John Clay's Sidelines

Here is true freshman running back Raymond Sanders III, talking at today’s media day.

Click here for the YouTube version of this video.

Asked at his press conference today if he wants Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia to be a UK pipeline, a la LaGrange in Georgia, Joker Phillips said absolutely.

Todd Holcomb of MaxPreps.com sheds a little light on why. Stephenson had 29 players sign with colleges today. That’s 29 of 31 seniors. Unbelievable.

Two of those signees were running back Raymond Sanders and athlete Ronnie Shields, who both inked with Kentucky.

Here’s an excerpt:

Stephenson coach Ron Gartrell says he’d rather every player sign a college scholarship than win every football game. He did pretty well at both goals this academic year.

Gartrell’s team went 12-1, losing a 22-21 heartbreaker in the Class AAAAA quarterfinals to Colquitt County. That’s not an unusual finish for a school averaging 10 victories this decade.

But on Wednesday, 29 of 31 seniors signed college scholarships. That’s twice as many signees ever for Stephenson, a DeKalb County school already known as a factory of college football talent.

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Jerry Tipton of the H-L reports that John Wall and John Calipari have hugged it out.
• Tipton’s notes on tonight’s UK-Ole Miss game lead with DeAndre Liggins.
• Writing for CBS Sportsline, Ray Ratto argues that for Wall, maybe staying in school isn’t a bad idea.
• Herald-Leader report on UK women cracking the AP rankings at No. 20.
• Rivals’ Jerry Meyer says UK target Quincy Miller is still wide open.
• Mark Story of the H-L writes on UK football recruit Raymond Sanders.
• Brett Dawson of the C-J writes that it’s all cool with Wall and Calipari.
• David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger writes that UK’s inside bangers worry Ole Miss.
• Brandt writes that phenom Wall proves mortal after all.
• John Chaney tells the Temple News he regrets the language he used in Calipari incident, but not his feelings. (Hat tip to Aaron’s UK Basketball Blog.)

Continue reading ‘BBL: John Wall-John Calipari summit links’

For the second straight week, the AJC’s Chip Towers sings the praises of Georgia running back Raymond Sanders, a Kentucky commitment, who had another sterling Friday night.

Reports Towers:

Raymond Sanders, a Kentucky commitment who wowed an ESPN national-television audience last week against MLK, had his most dominating performance to date. Stephenson’s senior running back piled up 232 yards rushing on just 17 carries, scored three touchdowns and added a 23-yard reception.

Good report from my buddy Chip Towers in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Raymond Sanders, the Stone Mountain, Georgia running back who rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns last Friday as his team, Stephenson High School, was televised on ESPN.

And oh yeah, Sanders is committed to Kentucky.

And plans to stay committed to Kentucky.

An excerpt:

“Kentucky was on me early,” said Sanders, who leads DeKalb County with 14 touchdowns and is second to Southwest DeKalb’s ken Malcome in rushing with 116 yards per game. “I committed before the season started. I felt it was the right fit for me as far as academics, athletics, facilites, coaching staff. I just thought it was a perfcect fit. So I’m committed to Kentucky and I’m going to stay a Wildcat.”