John Clay's Sidelines

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:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that Rich Brooks saw progress, but not perfection in UK’s 21-14 win at Auburn.
• My column saying we should recognize the offensive line.
• Jennifer Smith of the Herald-Leader reports on UK women hoops landing a top recruit.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that win breates life into UK football.
• Dana O’Neil of espn.com writes about Big Blue Madness.
• Zagsblog writes on Tobias Harris and Kyrie Irving’s visit to Madness.
• James Pennington of the Kentucky Kernel writes on the quarterback rotation.
• B.W. Jones of the Kernel has the game story on Kentucky’s victory at Auburn.
• Tom Leach gives his take on the Kentucky win.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Could Harris and Irving both end up at UK?’

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that UK is blowing its margin for errors.
• Ron Morris of The State writes that Cats mirror Gamecocks.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes on Derrick Locke.
• James Pennington of the Kentucky Kernel writes on bad column ideas.
• B.W. Jones of the Kentucky Kernel writes that UK’s rookie quarterbacks are biding their time.
• Bluegrass State Basketball thinks C.J. Leslie could commit to UK soon.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Rookie quarterbacks bide their time’

(H-L photo by Charles Bertram)

Big Blue Links for Thursday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports that Micah Johnson might not play Saturday.
• My column on Miami of Ohio coach Michael Haywood.
• H-L photo gallery from basketball picture day.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes about UK’s defensive ends.
• Yahoo Sports says DeMarcus Cousins is a bad boy in a good way.
• B.W. Jones of the Kentucky Kernel takes a look at the Kentucky kicking game.
• WKYT has the 911 call that reported Billy Gillispie before his arrest on suspicion of DUI.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Prep days for UK football, picture day for basketball’

A.J. Stewart

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader reports that freshman offensive lineman Larry Warford is making a big impression.
• Jerry Tipton of the H-L reports that UK rules SEC Basketball’s Super Tuesday on ESPN.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that UK has something “black” planned for Mississippi State game.
• Dawson also reports on the battle at center for a one-game start.
• Bluegrass State Basketball reports that A.J. Stewart will play at Texas State.
• Cat Scratches reports that UK pitcher James Paxton has postponed his major league career.
• Chris Low of ESPN writes that Kentucky hoops is the villain to Kentucky football.
• Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that Corey Joseph, being recruited by UK, is spending plenty of time at Minnesota.

Continue reading ‘BBL: A.J. Stewart to play at Texas State’

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

• My column on the new, flawed and apparently changing SEC Media Policy.
• Chip Cosby of the H-L has roundup on suspensions, MRIs, etc.
• Cosby also reports that UK’s freshmen must grow up in a hurry.
• The Courier-Journal’s Brett Dawson gives his practice report.
• Jody Demling of the C-J reports that UK has shown interest in North Oldham’s Darryl Hicks.
• Testudo Times reports that UK and North Carolina are high on C.J. Lesle’s list. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: Suspensions, injuries and some hoops news’

Big Blue Links for Monday:

• Big Blue Uncensored attended John Calipari’s father and son camp, and has plenty of pictures to prove it.
• My Sunday column about the reunion of Bear Bryant’s former players at Kentucky.
• Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader writes that right now UK football has no end in sight.
• H-L report that UK has been given more time to respond to Billy Gillispie’s lawsuit.
• C-J reports that camp pamphlet could pose eligibility problem for Darius Miller.
• Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal reports that Doron Lamb is one of UK’s top hoop targets.
• Demling also reports that another top recruit, Mychal Parker, will be on UK’s campus this week.
• Mark Mathis of the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer writes that Jon Hood could be the one to fill Jodie Meeks’ shoes.
• In the Danville Advocate-Messenger, Larry Vaught’s readers support Meeks’ decision to stay in the draft.
• David Aldrige of nba.com ranks Meeks as the seventh-best shooting guard in the draft.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Report from Calipari father-and-son camp’

Photo by Mark Cornelison.

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• Herald-Leader report on both Darius Miller and Shelvin Mack making the U.S. National Under-19 team.
• WHAS reports that Jim Host believes UK would be better off to avoid new Louisville arena and play in Freedom Hall.
• ESPN’s Andy Katz reports that Nebraska is looking at both Matt Pilgrim and Kevin Galloway. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)
• Tom Leach writes that Randall Cobb may be the key to early success in 2009 for UK football.
• Highschoolhoop.com reports that C.J. Leslie, a highly-regarded 2010 recruit, has his eyes on North Carolina, Florida and Kentucky.
• Fox Sports’ Jeff Goodman writes that UK is so talented that Daniel Orton may not see meaningful minutes.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that tryout was great experience for Miller.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Jim Host says UK should stick to Freedom Hall’