchrist committed to Kentucky in a surprise news conference last April, the first piece of the puzzle was in place. Gilchrist had long been the unanimous No. 1 player in his class and, some said, the best player in all of high school basketball.

"In the 28-year history of The Hoop Scoop, there have been two players as sophomores I said were the best regardless of class," recruiting analyst Clark Francis said at the time. "The other is LeBron James."

A lofty comparison, to be sure.

Gilchrist slipped in most of those rankings over the course of his senior season, but no one denies his status as a major talent that will contribute right away as a freshman at UK.


Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/06/12/1772055/next-cats-michael-gilchrist-the.html#ixzz1PAltHc3g

For Anthony Davis, it's all new and exciting

The story of Anthony Davis is almost impossible to believe at a time when dozens of recruiting Web sites track hundreds of high school players in a search for the next big star.


So how does someone go from a virtual unknown to the consensus No. 1 player in a matter of months? In Davis' case, with the help of an 8-inch growth spurt.

As a 6-foot-2 sophomore guard, Davis was being recruited by a handful of small schools in the Midwest. Hometown DePaul was the only BCS-affiliated program to show any interest.

That all changed about a year ago.
http://www.kentucky.com/2011/06/12/1772058/next-cats-for-anthony-davis-its.html

Nice story on Brandon Knight as Coach Cal sits down with the Utah Media

Kentucky's Calipari sees a lot of Stockton in ex-Wildcats' Knight

Kentucky men's basketball coach John Calipari discusses former Wildcats point guard Brandon Knight.


Calipari on Knight's best attributes: Well, there are a couple of things there. Kevin and the guys there know that he wants to play for an organization like Utah. This kid's a straight-A student. A 4.0 his entire life. Sixty college credits, because he transferred in 23. Sixty college credits after one year, and he wants to come back and finish up — which he will, because I just know how he is. From beginning to end of the year, he just got better and better and better. What's amazing for Utah is, he's a lot like a John Stockton. In that, hey, you may have a guy right now — Stockton didn't start right away. And what you have is a young man who would be with you for a while, you know what I mean? The biggest thing I can tell you, I've never been around — yeah, I've been around some that have worked as hard as him — but none of them have worked harder, and whatever you think he's going to become, he's going to become. A lot of players in the draft you say, 'Potentially, this guy could be this, that and the other, but we have no idea whether he'll be that.' Well, with Brandon, whatever you think he's going to become, he'll become. I just think over three years, you're going to say 'Wow.' Whoever he gets him. Over a three-year period, you'll say 'Wow.' Terrific shooter.


http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsjazznotes/51982901-62/guys-john-ball-league.html.csp

TOP Players Show OUT at 2011 Pangos All American Camp! Shabazz

Marquis Teague Indiana vs Kentucky All-Stars

Video of the Teague game winner that led the Indiana All Stars over Kentucky Friday night at Bellarmine College.

DeAndre NBA prospect profile

Brandon works out for the Raptors

Josh works out for the Kings

Andre Drummond Makes His Case For #1 In 2012 -

Calipari and the Knicks? A longshot at best

You had to figure that within about five minutes of Donnie Walsh’s resignation as New York Knicks president that talk would fire up about University of Kentucky coach John Calipari.


I was going to use the word "rumor," but upon further reflection, this is less rumor than speculation. If franchise sources are feeding the name to some media outlets, it’s not the name they’re feeding first.

The Bergen Record lists Calipari among five "possible candidates" to run the franchise, and apparently has gotten inside the mind of the coach, reporting about him, "The former Nets coach wants to return to the NBA and would leave Kentucky, especially for a coach-GM combo." The New York Post reports today that "maybe even John Calipari (is) expected to be approached," but does not list him as a leading candidate, according to sources. And "maybe" is pretty far from definitive.


ESPN.com mentioned six leading potential candidates and Calipari wasn’t among them.


I wouldn’t bet on it, not this time.
Read More Here

SEC to be 12-team league; no divisions

The SEC will be one 12-team basketball league beginning in the 2011-12 season.


The conference's athletic directors approved a recommendation from SEC coaches Wednesday that they scrap the current, football-based two-division, six-team East-West split at the league's annual spring meetings in Destin, Fla.

"It's done,'' Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley told ESPN.com Wednesday night from Florida. "The presidents don't have to sign off on this. This is an AD decision. We will be one (12-team) league effective next year.''

Kentucky coach John Calipari, who chaired Wednesday's meeting, told ESPN.com that the coaches were hoping the divisional re-alignment would help get "eight teams in the discussion for NCAA bids.''


Read More on ESPN

Chad Ford: Brandon Knight Could Become Better Pro Than Kyrie Irving

The obvious assumption is that when you have the first selection in anything, you’re guaranteed to have the best product. That’s the pressure the Cleveland Cavaliers are facing as they hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and, thus far, the best guess is that Duke point guard Kyrie Irving will be the first player announced by David Stern. But what if Irving isn’t even the best point guard in the draft?


In a recent ESPN chat session with NBA Draft analyst Chad Ford, the question was asked to match up Kentucky point guard Brandon Knight and Kyrie Irving. Specifically, the reader was curious whether or not Knight could become the better pro and Ford agreed that it was entirely possible for that to happen, based up on Knight’s higher potential and athleticism.

Ford writes:
He’s bigger. A better athlete. He progressed a lot during his freshman year. All of the mistakes he makes are fixable. Irving is further along in his development, but Knight has the physical tools to overtake him if it all comes together for him.


http://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-jayhawks/2011/6/1/2201277/nba-draft-chad-ford-brandon-knight-could-become-better-pro-than-kyrie-irving

Shaq announces his retirement today.

Shaquille O'Neal Interview with Dick Vitale at the 1989 McDonald's All American