Trevard Lindley
Big Blue Links for Monday:
Nick Fierro of the Lehigh Valley Morning call says Trevard Lindley is in the mix to start in Philadelphia: “Lindley has displayed that same kind of recovery speed at cornerback and was able to consistently make plays on passes as a result. Don’t be surprised if he’s in the mix to start at right cornerback by September. He’ll have to pass Ellis Hobbs and Joselio Hanson on the depth chart. But Hobbs, regardless of what the Eagles say, still has to prove he’s not damaged goods after that serious neck injury that landed him on injured reserve last season and basically kept him out of all team drills this spring. And Hanson, though way more savvy at this point, doesn’t possess as much natural ability.” (Hat tip to Tom Leach.)
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports that DeMarcus Cousins and Derrick Favors will go one-on-one: “After some gentle prodding by the New Jersey Nets’ front office, Georgia Tech’s Derrick Favors and Kentucky’s DeMarcus Cousins – the top two big men in the NBA draft – will work out one-on-one against each other on June 21 in East Rutherford, N.J. The Nets hold the third pick in the draft, and so far Favors’ agent Wallace Prather has been reluctant to let him get matched with the bigger, stronger Cousins on the floor. They worked out together in Sacramento on Saturday, but largely stayed in individual drills. Sources say Nets general manager Rod Thorn is leaning toward drafting Favors, but wants to see him in some contact drills with Cousins.” (Hat tip to Bluegrass State Basketball.)
Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches on UK track champ Rondel Sorrillo: “Sorrillo stands second all-time at Kentucky with eight All-America honors and has reached that mark in two years, faster than anyone in UK history. The senior stands just behind Olympian Tim Harden who captured 10 in four years from 1993 to 1996. Sorrillo is also the first Southeastern Conference athlete to win the 200m dash since Wallace Spearmon of Arkansas in 2005.”
Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that Daniel Orton has worked out for the Heat: “Center Daniel Orton this weekend became the third Wildcat to audition in front of the Heat scouting staff at AmericanAirlines Arena. The Heat, which holds the No. 18 selection in the first round of the June 24 NBA Draft, previously had granted tryouts to Kentucky forward Patrick Patterson and Wildcats guard Eric Bledsoe.” (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
Michael Morris of the Sacramento Bee on DeMarcus Cousins: “Cousins said he and Evans are friends and that he believes they ‘would be a good inside-outside combo.’ Cousins was named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year and also was named to the All-SEC First Team. He averaged 15.1 points per game, 9.8 rebounds per game and added 1.8 blocks per game. He weighs 269 pounds and is 6 feet, 11 inches.” (Hat tip to Spam’s Wildcat Page.)
NFL Gridiron Gab reports that the Chargers have released former UK tackle Justin Jeffries: “Jeffries was a starter for three years as a Kentucky Wildcat. He seems to have been given the boot to make roster room for recently-signed veteran offensive tackle Tra Thomas.”
A Sea of Blue on how the USC decision relates to Kentucky: “Well, after reading multiple articles about the Bledsoe situation, I am confident UK was aware of the academic red flags, especially given recent articles that suggest it is the schools who flag academic questions for the the NCAA Clearinghouse. Clearly, Kentucky was aware that the marked improvement in Bledsoe’s scores would raise eyebrows at the Clearinghouse, so I am confident that UK did know about that.”
Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger on Kyle Macy enjoying Sports Reach trips: “Sports Reach director Robby Speer had two basketball teams go to China, including one that was coached by former UK All-American Kyle Macy. Here is what Macy wrote in this month’s Sports Reach newsletter: ‘I am always amazed whenever I take a Sports Reach trip. This year was no different. In May I traveled with the Reach team to China. I coached a basketball team against University teams in Beijing and Chengdu.’”
Kentucky Sports Radio on UK Hoops and Carrie Underwood: “It is a rainy Sunday night in the Bluegrass and if you were in Lexington, then some of your night may have been spent watching Carrie Underwood play in concert at Rupp Arena. The former American Idol winner and now country superstar was adored by Kentuckians, including Coach Matthew Mitchell of the UK women’s team, who tweeted about Underwood with such reptition that one wondered if he would be able to get through the night with out spontaneously combusting with excitement.”
Aaron’s UK Football Blog looks at future defensive backs: “Jared Boyd, Flo Hardin, Eilar Hardy and Damian Swann. Boyd will likely follow his Stephenson teammates to Lexington, Hardin has family ties to UK and likes the appeal of the SEC. Swann could be recruited as an athlete, but most feel he will play corner. Some reports suggest Hardy could play either corner or safety. Boyd projects as a cornerback at the college level and Hardin as a safety and possibly an outside linebacker.”
Nation of Blue does not think DeMarcus Cousins is a head case: “People who think that Big Cuz is a head case should, well, go and get their head checked. To be clear, it seems that folks think his talent and athleticism is fine on the court. DeMarcus has a special talent and his big body and moves can certainly be beneficial to any team. What people don’t seem to be as certain on is his maturity and ability to keep a level head on the court. Let me be clear to those people: after studying Cousins for a year at Kentucky, I don’t see it.”
