John Clay's Sidelines

Big Blue Links for Friday:

Despite those reports that Shabazz Muhammad is UCLA’s to lose, Muhammad says that he is a long way from deciding. “I don’t think I’m that close at all,” the 6-foot-6 Muhammad out of Las Vegas Bishop Gorman told ESPNU after he was named a McDonald’s All-American. “I really havne’t been looking at it. Just been working on this season for high school, but when I get down to it it’s going to be really stressful for me. But I’m just going to talk to my family and talk it over with them.”

The Providence College students newspaper thinks that Nerlens Noel could join his friends on the Friars. James Kirby writes, “Without a doubt, Cooley has already made an impact that is yet to be felt in Friartown with the acquisitions of Kris Dunn and Ricardo Ledo, both of whom are in ESPNU’s Top 25.  . . . And now, Cooley wants even more. Enter Nerlens Noel. . . .  In fact, reports that have neither been confirmed nor denied state that he may be leaning to team up with his good friends, Ledo and Dunn, and bring the Friars back to the forefront of college basketball.” (H/T Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog)

Greg Kocher of the Herald-Leader reports that UK has asked people to stop selling those Anthony Davis wingspan posters on the internet. UK can ask all it wants. It can send out a cease-and-desist order. But it can’t stop people from selling them. I have the poster. There is nothing printed on it that says it cannot be re-sold. This appears to be a simple case of the school trying to cover itself in case the NCAA gets its nose out of joint.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Shabazz, Nerlens Noel and that Davis poster’

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)

Big Blue Links for Sunday:

• Saturday’s SEC-opening 79-64 opening-game win over South Carolina was a confidence-builder for Terrence Jones, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader. Jones scored 20 points.
• Check out the Herald-Leader photo gallery from UK-USC.
• Kentucky capitalizes on South Carolina’s mistakes, reports Darryl Slater of the Charleston Post and Courier. Bruce Ellington was three-of-13 from the floor, including one-of-eight from three-point range for the Gamecocks.
• UK signees Alex Poythress and Alex Goodwin provided a peek at their potential, reports Mike Fields of the Herald-Leader. Poythress scored 42, Goodwin 37 at Lexington Catholic last night.
• Marquis Teague listens, learns and thrives, says my column from the South Carolina game. The freshman point guard scored a career-high 17 points.
• It was a return-to-form for Terrence Jones, writes Brian Rickerd of the State-Journal.
• Terrence Jones’ 20 points leads Kentucky to win, writes Michael Grant of the Courier-Journal. A late miss of a three-pointer was all that kept the sophomore from a perfect night from the field.
• A rapid rewind on Kentucky’s 15-point win, by Matt May of the Cats Pause. Anthony Davis turned in his ninth double-double in 16 games.
• Calipari says that’s the Terrence Jones he knows, writes Keith Taylor of the Winchester Sun.
• Jones and Teague led the way toward UK going 1-0 in the conference, reports Jon Hale of KY Forward. Calipari told Jones, “Now you work even harder.”

Alex Poythress (H-L photo/Jonathan Palmer)

Archie Goodwin (H-L photo/Jonathan Palmer)

Kentucky signees Alex Poythress and Archie Goodwin both played at Lexington Catholic last night. Poythress scored 42 points. Goodwin scored 37. Mike Fields of the Herald-Leader has the details. Be sure and check out the H-L photo gallery from last night.

Eammon Brennan of ESPN’s college basketball blog looks at how Archie Goodwin has had to defend his choice to commit to Kentucky. Goodwin is a five-star shooting guard from Arkansas, an SEC school that considers itself a UK rival in basketball.

Plus, Arkansas has a new coach in Mike Anderson, who has deep state ties and promises to run the same Nolan Richardson offense ran when leading the Hogs to a national title. So Arkansas fans can’t quite understand why a home-state product would turn that down.

“That’s one thing that is the toughest,” Goodwin told Dave Telep of ESPNU. “Growing up here and with so many expectations to go there, it’s been a lot of pressure. Arkansas is a great school and I love Coach [Mike] Anderson and his staff. I love my state, but it’s a business decision and this is best for my career and my family.”

Writes Brennan:

You can see what Goodwin means; Kentucky coach John Calipari sends a prodigious quantity of players to the NBA seemingly every year. In terms of exposure and national title opportunities, UK was the much safer choice.

That doesn’t mean Arkansas fans are all that pleased with the explanation — and they’ve been informing Goodwin of their displeasure on Twitter. (Ah, Twitter, where you can pester a high school senior for reasons why he didn’t choose to attend your preferred school.

For Arkansas fans, the news of Goodwin pledging his allegiance to Big Blue isn’t helped by the fact that Anderson has yet to reel in a top 150 commit for the Hogs for 2012.

You can follow Goodwin on twitter by clicking here.

Related links:

• Shooting guard Archie Goodwin commits to UK
• Archie Goodwin says he will wait until spring to make decision
• UK target Archie Goodwin shines in Nike Global Challenge

Kentucky basketball target Archie Goodwin tells Zagsblog that he will more than likely wait until spring to make a decision.

The guard from Arkansas says he will visit Kansas (Sept. 24), UConn (Sept. 30), Arkansas (Oct. 8), Kentucky (Oct. 14) and Memphis (Oct. 21).

Here’s what Goodwin said about Kentucky:

“As far as Kentucky, another great program, a winning program. Has a great coach [John Calipari], and another great staff behind him. Consistently puts guards in the league and other players as well. In the NCAA Tournament, in the last Elite 8 or so.”

UK basketball target Archie Goodwin has used his twitter account to reveal his five official visits. He is expected to be a guest at Big Blue Madness.

(Hat tip to All Ky Hoops)

Get all your recruiting links at Next Cats.

Archie Goodwin

Zagsblog reports that UK target Archie Goodwin just keeps on trucking. The Arkansas guard scored 23 points to lead his team to the title in the Nike Global Challenge.

Excerpt:

“It feels great to win the Global Challenge, especially after everyone was doubting us,” Goodwin, who was named to the USA All-Tournament team, said by text. “We just stuck to what our coach [Gary DeCesare] told us to do and we were successful.”

Goodwin recently said that he is about ready to cut his consideration list from 10 to five schools. He did say that he is almost certain to visit Kentucky and Arkansas. There are some, including CBS Sports’ Jeff Goodman, who have predicted that Goodwin will be UK’s first 2012 commitment.

Zagsblog has talked to Arkansas guard Archie Goodwin, who says that he is considering 10 teams, but expects to cut the list soon.

Goodwin said that Kentucky and Arkansas are almost locks to be in his final five choices. An excerpt:

He said “Kentucky’s recruiting me very hard.”

“As a matter of fact, after our last game at Nationals, they called me just two minutes after the game,” he said. “Coach [John] Calipari and I talked to coach [Orlando] Antigua, too, but more times it’s Calipari.

“They’ve been very serious about me and telling me I’m a top priority for them.”

(h/t Nation of Blue)

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• New UK president says athletics are important asset to university
• Preston LeMaster named head coach at East Ridge High School
• Darius Miller was nervous as roster cuts were being made for USA team
• Brandon Bender confirms NCAA investigation rumors
• Jeff Goodman thinks Archie Goodwin could be UK’s first 2012 commit
• Randall Cobb working out at three receiving positions for Packers
• At his skills camp, DeMarcus Cousins says he misses UK
• Nothing but love for Lexington sports maven Dick Robinson
• DeQuin Evans trying to make it as linebacker with Bengals
• If the NCAA takes it away, did it really happen?

Continue reading ‘BBL: New UK president says athletics important’

Big Blue Links for Saturday:

• Nerlens Noel, MVP of the Peach Jam, thinks about his future
• Kentucky basketball target is pulled out of AAU game by his mother
• Shabazz Muhammad scores 42 points in Under Armour championship game
• Arkansas prospect Archie Goodwin likes Kentucky and Memphis
• UK hoops coach Matthew Mitchell was recruiting in Tennessee on Thursday
• Ex-UK safety Matt Lentz signs contract with baseball’s Cincinnati Reds
• North Carolina’s Leslie McDonald tears ACL
• Louisville basketball without Ware and Blackshear for summer practice
• A CoachCal.com profile of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
• Does Kentucky have any incentive to invest more in its football program?