Duke checking if Coach K violated rule during summer tournament

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) -- Duke is investigating whether an NCAA recruiting rule was violated when coach Mike Krzyzewski reportedly offered a scholarship to a recruit during a summer tournament.

Forward Alex Poythress told CBSSports.com that Krzyzewski spoke to him earlier this week while he was in Orlando, Fla., for a tournament with his AAU team, the Georgia Stars, and offered him a scholarship.

NCAA rules prevent coaches from contacting recruits before they are finished playing in tournaments.

Duke spokesman Jon Jackson said in a statement Saturday that the school is gathering facts and that "proper adherence to NCAA bylaws has always been, and will continue to be, a cornerstone of Duke Athletics."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/basketball/ncaa/07/30/duke.violation.ap/index.html?sct=cb_t2_a3

John Wall Sets It Off In His Melo Center Debut In Front Of Packed House!!!

UK Fans angered by the NCAA involvement in the Legends vs DR game scheduled for Rupp Arena Aug 15th

The UK Twitter world is in an uproar over the NCAA's involvement in the Pro Cats / Legends vs Dominican Republic game scheduled for Rupp Arena Aug 15th. Several sources are reporting that the NCAA has made rulings / statements of advisements in regard to the game. Some of which include that there can not be any TV or Radio broadcast of the event. Also that the former UK Coach Joe B Hall can't act as coach of the Pro Cats / Legend Team.  Twitter is a buzz about these events. Heavy weights around the Big Blue Nation are speaking out with #FreeJoeB.. Stay tune and let's see how the NCAA handles another sensitive issue with UK. The T-Shirt presses are rolling!!

Joe B. Hall scratching his head about why he can't coach Wildcats

Former University of Kentucky basketball coach Joe B. Hall is upset that he may not get to coach a team of ex-Wildcats in an exhibition game against the Dominican National Team in Rupp Arena on Aug. 15.

Hall said he was told by current UK coach John Calipari that he would coach the team of professionals, which is scheduled to include John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Rajon Rondo and Tayshaun Prince.

Calipari will coach the Dominican Team. He was named coach the Dominican Republic National Team in May and will coach the team in tournaments -- including an Olympic qualifier -- in August and September.

But despite the fact that former UK players are participating , UK senior Eloy Vargas is on the Dominican team, Calipari is coaching the Dominican team and the game is scheduled for Rupp Arena, UK officially has no affiliation with the game.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110729/SPORTS03/307290076/-1/rsslink

UK target (2013) 6'10" Center Nerlens Noel Blocks Everything

Video: John Wall Windmill On The Break

A layman's guide to the Class of 2012

Read More Ranking HereThe July recruiting period is the most important offseason month of the college hoops calendar. The first 10-day stretch caused a handful of players to move up or down on theESPNU 100. The second 10-day stretch -- highlighted by tournaments in Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla. -- began Friday and ends July 31.

So which players do you need to know about? I'm no recruiting expert, but I do happen to work with one, so I asked him -- him being ESPN.com recruiting analyst Dave Telep -- to drop some knowledge on the biggest recruiting developments of July.

Below are Dave's recommendations for players worth watching in the last few days of July and in their upcoming senior seasons, followed by my take on the potential impact of their decisions for the schools each prospect is currently considering.

Call it a July evaluation period tag team. It may be the first of its kind. It may also be the last.

Shabazz Muhammad, 6-6, SF (Las Vegas)

Telep: "He's about to leap from No. 3 to No. 1 in ESPN's rankings if he closes the summer strong. There's a major recruiting tussle for him. Memphis bowed out during the break between evaluation periods. UCLA is the clubhouse leader over Duke, hometown UNLV has emerged as a legit option and there continues to be whispers about Kentucky. Muhammad can shoot and 

leap tall buildings in a single bound, thus making him an elite impact player."

Andre Drummond, 6-10, C (Middletown, Conn.)

Telep: "This is the top post talent in the class. Drummond has an NBA body, talent and size. He doesn't turn 18 until later in the summer. There's been chatter involving him enrolling in the fall, but it looks now like Connecticut, West Virginia, Kentucky or Georgetown will get him."

Mitch McGary, 6-10, PF (Chesterton, Ind.)

Telep: "He may be college basketball's next Tyler Hansbrough; he's that intense an individual and a more diverse offensive player. McGary isn't doing much talking to colleges this summer, but schools are nonverbally communicating with him. Head coaches from Purdue, UConn, Florida, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina and Texas are omnipresent at his games."

DaJuan Coleman, 6-10, C (DeWitt, N.Y.)

Telep: "For three years, he's pretty much been on the ticket list for games at Syracuse. At one point, Jim Boeheim and the entire Syracuse staff was posted up watching him at the Peach Jam. Could a native of the Syracuse area really leave home? Kentucky is wedged in there with him and is threatening to throw a wrench into the plan to put him in orange."

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/recruiting/basketball/mens/story/_/id/6802891/a-recruiting-layman-guide-basketball-class-2012

Shabazz Muhammad is in no hurry to make his college decision

The basketball standout from Las Vegas, who lists UCLA among the schools he is considering, wants to set his own timetable for picking a college.

Reporting from Las Vegas— 

The retro UCLA jersey was endangered the moment it entered Shabazz Muhammad's house.

The basketball prodigy's mother had purchased the replica of the jersey that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wore when he was with the Bruins as a gift for her middle-school son, only to later find it hanging in his closet with a large hole cut in the middle.

Muhammad's father couldn't resist the urge to snip on.

He played basketball for USC.

"My wife was hot with me," said Ron Holmes, a wing player for the Trojans from 1981 to 1985. "She wouldn't talk to me for about a week."

Read More Here

D-I's Top 100 Players by Basketball Prospectus

 Kentucky’s places four players in the top 50 compared to UNC’s three in the top 50.

Terrence Jones #4

Anthony Davis #21

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist #29

Doron Lamb #43

Marquis Teague #62

1. Jared Sullinger, Ohio State (So., C)

Since 2000, five freshmen have been named first team All-Americans. In their would-be sophomore seasons, Kevin Love,Michael Beasley, Kevin Durant, and John Wall were all in the NBA. In his first season as a pro Love finished in the top 10 in the league in both offensive and defensive rebounding percentage. Beasley and Wall made first team All-Rookie. Durant was Rookie of the Year. In other words all of them were successful right away in the NBA. And Sullinger is still here. That's why I ultimately couldn't talk myself into putting him anywhere but No 1.

2. Harrison Barnes, North Carolina (So., SF)
If I went with my gut I'd probably put Barnes at the top of this list. Luke Winn has a couple of graphs that explain the Barnes-over-Sullinger argument faster than I can. Based on offensive rating and possession percentage, Barnes rates with Jeffery Taylor, Jared Cunningham, Draymond Green, and Darius Johnson-Odom. There were times last season when Barnes looked timid, mechanical, and frustrated. Ranking him here is an acknowledgement that those times existed, but the overwhelming majority of his adjustment period was mental rather than physical. And since he was mentally fine at the end of 2011, the improvement was entirely real. Jeremy Lamb's late-season surge, by contrast, felt like a young player just starting to click on all cylinders. I wouldn't think it unreasonable to claim that Lamb just got hot at the time everyone's eyes were on him. If Lamb is no better than a second-team all-conference performer, I'd understand. If Barnes is no better than that, I'll be floored. 

3. Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin (Sr., PG)
Taylor led Division I in assist-to-turnover ratio in 2011, placing second nationally in turnover rate and finishing comfortably in the top 100 in assist rate. He shot 43 percent on 175 three-pointers and 83 percent on 185 free throws -- and of course that's an even heavier offensive load than it sounds due to Wisconsin's glacial pace. He made noticeable contributions on the defensive boards and received an All-Defense nod from the Big Ten. The one question mark with Taylor's game is shooting inside the arc, where he has some issues finishing and doesn't shoot quite well enough from mid-range (despite taking a lot of mid-range jumpers). Really, though, the argument for Taylor comes down to this: Last year, he had a higher offensive rating than Jared Sullinger while using more possessions. And he made the All-Defense team while Sullinger didn't. It's tough to come up with a reason to rank him below number three.

4. Terrence Jones, Kentucky (So.,PF)
Jones's decision to return for his sophomore year surprised me more than any other player's. The lefty made first team All-SEC, was high on every draft board, and spent his freshman year under John Calipari. It seemed like a given he'd be playing NBA ball this November (or at least waiting for the lockout to end). But fresh off co-leading a young team to the Final Four, he's still at UK. Jones is a very good rebounder who can get to the line and rarely turns the ball over. His shooting percentages last year were just 47/33/65; if he lives up to this billing it'll be because those numbers improve. He projects to have significantly scarier frontcourt mates in 2012, where the departed Josh Harrellson and DeAndre Liggins will be replaced with top-3-ranked freshmen Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Anthony Davis. Defenses won't be able to key in on Jones like they could last year. With a little more help and slightly smarter shot selection, he should be SEC Player of the Year.

Read the entire listing here

Ex-UK player Allison dies in shooting

COLUMBUS, OHIO (AP)

Columbus police say former University of Kentucky basketball player Desmond Allison was killed and another man was wounded in a shooting outside an apartment complex in Northeast Columbus.

Authorities say the two were shot multiple times at around 4 p.m. Monday after they became involved in an argument with several people. They were taken to a local hospital where Allison, 31, died of his injuries and Malcolm Goff, 36, was treated and released.

Allison played at the University of Kentucky from 1998-2000. In his last season he averaged 8.9 points per game and 4.4 rebounds.

Police say they have no suspects and are continuing their investigation.

UK reportedly looking at The Harrison Twins, some rate them the Best Guards Of 2013

Meet UK 2013 Target Chris Walker

Kyle Wiltjer sits down with CoachCal.com

Kyle Wiltjer is somewhat of a movie buff.

Living just a few minutes away from a video store at his old house in Portland, Ore., Wiltjer used to run up the street and rent films at least once a week. Wiltjer would pop in the movies, sit back and marvel at art as its put into action.

At that stage in Wiltjer’s life, Steven Speilberg, Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino were at the top of their games mastering their craft. It seems only natural that a movie buff like Wiltjer would be into at least one of them.

Turns out he’s into a different kind of film. Growing up, Wiltjer was much more interested in watching Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan recreate classics.

Read more Coach Cal.com

Anthony Davis sits down with CoachCal.com

Just three months from Big Blue Madness, the official tipoff to the 2011-12 Kentucky basketball season, UKAthletics.com writers Eric Lindsey and Guy Ramsey will be profiling UK’s five newcomers, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Anthony Davis, Kyle Wiltjer, Marquis Teague and Ryan Harrow, in a CoachCal.com exclusive series. Next up is Anthony Davis.

Anthony Davis has every reason to look ahead.

Read More at CoachCal.com

Virtual Tour of Future Wildcat Coal Lodge

Take the Tour on Coachcal.com here

KSTV Talks to Rajon Rondo about the NBA and the lockout

LeBron makes his way into college

LeBron. In college. It's about to happen.

The polarizing NBA great has begun a new business endeavor, agreeing with three schools to wear Nike uniforms that have an affiliation to James' brand.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel first reported the news over the weekend.

The schools are Miami, Ohio State and Kentucky. It's not unprecedented -- Jordan started this long ago, naturally -- but it's a relatively big step in the entrepreneurial evolution of James, who has his aspirations public about becoming the first billionaire athlete. From a recruiting standpoint, it also makes a tremendous amount of sense for each of the schools involved. Any link to James is a good one.

Up-and-coming high school players, by and large, don't hate or feel disdain toward James the way most of the American public does now. James' influence is felt all over. Take his annual AAU camp in Akron each July, for instance.

The choices for schools make sense, as James grew up in Akron as an Ohio State fan; he has a close relationship with Kentucky coach John Calipari; and of course he's going to show synergism with the hometown Hurricanes. Will more schools join the fray? Probably, but we have no indication of that yet. We also don't know what the uniforms will look like. Though, in light of this news, the Louisville Courier-Journal's Eric Crawford took the time to make a funny.

http://eye-on-college-basketball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/26283066/30583907

Rhodes finds new Kentucky home to his liking

Rodrick Rhodes is back in Kentucky, but in a place he had never heard of prior to three weeks ago. Lotts Creek, Kentucky is located in Knott County and is the home of the Cordia Lions.
Rodrick Rhodes is back in Kentucky, but in a place he had never heard of prior to three weeks ago. Lotts Creek, Kentucky is located in Knott County and is the home of the Cordia Lions.
Recently, Rhodes was named the boys' basketball coach, his first head coaching position.
"This was a no-brainer," Rhodes stated last week. "Cordia is a good fit for me and the people here have welcomed me."
The baseball coach at Cordia, Joel Melton, was instrumental in landing Rhodes at Cordia. "He certainly has created a buzz."
How Rhodes discovered Cordia was as simple as a phone call; actually two phone calls.
In June, rumors began to surface that the former Wildcat guard was interested in the same position at Owsley County. Melton got wind of Rhodes' interest, then made a phone call.
"I called a college buddy who lives in northern Kentucky and he gave Rodrick's phone number. It was as simple as that," Melton says.
Rhodes, who spent three years at UK, received pictures of the Cordia campus and investigated the school via the internet. However, it took some convincing from a former teammate at UK to complete the deal.
Rhodes called Jeff Sheppard, the Most Outstanding Player in the 1998 Final Four. 


Read More Here

Bizarre Accusations out of LA: Man Sues Shaq Over Alleged Kidnapping

Shaquille O'Neal "requested and directed" his former friend to kill several people -- including a gang member, a record producer, and a woman he impregnated ... those are the shocking allegations in a new lawsuit obtained by TMZ.  


Shaq's former pal Robert Ross -- an ex-gang member -- is suing O'Neal for allegedly masterminding a plot to have him kidnapped by other gang members back in 2008.

In the documents, filed today in L.A. County Superior Court, Ross claims O'Neal organized and funded a series of murders and brutal attacks on people who did him wrong. 


Read More Here

Original Old School: Cool Cat : Cliff Hagan

Contemporary Kentuckians could be forgiven for thinking Cliff Hagan is as much of an historical relic as his old coach Adolph Rupp. After all, like Rupp, Hagan has an arena named after him (University of Kentucky’s baseball stadium) as well as a large Boys & Girls Club (in his hometown of Owensboro). His legacy is secure, but the 74-year-old Hagan is very much alive and well, and more than happy to discuss his own stellar basketball career, which saw him win titles in high school, college and the NBA.

Hagan arrived at UK in 1950 and teamed with fellow Hall of Famer Frank Ramsey to lead the team to a three-year record of 86-5 and the ’51 NCAA title. They went 25-0 his senior year, as the 6-4 forward averaged 24 ppg and 14 rpg. The Celtics drafted the two-time All-American in ’53, but Hagan never played for Boston; he entered the Air Force for two years and was then traded, along with Ed Macauley, to the St. Louis Hawks for the Draft rights to Bill Russell. A five-time NBA All-Star, he played with the Hawks for 10 years, averaging 18 ppg and helping the team win the ’58 title.

Read More on Slamonline

Lebron sporting the UK trunks while playing summer ball.

The Secret’s Out: UK Target Shabazz Muhammad 2012

Shabazz Muhammad, our new Basketball Diary writer, is one of the best in the Class of ’12.

Oh, the genes have something to do with it. More than a little. Shabazz Muhammad isn’t sitting near the top of the 2012 high school rankings if his dad isn’t Ron Holmes, a star wing at USC in the mid-’80s. Equal genetic credit goes to his mom, Faye Muhammad (née Paige), a standout baller—and All-American hurdler—at Long Beach State. His sister, Asia, is a pro tennis player who has twice graced the court at the US Open, and his younger brother, Rashad, is a top-100 junior on the hardwood. Honestly, it would almost be more of a shock if Shabazz Muhammad was not one of the best ballplayers in the country.

So genetic inheritance gave him a head start, but Muhammad had to decide that he’d work to hone those gifts. Now a 6-6, 220-pound senior-to-be at Bishop Gorman HS in Las Vegas, Muhammad made that decision early on, whether or not he was fully conscious of it. “I had a ball in my hand since I was 2 years old,” he says. “We had a little court in our garage, and me and my dad would be in there for hours. He pushed me to the limit, but never quite too far.”

Holmes doesn’t deny that he nudged his son toward the game, but having played at a high level himself, he knows that nudging an uninterested child isn’t going to result in anything good. “But even at a young age,” Holmes says of his son, “whatever I would tell Shabazz to do, he would do. He had the motivation to be really good. Even when he was in middle school, before he had the size, he had the passion.”

Read More on SLAM

High School Basketball Update: Nike Peach Jam

Nerlens Noel, 2013, BABC

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. -- Every year, the perfect way to end the first half of the July live period is the Nike Peach Jam. The past two years, with the advent of the Elite Youth Basketball League, the competition at the Riverview Park Activities Center has been taken to a new level. 

The top 24 Nike-affiliated AAU teams after three separate events in the spring reached the final tournament in South Carolina, with the winner emerging as the true travel team champion. 

Team Takeover, which entered with a 15-0 regular season record, struggled during pool play and was knocked out in the quarterfinals, while regular-season division champions CIA Bounce and Houston Hoops did not reach the quarterfinals. The final four were comprised of Georgia Stars, YOMCA Memphis, BABC and Oakland Soldiers. The four battled it out Friday for the right to be crowned as the Peach Jam champion.



Nerlens Noel, 2013, BABC: 
One of the top players in the class of 2013, Noel is one of the best defensive players to come on the circuit in recent memory. His length and timing make him an outstanding shot-blocker, and he is quickly improving his offensive game.
Kyle Anderson, 2012, NJ Playaz: Anderson racked up three triple-doubles at the Peach Jam, using his passing ability and 6-foot-8 size to pose a major match-up problem for opponents. He is unstoppable in the mid-range and is getting better from deep.
Aaron Gordon, 2013, Oakland Soldiers:
 Gordon’s skill set and athleticism are nearly unparalleled in the high school game. He is a 6-7 forward who runs the floor like a guard, finishes with authority at the rim and can also play well in a half-court setting.
Julius Randle, 2013, Texas Titans: 
Randle seemingly did whatever he wanted offensively for most of the tournament. The lefty junior is difficult to contain because of his strength, aggressiveness and ball-handling ability. He consistently drove into contact and was able to finish.
Jabari Parker, 2013, Mac Irvin Fire: 
Parker is simply an outstanding all-around prospect. After redefining his body over the past year, Parker has become arguably the top player in the country – regardless of class. He can make tough shots from all over the court and has a versatile game.
Brice Johnson, 2012, CP3 All-Stars: 
Johnson has shown flashes of his potential in the past, but he really made a statement this week. He is long and athletic, and he runs the floor like a gazelle. His back-to-the-basket game is improving, as well. One BCS coach called him a future lottery pick.
Archie Goodwin, 2012, Arkansas Wings:
Despite breaking his left wrist one month ago, Goodwin led the event in scoring through pool play. He is one of the most aggressive offensive players in the country, relentlessly driving to the basket and looking to dunk on defenders.

Read More on CBS.COM

A look back at the Draft Cats 2011

Whenever a new player dons the blue and white of Kentucky the range of expectations are oftentimes wildly varying among the fan base.  Some expect immediate greatness, while others consider the youth and lack of major college experience while opting to take a wait-and-see attitude about the potential of the newest Wildcat.  The unknown quantity of a player’s ability is what keeps fans excited and Internet message boards alive with prognostications about a player’s future, and how that future will impact the UK basketball program.

In the case of the 2011 Draft ‘Cats — Brandon Knight (8th pick to Detroit), Josh Harrellson (45th pick to New Orleans, then traded to New York), DeAndre Liggins (53rd pick to Orlando), and Enes Kanter (3rd pick to Utah) — the bag was decidedly mixed when it came to what UK fans expected out of the foursome: Knight was a two-time Florida Gatorade Player of the Year, and a consensus top-5 high school player; Liggins was a consensus top-25 player out of Chicago via Findlay Prep in Las Vegas who arrived in Lexington with questionable scoring ability; Josh Harrellson, a JUCO transfer from Illinois, was considered a decent outside shooter (for a man 6’10″) who had not taken up basketball until his freshman year in high school, and whose most impressive suitor coming into college was Western Illinois; Enes Kanter inspired tremendous excitement among the Big Blue faithful due to his Internet visibility, while at the same time causing much consternation because of his foreign soil basketball background.

http://www.coachcal.com/2011/06/30/a-pre-fireworks-look-back-at-the-explosive-2011-draft-cats/

“Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Just three months from Big Blue Madness, the official tipoff to the 2011-12 Kentucky basketball season, UKAthletics.com writers Eric Lindsey and Guy Ramsey will be profiling UK’s five newcomers, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Anthony Davis, Kyle Wiltjer, Marquis Teague and Ryan Harrow,  in a CoachCal.com exclusive series. First up is Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

For as long as Michael Gilchrist has played basketball, he’s looked to the stands to play for the people he loves the most.

He’s played for his mother, Cindy Richardson. He’s balled for his cousin DeAnte, now 11 years old. He’s laid it on the line for the two father figures in his life, his stepfather, Vincent Richardson, and his uncle Darrin Kidd. And even though his late father, Michael Gilchrist Sr., never saw his son grow up and pick up a basketball, every once in a while Michael looks to the stands and sees him too.

Read more here.

http://www.coachcal.com/2011/07/15/michael-kidd-gilchrist-playing-for-a-lot-more-than-the-name-on-his-jersey/

Showdown vs. North Carolina highlights Kentucky schedule

Dec. 3 is the date every college basketball fan should have marked on his/her calendar. That's the date the expected No. 1 team North Carolina will visit Rupp Arena to face the potential No. 2 team in the country, Kentucky.

Kentucky released its non-conference schedule Thursday, and the game against the Tar Heels is the marquee matchup. Kentucky also will play heavyweights Kansas (Nov. 14), St. John’s (Dec. 1), Indiana (Dec. 10) and Louisville (Dec. 31). The Wildcats' non-conference schedule also features two other games vs. '11 NCAA Tournament teams, Arkansas-Little Rock and Penn State.

The UNC game will feature plenty of projected first-round NBA talent as well as one of the most talented frontcourts in the nation with North Carolina's Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Tyler Zeller squaring off against the Wildcats' terrific freshmen class led by point guard Marquis Teague, forward Mike Gilchrist and power forward Anthony Davis, who will join returning players Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb and Darius Miller to form the nucleus of the SEC favorites.

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2011-07-14/showdown-vs-north-carolina-highlights-kentucky-schedule#ixzz1S8Z4jxmq