WildcatRick
07-08-2007, 11:03 PM
To the news……
(1) Last week on my last full appearance on The Sports Mob until after the bar exam, I mentioned that I continued to hear that Scotty Hopson would be considering Kentucky after the AAU season. Many on the internet said that I was full of it, didnt know what I was talking about and was just seeking to stir the pot. And while all those are normally true, THIS TIME, I did have some knowledge. Seriously though, the "Hopson may open things up" story has been one that I have heard from multiple inside people since Billy G arrived and two weeks ago, it was confirmed to me yet again. Now it turns out you dont even need to just trust me. Our favorite columnist, Jerry Tipton, spoke to Hopson and while he says he is "pretty solid," with Mississippi State, he and his mother acknowledge that they may look around after the summer. (http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/118716.html) As I stated on the show, the forces that pushed Hopson to Mississippi State are AAU forces (Midstate Ballaz) and I have heard for a long time that when he is away from those forces, UK may be right back in the mix. Its a good thing too…..Scotty is BLOWING UP this summer and has the potential to be a Top 10 All American prospect. Stay tuned…..the Hopson ride aint ending anytime soon.
(2) So what about other news…..well there isnt a lot as we enter the July period where the news is somewhat thin. Tyler Zeller is still a solid UK target and all signs point to UK being in his top 2-3 schools. Willie Warren acknowledges that he has cooled on UK in part because of all of their recent commitments (which of course led Jerry Tipton to spin them as potentially being bad…..gotta love the LHL). When I spoke with Rotnei Clarke right after the Warren to Baylor commitment, he told me that Willie liked Baylor because "he wants to get to the league in a year and he thinks he can do that there." Rotnei Clarke still loves UK and a commitment could come anytime…..but he would prefer to wait until he can visit another couple of schools. And, Darius Miller I still hear could decide by the beginning to middle of August…..and UK seems strong. Thus while the news is thin, it isnt a bad sign at all. Folks just need to get used to the fact that with UK moving so quickly on so many kids, there wont be as much to cover……recruitments that take years may be a thing of the past, and thus the news will be fast and furious….but shorter in duration.
(3) Along those lines, I am often asked which recruits I would prefer to see UK get. Here is my Top 10 wish list of the Class of 2008, considering the guys Kentucky is seriously looking at, and who I believe they have a chance with:
Tyler Zeller
Darius Miller
Rotnei Clarke
Chris Singleton
Olek Czyz
J'Mychal Green
Willie Warren
Michael Dunigan
Courtney Fortson
Eshaunte Jones
http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=2885
(1) Last week on my last full appearance on The Sports Mob until after the bar exam, I mentioned that I continued to hear that Scotty Hopson would be considering Kentucky after the AAU season. Many on the internet said that I was full of it, didnt know what I was talking about and was just seeking to stir the pot. And while all those are normally true, THIS TIME, I did have some knowledge. Seriously though, the "Hopson may open things up" story has been one that I have heard from multiple inside people since Billy G arrived and two weeks ago, it was confirmed to me yet again. Now it turns out you dont even need to just trust me. Our favorite columnist, Jerry Tipton, spoke to Hopson and while he says he is "pretty solid," with Mississippi State, he and his mother acknowledge that they may look around after the summer. (http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/118716.html) As I stated on the show, the forces that pushed Hopson to Mississippi State are AAU forces (Midstate Ballaz) and I have heard for a long time that when he is away from those forces, UK may be right back in the mix. Its a good thing too…..Scotty is BLOWING UP this summer and has the potential to be a Top 10 All American prospect. Stay tuned…..the Hopson ride aint ending anytime soon.
(2) So what about other news…..well there isnt a lot as we enter the July period where the news is somewhat thin. Tyler Zeller is still a solid UK target and all signs point to UK being in his top 2-3 schools. Willie Warren acknowledges that he has cooled on UK in part because of all of their recent commitments (which of course led Jerry Tipton to spin them as potentially being bad…..gotta love the LHL). When I spoke with Rotnei Clarke right after the Warren to Baylor commitment, he told me that Willie liked Baylor because "he wants to get to the league in a year and he thinks he can do that there." Rotnei Clarke still loves UK and a commitment could come anytime…..but he would prefer to wait until he can visit another couple of schools. And, Darius Miller I still hear could decide by the beginning to middle of August…..and UK seems strong. Thus while the news is thin, it isnt a bad sign at all. Folks just need to get used to the fact that with UK moving so quickly on so many kids, there wont be as much to cover……recruitments that take years may be a thing of the past, and thus the news will be fast and furious….but shorter in duration.
(3) Along those lines, I am often asked which recruits I would prefer to see UK get. Here is my Top 10 wish list of the Class of 2008, considering the guys Kentucky is seriously looking at, and who I believe they have a chance with:
Tyler Zeller
Darius Miller
Rotnei Clarke
Chris Singleton
Olek Czyz
J'Mychal Green
Willie Warren
Michael Dunigan
Courtney Fortson
Eshaunte Jones
http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=2885
