Kentucky sports and beyond.
Philadelphia area prospect and possible UK target Amile Jefferson is still not ready to pick a school.
His coach told Zagsblog that there is not a press conference set for Friday, despite rumors that something might be coming.
Jefferson, a 6-foot-8 forward, is considering North Carolina State, Duke, Kentucky, Ohio State and Villanova.
John Calipari talks to the media last night before throwing out the first pitch at Great American Ball Park last night.
Related: Lance McAlister has some pics from last night on his blog.
Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook editor Chris Dortch tweets: “In case you’re wondering UK fans, Mislav Brzoja can play. He started for Croatia’s U19 national team, which upset the U.S. team. Versatile.”
Brzoja is the 6-foot-5 Class of 2012 guard from Croatia who played at an Indiana high school for his senior season and is scheduled to visit UK today.
And Chris is right. The Mislav Brzoja who is scheduled to visit UK today helped the Croatian U19 National Team beat the U.S. 87-85 last July in the FIBA U19 World Championships in Riga, Latvia.
Continue reading ‘Mislav Brzoja helped Croatia upset USA U19 team’
(AP photo/Tom Uhlman)
Kentucky coach John Calipari told ESPN’s Andy Katz on Tuesday that staff member Rod Strickland will not be leaving to join Larry Brown at SMU. There had been reports that Strickland would join the 71-year-old Brown in his new job, but Calipari said that the former NBA guard would remain on his staff in Lexington.
Calipari also told Katz and Cincinnati Reds’ announcer Jim Day last night that the team would sign “one more” player. The coach said that the Cats are still recruiting a few players. Cal threw out the first pitch at Great American Ballpark as the Reds’ honored the national basketball champions.
Continue reading ‘Calipari says Strickland staying, UK will sign one more’
(Photo by FIBA)
Kyle Neddenriep of the Indianapolis Star blogged on 10 players he liked in the Nike Spring Showdown last weekend in Merrillville, Indiana.
One was Mislav Brzjoa, who will visit UK on Wednesday.
An excerpt from Neddenriep’s post:
Mislav Brzoja – 2012 – 6’5, 220 2G – Trader’s Point Christian Academy
This uncommitted senior was very impressive throughout the entire event. He is built like a frontline player, but he sees the floor and handles the ball like a point guard, and he shoots it well with range. I wish he were just a bit more explosive off the floor. But his ability to find open teammates with on-time / on-target passes if very unique for a player his size. He certainly had some top-tier coaches watching him throughout, including John Calipari of Kentucky and Buzz Williams of Marquette, (my apologies for not naming everyone in attendance – there were 20-30 DI schools specifically watching Mislav).
Update: Chicago Tribune calls Brzoja a shooting specialist. Excerpt:
Brzoja is a 6-foot-5 shooting specialist from Croatia also being pursued by schools such as Illinois, Marquette and Bradley.
(Dave) Jamerson calls Brzoja “a great player and a great kid” who is trying to improve his grades and test scores for Northwestern. He apparently needs a strong spring semester and good ACT score to get admitted.
Brian Snow of Scout reports (pay site) that Mislav Brzoja, a guard from Croatia, will visit UK on Wednesday.
Here is Scout’s page on Brzoja, a 6-foot-5 guard who played for a high school in Indiana this past season. He reportedly played well in the Indiana Showcase over the weekend, which UK coaches attended.
Continue reading ‘Report: Croatian guard will visit UK on Wednesday’
Twitvid of John Calipari throwing out the first pitch at the Reds’ game tonight as Cincinnati honored the UK champs.
@NerlensNoel tweeted out the picture below of teammate-to-be Ryan Harrow.
If only Noel could wear some of Harrow’s shoes.
Click here or on the picture for the actual tweet.
Indiana basketball coach Tom Crean is having a press conference on various Hoosier topics. Jeff Rabjohns of Rivals tweets that Crean says that Kentucky has told IU it no longer wants to play the series at campus sites.
Could this be the return of the Louisville-Indianapolis rotation for the UK-IU game?
Or is this the end of the series?
Mark Lyons (AP photo)
While CBS’ Jeff Goodman confirms that ex-Xavier guard Mark Lyons plans on visiting Kentucky, Kansas and Arizona — seems murky as to whether Lyons would be eligible to play immediately at UK — there is more reason to wonder if the starter on the Muskies’ Sweet 16 team would be a good fit in Lexington.
We have this take this morning from Cincinnati Enquirer columnist Paul Daugherty:
Because I spent Jan. and Feb. writing a book and March covering UC, OSU and UK, I mostly saw Xavier on TV. What I saw from Lyons on occasion was selfishness. I saw him come out of a game, Brad Redford come in to replace him and Lyons ignore Redford’s attempt at a fist pound. A big deal? Of course not. A metaphor for Lyons? Yep.
Continue reading ‘More to consider about possible transfer Mark Lyons’
