John Clay's Sidelines

John Wall told Adam Zagoria of Zagsblog this afternoon that he will not trim his list of potential schools until after his visit to Miami this weekend. He also told Zagoria he will not visit Kentucky, but is still considering the Cats.

An exceprt:

He said he was not considering the NBA Draft even if he might be the No. 1 or 2 overall pick.

As for his thoughts on Kentucky, Wall said he was considering playing for John Calipari but didn’t need to visit.

“I’m not going to visit there but I’m still thinking about going there,” he said.

It should be noted that Wall has taken an unofficial visit to UK, did so last summer.

Also check out this blog: Draftjohnwallnow

And Gary Parrish of CBS Sportsline makes a case for Wall going pro.

Alert reader Ben Williams snapped this picture of UK basketball coach John Calipari this morning at Gibson’s Donuts in Memphis this morning.

ESPN’s NBA draft expert Chad Ford has posted his thoughts on those who have declared for this year’s draft.

On Patrick Patterson:

Patterson is going to test the draft waters and he’s probably going to get mixed signals from NBA teams. On one hand, they love his NBA body, huge hands, elite athleticism and post game. However, they are concerned about his lack of ideal size for the position (some scouts say he’s closer to 6-7), his lack of a consistent jump shot, and his so-so defensive effort.

There’s a pretty wide range of opinion on him. Some teams see him as a potential late lottery sleeper. Others have him firmly planted in the late first to early second round. A year with John Calipari could probably help his stock, but if he can get a team to commit to him in the lottery he’s probably going to take it.

On Jodie Meeks:

Meeks was a scoring machine at Kentucky this season. His speed and shooting ability really stood out. So did that 54-point performance against Tennessee. However, his lack of great size or explosive athleticism hurts his stock a bit. He’s a second-rounder if he stays in the draft. More likely, he returns to Kentucky for his senior season and lets John Calipari work his magic.

Hat tip to Bluegrass State Basketball.

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that UK quarterback Mike Hartline wants to go beyond managing the game.
• Chip blogs on the UK football leadership council.
• H-L’s Mark Story writes what a difference a month makes for UK, U of L.
• Herald-Leader reports that UK women have signed two basketball standouts from D.C. area.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that Daniel Orton is 100 percent committed to the Cats.
• Vaught also gets a sense from Orton’s father that UK thinks Patrick Patterson may be leaving for the NBA.
• Kentucky Sports Radio has the same feeling about Patterson.
• The C-J’s Chris Diggs thinks Kentucky is in the driver’s seat for Xavier Henry.
• Ryan Abner of the Oklahoman reports that John Calipari has told Henry family he will apply with NCAA for waiver allowing C.J. Henry to play immediately. (Hat tip to Spam’s Wildcat Page.)
• The C-J’s Rick Bozich shoots down rumors that Kenny Payne will be on Calipari’s staff.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Orton 100% committed, Patterson maybe less so’

Andy Kennedy

SEC links for Tuesday:

• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy gets to keep his job after entering guility plea in Cincinnati.
• Gainesville Sun reports that Florida has finalized the hire of Richard Pitino as basketball assistant.
• Joe Biddle of the Tennessean writes that Vols show spring in their step heading into fall camp.
• Drew Edwards of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Tennessee fans are developing a feel for Lane Kiffin.
• Darren Epps of the Chattanooga Times Free Press writes that Kiffin shows confidence on caravan.
• Evan Woodbery of the Mobile Press-Register writes that Auburn still has questions after spring practice.
• Also in the Press-Register, Paul Finebaum writes that Auburn has a tough year in store.
• In the AJC, Tony Barnhart tells Georgia fans not to forget about Arkansas.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Kennedy gets to keep his job’

Adam Ganeles of nbadraft.net has some interesting things to write about those who participated in the Jordan Brand Classic over the weekend. His insights:

On John Wall:

An absolute freak, his movement is amazingly fluid. Incredible handle, quickness and ability to change directions at full speed. Impossible to keep out of the paint when he gets a head of steam. Put together a string of jaw dropping drives late in the 2nd half. Did appear to get taken out his element early on by Bradley, forcing passes and penetrating into traffic with no plan. Not sure he truly sees the game unfold, yet but the sky’s the limit….. A cross between Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo.

On Demarcus Cousins:

Cousins and Sidney apparently made a pact at halftime to not guard one another as both players had impressive showings offensively (in 2nd half) due to the fact that the other played matador defense. Appeared stiff and out of shape moving around the court. Scored his points on lay ups/dunks off penetration and on put backs. Has extremely long arms, able to grab offensive boards while barely leaving the floor. Played catch with himself on the O glass. Created havoc with his shot blocking and the intimidation factor is evident. Showed three point range in warm ups, but puts odd spin on the ball. I see him as a more agile/versatile and athletic Erick Dampier, but the explosiveness doesn’t appear to be there. He’s in danger of losing a lot of his skills due to lacking great speed and conditioning.

Continue reading ‘Analysis of UK targets after Jordan Brand’

Carl Henry, father of Xavier and C.J. Henry tells Zagsblog that his two sons will visit Kentucky, after all:

An excerpt:

Despite reports that Xavier and C.J. Henry will not visit Kentucky, the latest news is that the brothers will trip there this coming weekend.

“Now they’re going to visit Kentucky at the end of this week,” Carl Henry said early Monday afternoon. “My youngest son [Xavier] called me and said he wanted to go visit. It just happened thirty minutes ago.”

Carl had initially told reporters the boys would not visit and would announce Wednesday between Kansas, Kentucky and Memphis. Now that decision – and potentially Lance Stephenson’s as well – will be put off. Stephenson could end up at Kansas if the Henrys go to Kentucky or remain at Memphis; and he could go to St. John’s or Maryland if they pick Kansas.

Xavier Henry

The Lawrence Journal-World is reporting that Xavier Henry and C.J. Henry will not visit Kentucky, and will make a decision Wednesday about where the two brothers will play college basketball next season.

It was thought that Xavier Henry would visit UK this weekend, but he told interviewers after the Jordan Brand Classic in New York on Saturday that while he would probably visit Kentucky, he did not have one scheduled.

Both Kansas coach Bill Self and UK coach John Calipari talked to the Henrys in New York.

Here’s what Carl Henry told the LJW:

“They told me they want to get it over with and really don’t need to make a visit to Kentucky,” former KU player Carl Henry said. “They know the styles of play of both coaches and will make a decision without making any more visits. That’s what they told me.”

Update 1: Here’s blog post from a Louisville blog, with no details, but a mood of gloom.

Update 2: ESPN reports extortion probe is nearly complete.

Tim and Karen Sypher

Though WDRB television in Louisville is not running the interview it did with Karen Sypher, the woman involved in the alleged extortion case with U of L basketball coach Rick Pitino, the station does say that Sypher’s claims against U of L coach Rick Pitino are “of a personal nature.”

Here’s excerpt from an espn.com story on the Pitino mess:

WDRB news anchor Candyce Clifft, who conducted the interview with Karen Sypher, said the station has chosen not to air it because “we couldn’t substantiate the claims she was making.”

Clifft said the claims against Pitino were “of a personal nature, not related to his recruiting or coaching. That’s all I’m at liberty to say.”

Clifft said Sypher approached WDRB with the information.

Clifft said she interviewed Sypher for nearly two hours on-camera, in the presence of WDRB’s general manager and news director. Afterward, the station had an independent polygraph expert administer a lie-detector test to Sypher — a test she agreed to do before the interview.

Clifft said that the polygraph test could have any of three results: pass, fail or inconclusive. She said Sypher’s test fell into the inconclusive range. Clifft said there were some questions she asked that Sypher did not answer conclusively or convincingly, which heightened the station’s concerns about the veracity of her information.

John Wall

Update: According to 850 The Buzz in Raleigh, Florida’s Billy Donovan is visiting John Wall today.

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• In the Charlotte Observer, Shaun Powell writes that John Wall created a stir in New York.
• Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger reports on UK baseball’s 22-17 win over John Cohen and Mississippi State.
• The Herald-Leader’s Chip Cosby writes on the return of Randall Cobb.
• Chip’s story from Saturday’s UK football scrimmage.
• Chip’s blog post on UK football’s first commitment for 2010.
• My Sunday column on the UK defense.
• The Kentucky Kernel’s B.W. Jones writes on Zipp Duncan’s move to left tackle.
• Jerry Tipton’s Sunday notebook has John Calipari saying not everyone will like him, but everyone will like his wife.
• Eric Crawford of the Courier-Journal writes that Calipari has made UK basketball fun again.
• Brett Dawson of the C-J reports that Patrick Patterson and Jodie Meeks will undergo NFL-style combine testing.
• Keith Taylor of the Winchester Sun writes that Kevin Galloway is looking forward to Calipari’s style of play.

Continue reading ‘BBL: John Wall and UK baseball’