John Clay's Sidelines

Big Blue Links for Friday:

Michael Carvell of the AJC reports that Marcus Thornton has eliminated Kentucky: “Georgia Tech and UGA are among the four finalists for the AJC’s Mr. Basketball, Westlake High’s Marcus Thornton revealed on Thursday night. Alabama and a surprise school (Texas) are among in Thornton’s short list of finalists. He eliminated Clemson, Kentucky, and Michigan from consideration, and plans on signing by May 21.”

Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal on a new UK recruiting name: “Word started to break over the weekend that the UK staff had hosted an unknown prospect and earlier today Scout.com national analyst Evan Daniels reported that was Remi Dibo. The 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward from Beckley (W. Va.) Mountain State Academy made a visit to Lexington last week and currently only has offers from St. Bonaventure, Drexel and Duquesne. He’s a three-star prospect by Scout.

Mr. SEC reports that UK had lowest attendance of (almost) all SEC spring football games: “Vanderbilt did not supply official attendance numbers. (As if any of these numbers are officials. Heck, the last four digits of MSU’s attendance this year just happen to match the score from last year’s Egg Bowl win. Coincidence?)”

Zagsblog writes that Brandon Knight is not going to Europe: “The bogus story quoted Knight saying he would spend next season in Italy, following in Brandon Jennings’s footsteps, instead of going to Kentucky. Jennings skipped college at Arizona and played a year of pro ball in Italy before getting drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, whom he helped lead into a Game 7 against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the NBA playoffs.”

Continue reading ‘BBL: Marcus Thornton out, Remi Dibo in?’

SEC links for Sunday:

• Michael Carvell of the AJC reports that Marcus Thornton visited Alabama this weekend.

• Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News-Sentinel writes on Marquette transfer who could make an impact on Tennessee basketball.

• Alabama football is No. 1 with CBS, as well, writes David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

• Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News writes that the Tiger Prowl might be dead, but Auburn recruiting is very much alive.

• Romero Osby is transferring from Mississippi State basketball team, reports Kyle Veazey of the Clarion-Ledger.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: Marcus Thornton visits Alabama’

Big Blue Links for Wednesday:

Mike Fields of the Herald-Leader on West Jessamine’s Jarrod Polson picking UK:

Polson, a 6-foot-3 point guard who averaged 18 points and six rebounds this season, announced his decision Tuesday in his high school library in front of teammates, students, teachers and fans. They gave him a rousing ovation when he slipped on a blue UK cap.

H-L staff report says Eric Bledsoe remains eligible, and has not signed with an agent:

Saying the update came from Bledsoe, UK announced that the player would work out for NBA teams and then make a decision about turning pro by the deadline. Bledsoe is eligible to return to Kentucky if he does not hire an agent and withdraws from the draft by May 8.

Phil Kornblut of Palmetto Sports says Marcus Thornton will visit Kentucky:

6-7 Marcus Thornton will make his first official visit since reopening his recruiting this Thursday when he visits Alabama according to his coach. Thornton once was a Clemson signee but he got his release after Oliver Purnell left. He also has scheduled an official visit to Texas for next weekend. His coach said he will also take officials to Kentucky and Michigan.

(Hat tip Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

Gary Bedore of the Lawrence Journal-World on Terrence Jones’ visit to Kansas:

Blue-chip basketball prospect Terrence Jones, who completed his official 48-hour recruiting trip to Kansas University on Tuesday afternoon, returned to his hometown of Portland, Ore., with positive feelings about KU. “The support the players receive at Kansas is something that stands out,” Jones, the No. 13-rated player in the recruiting Class of 2010, told Rivals.com. “Everybody knows who those guys are, and there is a lot of support. Kansas is one of my options, and they are even with the other schools.”

Kentucky Sports Network has Polson video:

Continue reading ‘BBL: Marcus Thornton to visit UK; Jones enjoyed Kansas’

John Calipari watches John Wall (H-L photo/Charles Bertram)

Big Blue Links for Friday:

Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader was in Indianapolis for Marquis Teague’s announcement:

Teague’s announcement gives Kentucky commitments from the players rated by Rivals.com as the top two in the class of 2011. Teague, who is No. 2, joins New Jersey forward Michael Gilchrist, the No. 1 prospect, who committed to Calipari last week. When asked how he thought he and Gilchrist would fare together, Teague said, “I think we can do some great things at Kentucky, have a nice dynasty.”

Marcus Thornton (Photo Chick-fil-A Classic)

Michael Carvell of the AJC has an update on Marcus Thornton:

Westlake’s Marcus Thornton, who is one of college basketball top free agents, has finished the in-home visits with all seven of his finalists – Kentucky, Texas, Alabama, UGA, Georgia Tech, Clemson and Michigan. On Thursday, Thornton left for Florida for a mini-spring break. He will return late Sunday night and begin narrowing down his schools on Monday, his father confirmed to the AJC on Thursday night.

Mark Story of the H-L writes that it’s easy to root for John Wall:

“I sat back for about a week and a half and just realized, if we came back, we could win it,” Wall said of the five Kentucky underclassmen who have put their names in the draft. “But there’s no guarantee, you never know what could happen for next year. So I just felt like this was my opportunity to go (pro). After I talked to my family and my coaching staff, they said it was time to go.”

Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal on Marquis Teague committing to Kentucky:

Marquis Teague said he was ready to commit to the University of Louisville at least twice during a two-year recruitment by the Cardinals. But when Teague, a standout junior basketball prospect from Indianapolis Pike High School, made his announcement on Thursday afternoon, the 6-foot-2 point guard put on a University of Kentucky hat.

Zagsblog says North Carolina State leading on C.J. Leslie:

Through it all, N.C. State could have the inside track because of Leslie’s relationship with head coach Sidney Lowe. “He’s looking at N.C. State because he’s known Sidney Lowe for four or five years,” Lisa said. “He has a good relationship with him. I would say they are pretty high on the list.”

UK basketball target Terrence Jones on Twitter last night, announcing his decision date:

Continue reading ‘BBL: UK makes in-home visit with Marcus Thornton’

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader reports that UK football ticket prices are going up:

Single-game tickets will rise from $35 to $41 for games against non-Bowl Championship Series opponents and from $40 to $46 for games against teams from BCS leagues. The board also approved a $50-per-seat increase in the K-Fund contribution that gives fans the right to buy priority seats. Tickets for about 36,000 seats in Commonwealth Stadium require a contribution to the K Fund. In the 2010 season, that contribution will rise to a range of $100 to $525 per seat. The required contribution last season ranged from $50 to $475.

Michael Carvell of the AJC reports that UK has offered a scholarship to Georgia’s Mr. Basketball:

Kentucky coach John Calipari has expressed heavy interest in Thornton, along with representatives from Texas and Florida. There is also speculation that Tennessee, Michigan, LSU and Auburn, among others, will also join the recruiting race. (Note: See Monday night’s updated list at the bottom). “We’re very surprised by all the attention,” said Thornton’s father, Billy. “People told us to anticipate it, but you don’t really know what is going to happen. It has been very overwhelming, and we feel very blessed.”

Mark Wiedmer of the Chattanooga Times Free Press thinks NCAA rule unfair to Patrick Patterson:

And given the questionable rep that has overtaken much of college basketball the past few seasons before last week’s remarkable NCAA tourney final between choir boys Duke and Butler, you’d think the NCAA would be doing everything possible to keep quality young men like Patterson around as long as possible. But if Patterson does the expected over the next 10 days and tests the NBA draft waters for the second year in a row, his college eligibility is over. Fini. Kaput.

Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader on the UK defense needing leadership:

“A lot of cats were looking depressed,” Evans said. “I was on the sideline trying to cheer everybody on because this is something you love to do. It’s not always going to be a happy situation when you mess up on a play or something, but you’re out here doing something you’ve done since a kid, and if you’re not having fun, you’re probably not going to do well. People who are good at things are usually having fun doing them.”

Continue reading ‘Thornton, Jones, Ross, Kanter and more recruiting news’

Update: Blog commenter wanted me to add Patterson to the mix, so I did.

Update II: Jeff Goodman at Fox Sports has Meeks No. 7 and Thornton No. 10 in his national Player of the Year rankings.

I still think Kentucky’s Jodie Meeks will be named the SEC’s Player of the Year. But in my column this morning, I note that Kentucky’s point machine has more competition than we once might have expected. Here’s a chart comparison of the top contenders:

Conference and non-conference games included. Leader in each category marked by gold box.

Big Blue Links for the UK-LSU showdown (4 p.m., CBS):

• In the Herald-Leader, Jerry Tipton writes that this is a nighmare matchup for the Cats.
• Here’s my column saying today’s game poses the biggest test of the young Billy Gillispie Era.
• Tipton’s notes packages leads with the off-and-on status of A.J. Stewart.
• All your UK audio needs are on this link.
• Gary Laney of the Baton Rouge Advocate writes that Rupp Arena awaits the Tigers.
• Laney also writes that LSU is counting on Garrett Temple to contain Jodie Meeks.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that Meeks impresses Temple.
• Vaught also writes that LSU awaits a “talented” UK.
• Hoops Report gives some love to LSU’s Marcus Thornton.
• Kevin Lyttle of the Austin American-Statesman writes that LSU’s turnaround season has been striking.
• David Helman of the Daily Reville writes that LSU is shooting for the SEC crown today.
• Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal writes that Patrick Patterson is the Cats’ insider.

Continue reading ‘BBL: UK-LSU preview links’

A.J. Stewart

Big Blue Links for Friday:

• After initially reporting that Stewart had been kicked off the team, Kentucky Sports Radio says it may not be permanent.
• WKYT cites sources saying Stewart did quit the team.
• Is A.J. Stewart on the team? Mother tells C-J “as far as I know.”
• In the Herald-Leader, Jerry Tipton writes that Patrick Patterson is ignoring the pundits.
• Audio of Billy Gillispie from Thursday’s SEC teleconference.
• LSU coach Tent Johnson talks about Kentucky on the SEC teleconference.
• Jennifer Smith of the Herald-Leader reports on the UK hoops loss to visiting Georgia.
• In The Advocate, Gary Laney writes that LSU’s Marcus Thornton compares favorably to Jodie Meeks.
• ESPN’s Chris Low reports on a snag in the UK-Miami of Ohio football talks.
• Eric Crawford of the Courier-Journal writes that something seems amiss with these Cats.
• Also in the C-J, Brett Dawson reports that UK’s spirits are high even after loss.
• A Sea of Blue has the post-mortem on the South Carolina loss.
• In the Kentucky Kernel, B.W. Jones writes that the UK women’s comeback came up short.
• Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes that UK just phoned it in.
• Cat Scratches has its practice report, with no A.J. mention.

SEC links for Tuesday:

• Birmingham News columnist Ray Melick writes that while Mark Gottfried was a fiery player, he was losing his intensity as a coach.
• In the Mobile Press-Register, Gentry Estes writes on Gottfried’s interim successor, Philip Pearson.
• On his blog, Mark McCarter of the Huntsville Times tackles the question of what Alabama will do next.
• Seth Emerson of The State writes that South Carolina coach Darrin Horn is breaking in new ground.
• In the Gainesville Sun, Pat Dooley writes that Chandler Parsons could be the key to the Florida season.
• In the Tennessean, Maurice Patton writes that A.J. Ogilvy’s health holds the key to Vanderbilt’s season.
• Bryan Mullen of the Tennessean writes that Tennessee faces a make-or-break week.
• Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery Advertiser writes that defensive work is paying dividends for Auburn.
• In the Baton Rouge Advocate, Gary Laney writes that LSU’s Marcus Thornton is thriving.
• Chip Towers of the AJC asks if Georgia is competitive with its checkbook.
• Dave Hooker of the Knoxville News-Sentinel sits down with Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton for a Q&A.
• Also in the News-Sentinel, Dan Fleser reports that Pat Summitt has lost her patience.

SEC links for Wednesday:

• In the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Mike Griffith reports on Tennessee’s 80-68 win over Marquette in the SEC/Big East Invitational.

• Tennessean columnist David Climer writes on the fine play of UT center Wayne Chism.

• Maurice Patton of the Tennessean reports on Vandy’s 71-52 blow-by of South Florida.

• News-Sentinel columnist Mike Strange writes that the SEC isn’t ready to challenge the Big East.

• In the Mobile Press-Register, Paul Finebaum writes that Auburn has blown its big chance.

• Birmingham News columnist Kevin Scarbinsky lists the no-shows at Gene Chizik’s introductory press conference.

Continue reading ‘SEC links: SEC takes lead over Big East’