John Clay’s Sidelines

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Fabian Lyon of the Miami Herald talks to top guard prospect Brandon Knight, who is considering UK.
• Bluegrass State Basketball says Tobias Harris made his decision just before midnight. (He announces it today at 5:30 on ESPNU.)
• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that Harris sat in Thompson-Boling’s upper deck on Tuesday.
• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader writes that John Calipari has found plenty wrong with his Cats heading into tonight’s game with Sam Houston State.
• Tipton’s notes lead with some info on Sam Houston State.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that Darius Miller fits the dribble-drive.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger reports on Darnell Dodson’s spot in Calipari’s doghouse.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that Kentucky isn’t fooled by Georgia’s sub-par football status.
• Chris Low of espn sings Rich Brooks’ praises.
• My column saying Kentucky’s best football efforts have come on the road this season.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Tobias Harris’ midnight decision’

Eric Bledsoe (H-L photo/John Clay)

Don’t forget, doing two liveblogs today. The first will be from the UK women’s game at Memorial Coliseum. The second will be from UK men’s opener tonight at Rupp.

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader reports that John Calipari is focusing his lasers on progress for tonight’s opener.
• Tipton’s notes leads with the return of speedball Eric Bledsoe.
• Jennifer Smith of the H-L previews this morning’s opener — that’s right, morning opener — for the Kentucky women.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L writes on playmaking linebacker Sam Maxwell.
• Fabian Lyon of the Miami Herald reports that Brandon Knight is visiting Florida today.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes on the Kentucky-Morehead matchup.
• James Pennington of the Kentucky Kernel addresses the official start of the John Calipari Era.
• B.W. Jones of the Kernel reports that equal-opportunity Rich Brooks says both Mike Hartline and Morgan Newton will play Saturday.
• Eric Lindsey of Cat Scratches writes on the UK women’s early-bird special.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Brandon Knight visiting Florida today’

Big Blue Links for Friday.

Traditional:

• Doug Binder of the Oregonian reports that UK target Terrence Jones may wait until spring before choosing a school.
• Gary Bedore of the Lawrence Journal-World reports that Brandon Knight will also wait until spring. (See Zagsblog link with blogs section.)
• In the Herald-Leader, Chip Cosby reports that UK’s defensive line wants redemption.
• Mark Story of H-L writes on Eastern Kentucky coach Dean Hood’s connections.
• Jerry Tipton of the H-L reports that John Calipari is challenging his team to improve.
• Tipton of the H-L writes that Mark Krebs’ focus is paying off.
• Tipton also blogs that Calipari said Patrick Patterson needs to be more aggressive.
• Paul Gattis of the Huntsville Times writes that Tennessee basketball has taken a backseat to Kentucky this off-season. (H/T to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: Terrence Jones is waiting; Knight to visit Florida’

There’s such a blizzard of information out there about basketball recruiting, it’s hard to keep it all straight. So here’s a roundup of what we know, or what we think we know, about UK basketball recruits to this point. (Feel free to add any additional information.) In alphabetical order:

Tobias Harris

• Attended Kentucky’s Big Blue Madness on Oct. 16.
• Says he will visit Georgia Tech at some point.
• Reports are he will also visit Louisville, West Virginia and Maryland.
• May visit Louisville on Nov. 1.
• Made official visit to Tennessee, which painted his image on a rock.
• Has visited Syracuse.
• Ranked as No. 5 player in Class of 2010 by Rivals.
• A 6-8 forward from Glen Head, New York.

Kyrie Irving

• Confirmed that he will make his choice on ESPNU on Thursday.
• Will choose between Duke, Texas A&M and Kentucky.
• Dave Telep of Scout.com reports that Irving will make announcement on Thursday.
• Zagsblog reports on Oct. 20 that Irving has committed to Duke with an announcement coming this week.
• Irving denies Zagsblog report via his Twitter account.
• Attended Kentucky’s Big Blue Madness on Oct. 16
• Has already visited Texas A&M and Duke.
• Has said he will visit Georgia Tech at some point.
• Has said he will visit Seton Hall.
• Was thought to be a lean toward Indiana at one point, but eliminated Hoosiers.
• His family is close to UK assistant coach Rod Strickland.
• Ranked No. 9 in Class of 2010 by Rivals.
• A 6-3 guard from Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Continue reading ‘Where UK basketball recruits stand to this point’

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• My column saying that Sunday’s loss by the Bengals was reminiscent of UK’s 2002 “Bluegrass Miracle” loss to LSU.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L writes on Kentucky’s depth at running back.
• Chip’s Sunday notebook reports that UK football coaches hit the recruiting road during off week.
• Mark Story of the Herald-Leader writes on the Lexington connections for U of L quarterback Justin Burke.
• Jerry Tipton of the H-L reports that John Calipari is used to criticism.
• Mike DeCourcy of the Sporting News reports that UK basketball did report a secondary violation to NCAA.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Calipari hoping to close some recruiting deals’

Evan Daniels of Scout.com is reporting via Twitter that Brandon Knight, the nation’s top basketball prospect for 2010, will make an official visit to Kentucky the weekend of Sept. 19, just in time for the UK-U of L football game.

It has also been reported that Stacey Poole, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Jacksonville, will make a visit that weekend, as well.

Rivals ranks Knight as the No. 1 player for 2010. It ranks Poole 27th. Scout ranks Knight as the top point guard for 2010. It ranks Poole as the seventh-best shooting guard.

Mark Krebs

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• NEW: EDSBS notices the Mike Hartline mustache craze.
• John Calipari announces on his site that Mark Krebs will be on scholarship this season.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader previews UK’s kickers.
• Cosby also reports that Randall Cobb has returned to practice.
• Jennifer Smith of the H-L reports that there are two no-shows among UK women basketball’s rookie class.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes on UK running back Alfonso Smith.
• Nothing But Net thinks Kansas is the front-runner for Brandon Knight. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Lawrence Journal World reports that Doron Lamb will also be at Kansas’ “Late Night with Phog.”
• Bluegrass State Basketball reports that Shagari Alleyne has signed with Norway team.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Krebs on scholarship; Kansas leads for Knight?’

Jeannine Edwards

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• UK Athletics says Jeannine Edwards will be at the UK Women’s Basketball Clinic, Oct. 7.
• Tom Leach calls that another shrewd PR move by UK.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader previews the UK secondary.
• Cosby reports that a foot injury has put E.J. Fields’ season in jeopardy.
• UK Football Fan did a Q&A with Chip about UK’s football fortunes.
• Jennifer Smith of the H-L writes about the new UK women’s basketball schedule.
• Mark Story of the H-L writes on former UK receiver Steve Johnson, now learning from T.O.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal reports on Kentucky’s tight ends.
• Gary Bedore of the Lawrence Journal World reports that Brandon Knight will visit Kansas. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Zagsblog reports that UK will make an in-home visit to Tobias Harris on Sept. 7.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Jeannine Edwards to appear at UK women’s clinic’

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• H-L report on Kentucky’s pairings in Cancun Tournament.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader takes a look at the depth on the Kentucky football team.
• Cosby reports that Randall Cobb is seeing a back specialist.
• H-L report on ESPN’s basketball GameDay coming to Rupp.
• Slam Online interviews basketball recruit Marquis Teague, who says Kentucky is in his top five.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal reports that the football Cats get a chance to relax, a little.
• Dan Wiederer of the Fayetteville Observer writes that Brandon Knight is giving UK and Miami heavy consideration, while Duke tries to get in on the action. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: Marquis Teague puts UK in his top five’

Big Blue Links for Saturday:

• Jerry Meyer of Rivals.com says it could be Brandon Knight or bust for UK as far as point guards. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Herald-Leader report that UK’s all-time leading scorer in men’s basketball, Dan Issel, has filed for bankruptcy.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L reports that freshmen quarterbacks Ryan Mossakowski and Morgan Newton are struggling.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that LaGrange High School in Georgia is a UK pipeline.
• ESPN’s Ivan Maisel names Trevard Lindley as first-team All-American.
• Bluegrass State Basketball has an interview with me, yes, me, on John Calipari, the internet, etc.

Continue reading ‘BBL: It may be Brandon Knight or bust for UK’