John Clay's Sidelines

(AP photo)

Despite some projection boards which have former Kentucky student assistant Enes Kanter rated as the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst says the Cavs are set to take Duke point guard Kyrie Irving.

Still think the Cavs will take Kanter with the No. 4 pick, if Cleveland can’t trad up to get Arizona forward Derrick Williams.

The key question is where will UK guard Brandon Knight end up? Word is some clubs do not like the way Knight has been handling the workout process, and it could end up dropping him a few spots. But today is a big day for Brandon. He has a private workout with the Utah Jazz.

As for Windhorst, he is a former Cleveland Plain Dealer who was hired by ESPN to concentrate on LeBron James, whom he has known since high school. Windhorst still has connections to the Cavs’ front office. The guess here is that he’s right about Cleveland targeting Irving.

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

- Michael Wilbon says UK should tell the NCAA to “go to hell” over complaints about recognizing Calipari’s 500th victory.

- Eric Crawford of the Courier-Journal writes that NCAA should attack woes, not just talk.

- Central Hardin defensive lineman Patrick Graffree accepted scholarship offer right away, reports Chuck Jones of the Elizabethtown News-Enterprise.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Wilbon says UK should tell NCAA to “go to hell”’

Jerry Tipton’s Sunday Notebook lead about the NCAA objecting to Kentucky’s celebration of John Calipari’s 500th victory was the talk of the weekend. Even Oscar Combs tweeted that readers needed to check out Jerry’s story. And Courier-Journal columnist Eric Crawford tackled the issue in his column this morning.

Writes Eric: “Worst of all – the NCAA now has given UK conspiracy theorists new ammunition. Because last September, Massachusetts inducted Marcus Camby into its athletic Hall of Fame. It didn’t just give him a game ball and a handshake, it gave him the full Hall of Fame treatment, including a bio of his accomplishments.”

Click the continue line for Monday’s Big Blue Links.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Reaction to NCAA’s objection to Calipari’s 500th’

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Indianapolis cornerback Jonathan Reed commits to Kentucky, reports Nation of Blue.
• There have been questions about Draft Express’ objectivity in judging Enes Kanter, but with that in mind here is the sites’ pros and cons on the Turkish center’s draft prospects.
• As ESPNU reveals its list of the top 150 football prospects for 2012, a review shows Kentucky did not sign a player on last year’s list.
• Rick Bozich of the Courier-Journal writes that the Kentucky All-Stars don’t mind that the deck is stacked against it when facing Marquis Teague and the Indiana stars.

Continue reading ‘BBL: UK picks up football commit; Kanter’s pros and cons’

Big Blue Links for Saturday:

• DeAndre Liggins will work out for the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday, reports Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.
• John Calipari uses CoachCal.com to talk about where he thinks his former players will go in the draft.
• Calipari helps a friend land on Stan Heath’s staff at South Florida, reports the Port Arthur News.
• Brandon Knight is confident in his ability to play point guard, writes Sam Amick of SI.com.
• Former UK women’s star Victoria Dunlap is set for her WNBA debut, reports H-L.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Bobcats to look at Liggins; Calipari helps a friend’

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Rivals says, led by Kentucky, SEC is top conference for 2011 basketball recruiting
• Brandon Knight to work out for Sacramento Kings on Thursday
• Rodney Purvis says Harrow to Kentucky will have no affect on his decision
• Terrence Jones bypasses USA tryouts for summer school
• UK’s top 2012 and 2013 basketball recruiting targets
• John Calipari speaks at SEC meetings in Destin
• Calipari’s tweets lead to some confusion
• Daughter of former UK basketball star will play at Louisville
• Joker Phillips thinks players have grown comfortable with Rick Minter
• An update on Alabama linebacker and UK target Tre Banks
• Trinity offensive lineman enjoys Kentucky football camp
• DeAndre Liggins signing in Florence pushed back to June 5

Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader is among those up in Chicago at the NBA Pre-Draft Combine. He took the Flip camera along and shot video interviews with Brandon Knight and DeAndre Liggins. The Knight vs. Kyrie Irving dynamic is interesting. The guess is Cleveland will take Irving with the second pick, leaving Derrick Williams for Minnesota at No. 2. Then Utah might take Knight at No. 3. But what if Cleveland takes Enes Katner instead? Possible scenario: Minnesota takes Williams, Utah takes Irving, and Knight ends up at No. 4 with Cleveland. Then Kanter and Knight would end up on the same team.

Click the continue line to see the videos.

Continue reading ‘Videos: Knight and Liggins at NBA pre-draft workouts’

(H-L photo/Charles Bertram)

Kentucky tennis moved into the NCAA quarterfinals by beating Florida out in Stanford, while the UK baseball team was losing to Florida in Gainesville.

Chicago was getting the most eyeballs, however. That’s where NBA draft prospects Brandon Knight, DeAndre Liggins and Enes Kanter are participating in the league’s pre-draft combine.

Kanter apparently wowed the scouts with his workout. For some reason, Draft Express sent out a tweet earlier in the week quoting an unnamed GM as comparing Kanter to Joe Klein. Think Enes issued a rebuttal yesterday.

Click on the continue line to get today’s links.

Continue reading ‘BBL: UK tennis advances; Kanter does well in Chicago’

Jared Lorenzen

This morning’s Big Blue Links is highlighted by the biggest quarterback in Kentucky football history. We’re talking the Round Mound of Touchdown, the Hefty Lefty himself, who, judging by the pictures in the Cincinnati Enquirer, has continued his love affair with food. Lorenzen is playing an indoor team called the Northern Kentucky River Monsters in something called the Ultimate Indoor Football League. The team drew nearly 3,000 for its opener, and has averaged about 1,600 since then. Others are starting to take notice, including those are the people at the Scott Van Pelt Show. Jared seems right down Van Pelt’s alley.

Ryan Harrow, Rodney Purvis, Torian Graham, Brandon Knight and Josh Harrellson are among those in this morning’s Big Blue Links. Click on the continue line to check them out.

Continue reading ‘BBL: The Hefty Lefty is back in the spotlight’

(AP photo/Karl DeBlaker)

Big Blue Links for Friday:

Tony Woods has talked to Kentucky about a transfer, reports Jason King of Yahoo.

This could be Alex Meyer’s final home start, writes Mark Maloney of the Herald-Leader.

In his 29th year, UK tennis coach Dennis Emery still succeeding, reads my column.

UK men’s tennis team prepares for regional today, reports Maloney.

Kentucky softball falls to Tennessee in SEC Tournament, says H-L staff report.

Knight, Liggins and Kanter all invited to NBA pre-draft combine, reports H-L.

Don’t make players rush draft decision, writes Eric Crawford of the Courier-Journal.

UK and Louisville hoping for dream tennis match-up, writes Brett Dawson of the C-J.

Holdovers carry Kentucky basketball’s title hopes, writes Dawson.

Kentucky’s spring practice wrap-up, according to ESPN’s Chris Low.