John Clay's Sidelines

When new North Carolina State athletic director Debbie Yow hired Mark Gottfried as basketball coach, some laughed. How could a coach fired at Alabama compete against the Tar Heels in the Blue Devils? Guess what. In the recruiting wards, Gottfried is competing. This afternoon, State picked up a commitment from T.J. Warren, the 6-foot-7 forward from Durham, North Carolina who at one time had Kentucky on his wish list. Warren joins Rodney Purvis, the 6-4 Top 20 prospect from Raleigh, as Wolfpack commitments.

Here’s an updated look at the Class of 2012 top 40 basketball commitments using Rivals, Scoutand ESPNU.

Continue reading ‘Mark Gottfried is getting it done at N.C. State’

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Big Blue Links for Saturday:

• Kentucky target Devonta Pollard is fighting through adversity, reports Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader.
• Chris Walker likes the Cats and other NCAA camp notes, reports Tipton.
• Rodney Purvis’ narrowed list doesn’t include UK, reports the H-L.
• NBA camp notes, day two, from Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal.
• Cats Illustrated has a photo gallery from the NBA camp in Virginia.
• Contract signed for upgrades at Commonwealth Stadium, reports Matt May of the Cats Pause.
• Doron Lamb still thinks about the UConn loss every day, says Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger.
• Enes Kanter’s workout with the Wizards went well, reports Michael Lee of the Washington Post.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Devonta Pollard video; more NBA camp notes’

Rodney Purvis

CBS Sports’ Jeff Goodman, as part of the recruiting-obsessed media mob, talked to Rodney Purvis, the former Louisville commitment who jumped off the Cardinals bandwagon when assistant Tim Fuller left the ‘Ville to join his mentor, Frank Haith, at Missouri. Funny, but I didn’t see Haith on Goodman’s top coaches, by age bracket, list yesterday.

Anyway, Kentucky is one of the schools pursing Purvis. But according to Goodman, the Cats are playing catch-up for the  6-foot-4 guard out of Raleigh. Purvis told Goodman he has Duke and North Carolina State as his top two. Goodman mentions that Scout.com has Kentucky, Louisville and Memphis rounding out Purvis’ top five.

Purvis was expected to be at the NBAP Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville, Virginia this morning.

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 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

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’

Dave Telep of ESPNU is reporting that Rodney Purvis has backed off his Louisville commitment.

The star guard in the 2012 class was recruited by former U of L assistant Tim Fuller, who left to join Frank Haith at Missouri.

Purvis has indicated he could still end up at U of L.

Excerpt:

North Carolina State, Duke, Kentucky, Florida, Baylor and Missouri are expected to enter the fray and recruit Purvis, but Louisville isn’t completely out of the picture.

“I had the conversation with Coach Pitino. He’s going to keep developing a relationship. I never said I wasn’t going back to Louisville,” said Purvis. “I just want to develop a relationship with the new coaches.”

Continue reading ‘Report: Rodney Purvis de-commits from Louisville’

Update: Zagsblog has quotes from Purvis. And Dave Telep of espn.com also has Purvis news.

Evan Daniels of Scout.com reports that UK target Rondey Purvis has committed to Louisville.

Scout.com ranks Purvis as the No. 1 lead guard and the No. 8 overall player in the 2012 class.

Rivals has not ranked Purvis, because he has gone up one year in classification.

Big Blue Links for Tuesday:

• Kentucky floor installed at Freedom Hall, reports Aaron Smith of the Kentucky Kernel.
• Badgoneblog has a picture of the floor. (Hat tip All Kentucky Hoops)
• Jason Jordan of ESPN tweets that Shabazz Muhammad and Rodney Purvis will visit UK together.
• Looking ahead, Indiana believes it can beat Kentucky, reports Pete DiPrimio of the Ft. Wayne News Sentinel. (Hat tip Spam’s Wildcat Page)
• Terrence Jones vs. Tyrone Nash will be battle of similar styles, writes Jerry Tipton of the H-L.
• Kentucky provides the first of two Notre Dame tests, writes Brian Hamilton of Chicago Breaking Sports.
• Irish needs Nash’s versatility, writes Hamilton for the Chicago Tribune.
• Cats say lesser bowl is not a letdown, reports Chip Cosby of the Herald-Leader.
• Kentucky is dreaming of bowls beyond goals, writes Brett Dawson of the Courier-Journal.
• Mark Story of the H-L says back off the Mike Hartline bashing.

Continue reading ‘BBL: Muhammad and Purvis to visit UK together’

(H-L photo/Jerry Tipton)

Going by Rodney Purvis’ tweets, the UK target had a good visit to Louisville on Monday night.

A few of his tweets:

rpurvis_44 Rodney Purvis: Shouts out to all Cardinal fans and their amazing student section !!
8 hours ago

rpurvis_44 Rodney Purvis: Enjoyed my stay here. At the airport on my way back home !!!
8 hours ago

rpurvis_44 Rodney Purvis: Great conversation with Coach P.
20 hours ago

rpurvis_44 Rodney Purvis: Having a blast at the Ville ! 21 Nov

rpurvis_44 Rodney Purvis: Just toured Yum Arena. Tht place is amazing ! 21 Nov

Jody Demling of the C-J has an update on Purvis’ visit.

Card Chronicle even has a picture posted by Purvis of himself wearing a U of  L shirt.

And remember, Purvis moved from Class of 2013 to 2012.

(Hat tip Wildcat World)