John Clay's Sidelines

Some Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Michael Gilchrist wins ESPN Rise’s Mr. Basketball.
• At Jordan Brand Classic, talk is of early entrants and recruiting, writes Ryan Fagan of Sporting News.
• Lee Todd praises John Calipari during appearance in Cincinnati, reports Richard Skinner of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
• In its latest mock draft, nbadraft.net has UK point guard Brandon Knight at No. 5.
• Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart tells task force that UK must play in a gold-standard arena, reports Beverly Fortune of the Lexington Herald-Leader.
• Marquis Teague would love to play with Brandon Knight, reports Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Mark Story of the Herald-Leader writes that it’s now or never for Kentucky wide receiver Aaron Boyd, the former Henry Clay star who hasn’t panned out yet with the Cats.
• Raymond Sanders, a sophomore-to-be from Georgia, is working to be the man at tailback for Kentucky, reports Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Wizards say John Wall had a phenomenal rookie season, reports the AP.
• Cedric Kauffman has provided a boost to the UK tennis program, writes Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches.
• A Sea of Blue examines the proposed new draft deadlines.
• Kentucky offers a cornerback from Memphis, reports Bleed Blue Kentucky.
• Jared Carter is playing for the PBL championship, reports All Ky Hoops.

Morning notes and links for a Thursday:

- John Calipari met with some local media yesterday and talked NBA draft decisions, those pesky NBA rumors and more. Cal said the NBA rumors were to screw up recruiting. He laughed at that, as well he should. But you wonder if his connections to World Wide Wes and LeBron James have anything to do with the constant pro rumor mill. Plus, it is believe that Calipari might one day want another crack at the NBA. Still, it’s hard to see him leaving Kentucky at this point and time, what with an ultra-stellar crop of recruits on board for next year.

- Aaron Smith of the Kentucky Kernel has a notebook from the Calipari media session.

- Cat Scratches has a Calipari transcript.

- Chip Cosby writes on UK linebacker Danny Trevathan, who decided to come back for his senior season. Chip writes, “From a football standpoint, going pro might have made sense for Trevathan. But in an age where college athletes often decide to take the money and run at the first opportunity, Trevathan said he wanted to fulfill a promise he made to his mother, Michelle Hicks, and get his diploma. Trevathan is on target to graduate in December with his degree in family science.”

- The biggest news out of Louisville yesterday was not the return of Richard Pitino to the U of L staff. The biggest news was the loss of assistant Tim Fuller, who is joining Frank Haith at Missouri. With his Nike connections, Fuller had elevated U of L’s recruiting. His shoes will be tough to fill, pun intended.

Continue reading ‘Calipari and those NBA rumors, plus notes and links’

(AP photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

Some random Reds notes:

• The Reds scored six runs with two outs in the 11^th to beat the Padres 8-2 on Tuesday.
• After going zero for his last 10, Drew Stubbs had two hits and drove in four runs Tuesday night. Stubbs has 8 RBI in 11 games. And that’s batting lead-off.
• Stubbs hit a two-out, three-run homer in the 11^th on Tuesday.
• Jonny Gomes has six hits in 15 at-bats (.400) over his last four games. His batting average has jumped from .133 to .267. He’s also driven in seven runs in those four games.
• Chris Heisey has three hits in six at-bats over the last three games. He’s driven in four runs during that span.
• Scott Rolen went 0-for-5 on Tuesday, but made an unbelievable throw from his knees in foul territory beyond third base to nail a Padre at home plate.
• Edgar Renteria has seven hits in his 12 at-bats.
• Sam LeCure allowed just one hit and one run in six innings. In his two starts, he’s allowed three runs in 11 innings.
• Bill Bray gave up his first hit in 3 2/3 innings on Tuesday.
• Nick Masset continues to struggle. He was credited with a blown save on Tuesday, and has allowed six runs in four innings over his last three appearances.
• On the flip side, Logan Ondrusek has yet to allow a run in 6 2/3 innings and is now 2-0.

Morning notes and links:

- Not to be labor the Nike Hoop Summit from last weekend, but stumbled across a good write-up and analysis from Michael Visenberg for nbadraft.net. He comments on several individual players.

On Anthony Davis:

Next year at Kentucky, Davis will play the 4/5 and should definitely have an instant impact. The comparisons to Kevin Garnett seem to be a stretch, however despite the appearance of a lack of bulk, he shows a willingness and ability to mix it up in the post. His upside is intriguing, as you do not see athletes move with his type of fluidity, not to mention that his frame will support more weight. At this point, he to be the best NBA prospect of the 2011 HS class and should be the early favorite for #1 pick in the 2012 draft.

On Michael Gilchrist:

While the USA eventually crushed its International counterparts, they got off to a somewhat sluggish start. Just as it seemed like it was going to be a back and forth contest, Gilchrist entered the game and completely changed the USA’s energy. His effort on both ends of the court was relentless and it really never stopped. For someone to play defense at the level Gilchrist did in this All-Star setting was incredibly impressive. He finished with 5 blocks, including a block on Lucas Nogueira and a monster chase down block on Neto. What he had against the Brazilians, I have no idea.

Continue reading ‘More player reviews of Davis, Gilchrist and Teague’

(H-L photo/David Perry)

Rainy morning notes and links for a Tuesday:

- There are whispers that when it’s all said and done we may be surprised by who goes and who doesn’t go from this year’s UK basketball team when it comes to the NBA draft. As is his want, John Calipari talked to the national media yesterday, telling Andy Katz of espn that he had already talked to this past year’s freshmen and would do so again this week. Still think Jones and Knight will both depart, and there is a chance that Liggins goes. But we shall see.

- Speaking of Terrence Jones, got a kick out of his tweet Sunday saying he was hanging with Jarrod Polson at the Sonny’s Bar-B-Q in Nicholasville.

- Down in Alabama, UK target Trevor Lacey is going to take his sweet time making a decision on his college choice. His high school coach says Lacey won’t make an announcement until after he returns from playing in the Derby Festival Classic on April 22. . Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes: “The timing may not be a coincidence. When’s the deadline for college underclassmen to declare for early entry to the NBA Draft? April 24, two days after the Derby Classic game. The deadline to withdraw is May 8. Which of the schools on Lacey’s list of five finalists has a player who could decide to turn pro early and could impact Lacey’s decision? That would be Kentucky, which already signed the No. 1 recruiting class in the country for the third straight year in the early period. Adding Lacey would be icing.”

- Calipari referred to Anthony Davis having a “Camby-esqueness.”

- Declaration date for the draft is April 24. Players have until May 8 to withdraw their names.

- Larry Vaught writes on DeAndre Liggins as a dad.

Continue reading ‘Could the Cats give us an NBA draft surprise?’

The World Team's Bismack Biyombo tries to block a shot by Mike Gilchrist at the Nike Hoop Summit on Saturday. (AP photo)

Morning notes and Big Blue Links for Monday:

- You have to wonder about the future of UK baseball coach Gary Henderson. The Bat Cats were swept over the weekend by Auburn, dropping Kentucky’s record to 2-10 in the SEC. The Cats have lost nine straight, their longest conference losing streak since 2005. Unfortunately, Henderson hasn’t been able to keep the momentum going after John Cohen left for Mississippi State. Kentucky went 13-17 and missed the league tournament last year. It is tied for last in the East with Tennessee this year.

Ethan Levine of the Kentucky Kernel covered Auburn’s sweep of the Cats.

Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches writes: “One of the beauties of baseball is its season’s longevity and opportunities. In most cases, a team can never get too high or too low because there is always another series to balance out everything with 56 regular-season games during the year. However, after the Kentucky baseball team’s 8-2 loss to Auburn on Sunday, the third time in as many weekends UK has been swept in Southeastern Conference play — this time by an opponent that was badly in need of a win like Kentucky — the team has to start wondering whether or not it has dug itself a hole to deep to climb out of. With Sunday’s loss, Kentucky dropped its ninth straight league game, the most consecutive losses since starting the 2005 SEC season 0-9.”

- Kentucky basketball target Sam Simpson did commit to Memphis, reports Jason Smith of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

- And another UK basketball target, Braden Anderson, committed to Kansas, reports Gary Bedore of the Lawrence Journal World.

- Nation of Blue reports that UK is still calling God’s Gift Achiuwa.

- Let’s just say it wasn’t a good weekend for Richie Farmer.

Continue reading ‘Bat Cats swept; Two basketball targets go elsewhere’

Big Blue Links for Sunday:

• Davis, Gilchrist shine at Nike Hoops Summit, reports Ian Thomsen of SI.com.
• Oregon Live’s chat and recap from Nike Hoops Summit.
• Pelphrey in mix at Miami, reports Michelle Kauffman of Miami Herald.
• Mel Kiper, Jr. has Randall Cobb being the 50th player chosen in NFL draft.
• John Wall doesn’t see Calipari leaving for Knicks, reports the Sporting News.
• Gary Parrish thinks Calipari would leave UK for New York.
• Could Newton be the next Woodson? asks Chip Cosby of the H-L.
• Defense delivers knockout in UK scrimmage, reports Cosby.
• Kentucky baseball loses its eighth straight SEC game, reports Mark Maloney of H-L.
• Maui field anything but weak, writes Jerry Tipton of the H-L.
• Ex-Central stars manning UK linebacker spots, reports Brett Dawson of C-J.
• New system motivates Ronnie Sneed, reports Larry Vaught of the A-M.
• Eric Bledsoe suspended by Clippers, reports Lisa Dillman of the L.A. Times.
• NCAA rules against recruiting services, reports Bleed Blue Kentucky.
• How good were the 2010-11 Wildcats? asks Glenn Logan of A Sea of Blue.
• Calipari visits former players, reports Jason Jones of Sacramento Bee.

(AP photo)

SEC links for Sunday:

• Coaching the Gators not easy, writes Mike Bianchi of Orlando Sentinel.
• Brantley struggles in spring game, reports Mike McCall of Miami Herald.
• Gators get some work, reports Robbie Andreu of the Gainesville Sun.
• Muschamp says much work ahead, reports David Jones of Florida Today.
• Garcia not forgotten, writes Travis Haney of Charleston Post and Courier.
• Vanderbilt invites Ohio State, says David Climer of Tennessean.
• Dooley sees positives in scrimmage, reports Austin Ward of News-Sentinel.
• Robinson now front and center for Dogs, reports Seth Emerson of Macon Telegraph.
• Georgia’s quarterbacks look solid, writes David Paschall of Free Press.
• Eighteen Dogs miss scrimmage, reports Tim Tucker of the AJC.
• Ware impresses at LSU, reports Glenn Guilbeau of Shreveport Times.
• Auburn’s Roof wants more, writes Charles Goldberg of the Birmingham News.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Columnist finds coaching Gators is not easy’

Some morning notes and Big Blue Links:

- Here we go again. Peter Vecsey of the New York Post claims that the New York Knicks are interested in John Calipari as coach and GM. I thought Cal was going to take his talents to South Beach and try and keep LeBron’s mom out of trouble. Or maybe he was succeeding the retiring Phil Jackson with the Lakers. Or . . .

- Alabama prep star and Kentucky target Trevor Lacey says reports that he’s down to Kentucky and Alabama and will announce soon are incorrect. Kansas is visiting the scoring machine today.

- Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes on the versatility of Kyle Wiltjer. The Kentucky signee is playing in this weekend’s Nike Hoops Summit on Saturday. Fox Sports South is scheduled to show the game, starting at 11 p.m. Michael Gilchrist and Marquis Teague are also playing in the game. Click here for the rosters.

- Meanwhile, could Duke be getting DeAndre Daniels?

Continue reading ‘BBL: Are the Knicks interested in John Calipari?’

Next Cats passes along that Kentucky signee Anthony Davis has officially taken over the No. 1 spot on ESPN’s recruiting list.

Here’s the link.

Here’s an excerpt:

Davis doesn’t have potential, he has “pro-tential.” In our world, potential is a dangerous word to throw around but when a prospect has shown consistent improvement and the ability to maximize his potential, like Davis, then making the move and ascending him to the top spot makes sense. He’s a full six months younger than Rivers — which isn’t a huge deal — but it speaks to his youth and is a sliver of information in the profile of the nation’s finest prospect.

NBA evaluators at the McDonald’s All-American Game concurred about the two best players and prospects at the event. Their point, like ours, is that a prospect of Davis’ physical stature and skill package is more difficult to come by. A straw poll leaned slightly toward Davis, but was also very complimentary of Rivers.