Recruit Watch: Jon Hood '09 SF/SG

[Coldstream]

http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/47/479675m.jpg (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:photos%28%29;)
Ht: 6-6 Wt: 180
Position: SF, SG
Year: Class of 2009
AAU Team: Nashville Celtics
High School: Madisonville North Hopkins HS (http://hskentucky.scout.com/)
(Madisonville, KY)
2009 Scout.com HS Basketball Rankings (full list (http://tennessee.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=9&c=4&yr=2009&cfg=bb)):
Pos: SF
Pos Rank: NR
Pos Rating: http://media.scout.com/media/site_logo/rating.gif http://media.scout.com/media/site_logo/rating.gif http://media.scout.com/media/site_logo/rating.gif

Scout Link (http://tennessee.scout.com/a.z?s=7&p=9&c=2&cid=686567&nid=3148322&fhn=1&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2ftennessee.scout.com%2fa. z%3fs%3d7%26p%3d9%26c%3d2%26cid%3d686567%26nid%3d3 148322%26fhn%3d1)

[Coldstream]

Update: Madisonville's Jon Hood

http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/demling/uploaded_images/IMG_3518-724707.JPG (http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/demling/uploaded_images/IMG_3518-725130.JPG)I spent some time in Madisonville earlier tonight with Class of 2009 rising star Jon Hood of Madisonville High School.

I am currently working on a story about Hood's rise from a little-known player in the state of Kentucky to one of the nation's most coveted recruits in the junior class. It's pretty remarkable and he seems like a great kid!

I had a lot of fun chatting with Hood. While I'll save most of the good stuff for the story, I did want to pass on some news of his recruitment.

On Wednesday, Hood made his way to Lexington for an unofficial visit. He met with Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie and played pickup ball with the UK payers before returning home.

The 6-foot-6 Hood said the Wildcats did extend a scholarship offer in person on Wednesday.

"I had so much fun," Hood said. "It was a blast playing with those guys. Playing with Patrick Patterson, throwing him a lob and watching him try and tear the rim down. It was fun."

Hood said it was the first time he had been back to UK since earlier this year when he attended the Wildcats' elite camp.

So far this fall, Hood has been to football games at Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi and Western Kentucky. He's on fall break next week and will make unofficial visits to Duke, Florida and North Carolina before flying back and attending UK's Midnight Madness and the football game against LSU that will be held next Saturday.

Hood said he's in the process of trying to schedule a visit to Louisville.

While Hood has risen to a top-30 prospect nationally, the gym at Madisonville has been a hot spot for coaches in recent weeks. Florida's Billy Donovan, Gillispie and Georgia's Dennis Felton have been there along with coaches from Virginia, Georgia Tech and Western Kentucky. Hood said Gillispie flew into Madisonville via helicopter and landed on the baseball field.

Besides UK, Ole Miss, Georgia, Western Kentucky and Tennessee have offered.

Hood said he's in no hurry to make a decision and predicted that he won't known where he'll attend college until after the AAU circuit is complete next summer.

http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/demling/2007/10/update-madisonvilles-jon-hood.html

[Wildcatcrazy11]

I can't wait to see what his thoughts are after Big Blue Madness. I honestly feel that any recruit who attends BBM is drawn to UK. Its such a big recruiting tool... if we can get them to come that is.

[WildcatRick]

Tonight we had Jon Hood on our radio show and the interview was interesting. The kid is pleasant and a good speaker and showcases exactly why teams are drooling over his services. When asked to give the adjective that most describes his game, he went with “versatile” and the player he most emulates, he said Brandon Rush….and odd choice, but one that is somewhat appropriate. When asked the teams he is considering, he began with Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Ole Miss and Vandy before also mentioning that Duke, North Carolina, Florida and Kansas are calling. He said that Gillispie was in Madisonville today to watch his practice and that he feels very close to the coaching staff. He mentioned that style of play was important and that he thought Tennessee’s style of play was its best selling point. He agreed that there is a lot of pressure for him to stay in state but added that this decision was one in which “I have to be selfish” and make the decision that is best for him. All in all, a great interview and one in which he confirmed he would make a decision this summer and commit. One has to like the Cats’ chances, but at the end of the day I forsee a dog fight between the Cats, Vols and Duke, if they decide to finally offer.

[Coldstream]

Can't paste the whole article since it is premium but Hood appears to have eliminated Duke. That is good news for us KY fans since I had read that we was big on Duke.

Jon Hood updates his recruitment http://media.scout.com/media/a/kentucky/premium.gif

http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/51/513429.jpg
Jon Hood


By Jeff Ermann (javascript:location.href='http://search.scout.com/a.z?s=48&p=4&c=1&search=1&sskey=%22' + escape('Jeff Ermann') + '%22&sssiteid=48';)
KSR Hoops Recruiting Analyst
Date: Mar 10, 2008

Kentucky Sports Report caught up with Madisonville, Kentucky's Jon Hood this evening. Hood, who is being pursued by some of the nation's top programs, gave Kentucky Sports Report's Jeff Ermann the low-down on his recruitment.

Click here (https://secure.scout.com/a.z?s=48&p=12&refid=7930&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2fkentucky.scout.com%2f2%2 f736401.html) to read the rest of this story...