John Clay's Sidelines

Tayshaun Prince and Brandon Knight talking to media this morning at the first day of UK ProCamp.

Just back from the morning session at UK’s ProCamps, where Tayshaun Prince and Brandon Knight talked to the  media. Some highlights.

(Video to come, by the way.)

• If Tayshaun Prince stays with the Detroit Pistons, he and Brandon Knight will be teammates. Prince said he was surprised that Knight dropped to the No. 8 pick in the NBA Draft. He said the Pistons were pleasantly surprised to get Knight, and that Detroit had been looking for a point guard for quite a while.
• Prince said that with the NBA in a lockout and John Calipari making it a point to invite former UK players back to Lexington work out he expects to see many players “rolling in here in August and September.”
• Knight that right now the off-season had not been much different, that he was working out and staying in shape. He said he had spent most of his time at home and had not had much interaction with UK’s incoming freshmen class for this season.
• Knight: “With the lockout, as a rookie, I don’t know really much about what’s going on. I’m just trying to make sure I’m prepared whenever it is over.”
• Asked what advice he would give incoming freshman point guard Marquis Teague, Knight said that he would just tell him to do what he does best.

Continue reading ‘Prince and Knight happy to be welcomed back to UK’

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• With a look to the future, Kentucky basketball is flexing its muscle in recruiting, writes Dave Telep of ESPNU.
• Bringing back the past, John Calipari will coach against his own former players in that August 15 exhibition game, leads my notes column.
• Denver Broncos acquire Jeremy Jarmon from Redskins, reports Lindsay Jones of the Denver Post.
• Jody Demling of the C-J reports that UK is coming hard after basketball prospect Archie Goodwin.
• Danny Trevathan is the Kentucky stopper, writes David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
• Aaron Smith of the Kentucky Kernel has some fun with the UK-Dominican numbers.
• Desmond Allison murder apparently involved argument over hat, says AP.
• Tubby Smith reacts to the Desmond Allison murder, from WLEX.
• Bill Ransdell, Jeff Abbott lead list for this year’s UK Hall of Fame, says H-L report.
• Rick Bozich of the C-J writes that Lee Corso is a big backer of the Cats and Cards.

SEC links for Thursday:

• Montgomery Advertiser reports that Alabama loses top quarterback prospect to — gulp — Indiana.
• Georgia linebacker may have received more perks than first reported, writes Chris White of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.
• Alabama must be thrilled it didn’t hire Butch Davis, says Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News.
• Crimson Tide linebacker Dont’a Hightower says he feels great coming back from injury, reports Michael Casagrande of the Anniston Star.
• Everyone is excited about Vanderbilt football, except Vanderbilt football fans, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.
• South Carolina’s basketball freshmen will feel pressure to help Gamecocks improve, writes Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.
• Former ref Steve Shaw is settling into being coordinator of officials, reports Jim Harris of Arkansas 360.

Continue reading ‘SEC: Alabama loses top quarterback to — gulp — Indiana’

John Calipari couldn’t wait for tomorrow’s formal announcement, apparently, as he has been tweeting tidbits tonight about the finalized Kentucky Pros-Dominican Republic National Team exhibition game scheduled for August 15 at Rupp Arena.

Cal took time out from hyping Orange Leaf to send out the following tweets:

• UKCoachCalipari John Calipari: On August 15th, the Dominican National Team will face the Kentucky Pros (8 former Kentucky players currently in the NBA) at Rupp Arena.

• UKCoachCalipari John Calipari: We’re also inviting every former UK player to be honored at the event. The Kentucky Legends include HOFers, National Champs & World Champs.

• UKCoachCalipari John Calipari: A formal release should go out tomorrow. Everyone keeps asking about the players. Do you want to know who’s playing for the Kentucky Pros?

Continue reading ‘Calipari puts down the Orange Leaf and tweets game info’

After failing a physical with the Minnesota Vikings, ex-UK running back Derrick Locke is apparently going to the Philadelphia Eagles.

On his Facebook page, Locke posted, “Eagles it is.”

Locke’s neck injury from last season apparently scared teams from drafting the speedster. After agreeing to terms with Minnesota, Locke reported failed a physical. It’s not known yet if he has taken a physical with Philadelphia.

UPDATE 10:30 p.m. Pre-sale on Ticketmaster has been pushed back to Friday.

UPDATE 7:05 p.m.: An exhibition basketball game between former University of Kentucky basketball players and the Dominican Republic National Team, coached by UK coach John Calipari, has been scheduled for Aug. 15 in Rupp Arena. Carl Hall, Rupp Arena’s director of events, confirmed Wednesday that a contract for the game has been finalized. Hall said details, including a list of former UK players who will participate, will be released Thursday.

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Still no official word late this afternoon on a possible Aug. 15 exhibition basketball game between former Kentucky basketball players and the Dominican Republic National Team.

Carl Hall, Rupp Arena’s director of events, said earlier today that a meeting was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. between himself and Eric Liebler of ProCamps to finalize details and sign a contract. Hall indicated that Rupp Arena would then post information about the game on its site, and ProCamps would put out a media release. But as of 5:40, that had not happened.

Rupp has implemented a new “First in Line” Club, whose members will receive notification concerning events and who apparently will be eligible for the Thursday 10 a.m. pre-sale for the game, which is being listed on Ticketmaster.

Meanwhile, the Kentucky Kernel’s Aaron Smith quoted Julie Roberts, Pro Camp’s director of sales and media, as saying, “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime game.”

John Calipari is coaching the Dominican Republic National Team, which will be using UK’s Joe Craft Center as a practice and workout facility.

Wrote this morning that Carson Palmer was being selfish in his refusal to play for the Bengals despite having four years left on his contract.

Meanwhile, owner Mike Brown says he is not about to “reward” Palmer by trading the quarterback.

What do you think? Should the Bengals trade Carson Palmer?

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Kentucky women’s point guard Crystal Riley out 4-6 weeks after hurting hand in weight room, reports Jennifer Smith of the Herald-Leader.
• Five former UK players sign with NFL teams, reports Smith.
• Ricardo Ledo thinks he’s a Kentucky priority, reports Rivals’ Steve Jones.
• Kentucky in the final four list for T.J. Warren, says All Ky Hoops.
• Kansas is probably leader, but UK in Kaleb Tarczewski’s top four, reports Nation of Blue.
• Joker Phillips goes through ESPN’s “Car Wash,” reports Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches.
• Click here for more of Joker’s pictures while in Bristol.
• Collin Cowgill goes hitless in his Major League debut, reports espn box.
• No suspects yet in Desmond Allison slaying, reports C-J.
• Kentucky fans shouldn’t forget about Gene McCaskill, writes Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• A Sea of Blue wants to know which UK receiver will keep the mojo rolling?

G.A. Mangus (State photo)

SEC links for Wednesday:

• LSU AD Joe Alleva turns down overtures from Tennessee, reports Austin Ward of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
• Alabama sent disassocation letter to clothing store in March, reports Izzy Gould of the Birmingham News.
• Josh Kendall of The State reports on South Carolina’s quarterback coach being suspended after arrest.
• Arrest happened while Mangas was in Greenville for a coaching clinic, reports Travis Haney of the Charleston Post and Courier.
• In wake of Cameron Newton situation, NCAA panel proposes a broader definition of agent, reports John Zenor of the AP.
• Florida’s Jeff Demps knocks down rumors he’s giving up football, reports the Gainesville Sun.
• Vandy’s John Jenkins is shooting for a spot on the USA team, reports Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean.

Continue reading ‘SEC: LSU AD turns down Tennessee; SC coach in trouble’