John Clay's Sidelines

John Wall told Devils Illustrated, a Rivals site, that is he is closing in on making a decision on where he wants to play his college basketball.

Excerpt:

“I think I know where I want to go,” he stated.

And:

“I’m getting pretty close, but I need to look at things and make sure I make the right decision.”

FYI: You need a Rivals subscription to access the full story.

(Thanks to Luther Andal.)

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes on UK receiver Aaron Boyd and his brother Shane.
• Bulldogs Blog does a Q&A with Chip about this year’s Kentucky football team. (Hat tip to A Sea of Blue.)
• Jerry Tipton reports in the Herald-Leader that John Calipari’s assistants will receive academic incentives.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes on UK defensive tackle Myron Pryor.
• Dawson and Jody Demling of the C-J report that Memphis signee Darnell Dodson is “seriously looking” at Kentucky.
• Ryan Aber of the Oklahoman reports that Xavier Henry and his brother C.J. will pick Kansas.
• KU Sports will have a livestream of the Henry press conference, scheduled for 11:15 a.m. CDT.
• Zagsblog cites sources saying Manhattan coach Barry Rohrssen is mulling an offer to join Calipari’s staff.
• Same Zagsblog story says that ex-Memphis signee Nolan Dennis has committed to Baylor.
• The Wilmington Star-News writes that Gerald Henderson’s decision could impact John Wall’s decision. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: Spring football, plus some recruiting links’

SEC links for Thursday:

• AJC reports that ex-Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford is near deal to be No. 1 pick in NFL draft.
• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that UT’s Tyler Smith will test the draft waters.
• Mike Perrin of the Birmingham News reports on Jacksonville State shocking No. 1 Georgia in baseball.
• Clarion-Ledger columnist Rick Cleveland writes that Mississippi has turned into theater of the absurd.
• Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News reports on Andre Smith’s new attitude going into the draft.
• Maurice Patton of the Tennessean writes on the improving condition of ex-Vandy hoops star Clyde Lee.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Stafford to be No. 1 pick, Smith to test waters’

Darnell Dodson

In response to Xavier Henry’s expected official commitment to Kansas on Thursday, Dan Wolken of the Memphis Commerical Appeal writes that Miami Dade Junior College star and Memphis signee Darnell Dodson, a 6-foot-7 forward, will ask for his release so that he can follow John Calipari to Kentucky.

An excerpt:

When Pastner was handed the Memphis job on April 6, he acknowledged the possibility that all four of the signed recruits from last fall would choose to go elsewhere. Pastner successfully re-recruited one of them, Miami-Dade forward Will Coleman, to remain on board.

It appears as though the other three, however, will head elsewhere. Henry is set to go to Kansas and should make it official Thursday. Shooting guard Nolan Dennis immediately opened up his recruitment and is looking at Baylor, Oklahoma and Connecticut. Pastner is still working on forward Darnell Dodson, also at Miami-Dade, but all indications point to Dodson asking for his release and attempting to follow Calipari to Kentucky.

Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/ynoti/

Bruce Pearl is not a John Calipari fan. And vice versa. Last week, Calipari noted that Jodie Meeks’ 54-point performance which beat the Vols in Knoxville gladdened the then Memphis coach “for a variety of reasons.” Pearl is striking back.

Here’s what the Tennessee basketball coach said during a Big Orange Caravan stop in Chattanooga on Tuesday:

“In the history of the SEC, there’s never been a team to finish ahead of Kentucky 4 straight years, until this year when we did it, for the fourth time in a row. And I’m sure, that as many times that I can say that, I’m gonna say it, and as often as Coach Cal can read it, he’s gonna have to read it. And there’s no question he’s gonna wanna do something about that, but that’s what makes for a great rival.”

Let the fun begin.

Update: Gary Parrish sounds a similar note for CBS Sportsline.

Billy Reed writes that with Rick Pitino, the damage is done. William F. is right. At this point, it’s not really important whether Pitino’s claim of an extortion attempt proves to be true, or if Karen Sypher’s undisclosed claims have validity. What is important is that they have commanded the public’s attention, especially the local public, these past five days. For Pitino, that’s not good.

Pitino isn’t just a basketball coach. He’s the face of a program. Billy Gillispie learned that, to his detriment, at Kentucky. No different with Rick. He doesn’t just coach. He helps fund-raise, endorses products, partners with coroporate sponsors, and, maybe most improtantl, visits the homes of potential recruits.

You wonder how a messy he-said/she-said saga will play in those scenarious. Time will pass. People will forget. But not all people. Coaches are not immune from personal problems, but not all are played out in such a public forum, in such an unseemly way. Rick isn’t just any coach. He’s won a national title. He’s taken teams to a quartet of Final Fours. Other than the “Man Possessed” feature by William Nack in Sports Illustrated a few years back, there has been little to sully his reputation.

I don’t know enough to pass judgement on Billy’s blasting of Channel 41 in all of this. For those of us outside the ‘Ville, it was baffling why Pitino would release a statement Saturday night about something in the media when that something could not be found in media. It appeared to be pre-emptive strike, if a risky one. It’s too soon to know for sure if it worked.

I do agree with something I heard Larry Glover say the other night on WVLK. Paraphrasing, Glover said that in situations such as this, the rich and powerful rarely lose to those who aren’t rich and powerful..

But in a way, he’s already lost. While John Calipari is out creating stories by chasing top-notch talent, Pitino is trying to knock down attacks on his reputation, one that can never quite be the same.

Derrick Favors

Georgia Tech signee Derrick Favors beat out UK signee Demarcus Cousins and UK target John Wall for USA Today Player of the Year honors, announced today in the newspaper.

The paper’s first-team consists of Favors, Cousins, Wall, Avery Bradley and Renardo Sidney.

UK signee Daniel Orton was a third-team pick. Xavier Henry, who may or many not have committed to Kansas last night, was a second-team selection.

One interesting factoid, Wall’s list of possible college choices inlcuded Kansas, Memphis, Noth Carolina State, Duke, Miami and Baylor, but no Kentucky.

First team

• Derrick Favors, 6-9, Atlanta, GA (Georgia Tech)
• Avery Bradley, 6-3, Henderson, NV (Texas)
• Demarcus Cousins, 6-10, Mobile, AL (Kentucky)
• John Wall, 6-4, Raleigh, NC (Undecided)
• Renardo Sidney, 6-9, Los Angeles, CA (USC)

Continue reading ‘Favors beats out Wall, Cousins for POY honors’

Update: Henry calls a Thursday press conference to announce choice, reports Lawrence Journal World.

Update: Tipton reports that Henry is near 100 percent for Kansas.

Big Blue Links:

• Andrew Wiebe of the Daily Kansan writes on the “Young and the Ambivalent,” i.e. the Henrys. (Hat tip to Spam’s Wildcat Page.)
• Chris Fisher of Kentucky Ink reports his sources claim Xavier Henry is 100 percent committed to Kansas.
• Bluegrass State Basketball calls a Henry to Kansas commitment “unofficially official.”
• Jody Demling of the C-J is hearing it both ways.
• Ryan Aber of the Oklahoman writes on the X-traordinary anticipation.
• The Kansas City Star blog offers a roundup of Henry updates.
• My column about UK basketball recruiting and one-and-dones.
• David Wescott of Business Lexington writes on the Calipari stimulus package.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L writes that UK football stars don’t regret decision to skip draft.
• The H-L’s Jerry Tipton writes that analysts are split on how Daniel Orton and Demarcus Cousins might fit together.

Continue reading ‘BBL: As Xavier Henry’s world turns’

Lane Kiffin

SEC links for Wednesday:

• Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press wonders if Tennessee’s excitement will turn into titles.
• Drew Edwards of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes that there’s no time to rest for Lane Kiffin and his staff.
• The AJC reports that Georgia has released a basketball recruit Daniel Miller from his letter-of-intent.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Ole Miss’ Jerrell Powe’s idea of a joke didn’t sit well with police, coach.
• Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register writes that new Bama basketball coach Anthony Grant is looking to his past to fill his staff.
• Birmingham News columnist Kevin Scarbinsky writes that Auburn has no excuse for passing on UCLA.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Will Tennessee’s excitement mean titles?’

Update: Jody Demling says the Henry commitment report may not be true. Bluegrass State Basketball also says reports may be premature.

There is word on the internet tonight that Xavier Henry has committed to Kansas.

Jody Demling of the C-J is also hearing that Henry has committed to the Jayhawks.

Earlier tonight, Ryan Aber of the Oklahoman spoke with Carl Henry, who spoke as if a decision was imminent and that his sons would not be visiting Kentucky.

Excerpt:

It appears that Henry’s college decision will come soon, especially if Carl has anything to do with it.

“I’m ready to get it over with,” Carl Henry said. “I think it’s been going on too long.”

More details to come.