Tipton: A Cat-and-Bulldog fight? (Scotty Hopson)

[AndyPopCat]

AKRON, Ohio --Scotty Hopson of Hopkinsville has become the talk of the LeBron James Skills Academy here this weekend. Kentucky can only hope he'll become the topic of conversation during this fall's recruiting period.

For that to happen, Hopson would have to renege on an earlier commitment to Mississippi State University. He did not rule out that possibility after another standout performance yesterday.

Hopson called the commitment to State "pretty solid."

"I'm looking forward to going to Mississippi State and being a Bulldog," he said. "I'm comfortable there."

Yet Hopson is thinking about reopening his recruiting process after Kentucky coaches made more than one call to University Heights High inviting him to visit the UK campus...

http://www.kentucky.com/609/story/118857.html

[AndyPopCat]

By Jody Demling
jdemling@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal

AKRON, Ohio -- Senior-to-be Greg Monroe is considered the top high school basketball prospect in the country, and Ed Davis, Tyreke Evans and Samardo Samuels are not far behind. DeMarcus Cousins is one of the top juniors-to-be.

Those players are among 70 elite campers Nike has assembled at the LeBron James U.S. Skills Academy at the University of Akron, but nobody has created a buzz like Scotty Hopson...

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070709/SPORTS/707090458/1002/rss07

[matt colvin]

Thanks for posting these Andy. If he visits, he might just de-commit from MSU. I would be worried, if I were them :)

[Got_Billie_G?]

this would be a HUGE steal to get Hopson, kid is a straight-up 'baller and would instantly upgrade this team...add him and somehow get Zeller or Green and Miller or Landesberg and WOW, that's a loaded squad...

[DCWildcat]

I don't like recruiting verbally committed players. The last thing we need now is an Eric Gordon-esque reputation.

[KYISSUPREME]

I don't like recruiting verbally committed players. The last thing we need now is an Eric Gordon-esque reputation.

I agree, DC. We just need to write this off as another recruitment that Tubby botched. We should just move on to other forwards and some big men. Note: this is not a Tubby dig, just the truth.

[Gunsmoke]

What if he changes his mind and wants to come here? Do we say no and tell him he should have known where he truly wanted to go since he was already 16 years old? IMHO I think not. It happens quite frequently with a lot of schools and the nature of the beast known as recruiting kids.

[RCS]

I don't like recruiting verbally committed players. The last thing we need now is an Eric Gordon-esque reputation.
He has said he hasn't heard a bunch from UK, so I don't think we are actively trying to get him to back out of his commitment, but if he wants to consider you, you certainly take him. Also, I think it is a bit different when the kid is instate and you did not have a chance to recruit him because you are new to the school. I hate IU, but I didn't have any major problem with what happened there other than I think Sampson is a bit slimmy, but I already thought that. The kid live 20 minutes from UK campus, you can understand why he may be interested in UK now that we have become exciting again.

[DCWildcat]

What if he changes his mind and wants to come here? Do we say no and tell him he should have known where he truly wanted to go since he was already 16 years old? IMHO I think not. It happens quite frequently with a lot of schools and the nature of the beast known as recruiting kids.

If he changes his mind and he wants to come here, and he contacts UK, that's fine. That's different from going out of your way to contact a kid, though.

[sobecatlanta]

He has said he hasn't heard a bunch from UK, so I don't think we are actively trying to get him to back out of his commitment, but if he wants to consider you, you certainly take him. Also, I think it is a bit different when the kid is instate and you did not have a chance to recruit him because you are new to the school. I hate IU, but I didn't have any major problem with what happened there other than I think Sampson is a bit slimmy, but I already thought that. The kid live 20 minutes from UK campus, you can understand why he may be interested in UK now that we have become exciting again.

You're thnking of Bud Mackey that signed with IU. Hopson is from Western Kentucky.

[RCS]

You're thnking of Bud Mackey that signed with IU. Hopson is from Western Kentucky.
Your right, I always get those two confused:icon_redface:. Still he is from KY.

[Catdaddy]

I like Stansbury, he has done a fine job in Starksville, and must have done a great recruiting job on this kid. I like to see kids honor their commitments, but this kid is a hell of a talent, and if he is interested in UK there is no way Coach G can not pursue him. Knight, Coach K, Pitino, Self, Williams, Donovan, etc would all do the same, just part of the landscape of big boy basketball. Regardless, this has been a fun offseason for UK fans.

[Gunsmoke]

Rick Stansbury is one of my favorite people even though I haven't seen him since we were in the same small dorm at C-ville. I want him to succeed no doubt about it. I don't want to steal his recruit. I do wonder what coaches actually are. I would not think that Coach Gillispie would do that. That of course is just my opinion.