JUCO PG visiting UK this weekend....

[WildcatRick]

JUCO PG: There is an interesting article on TCP today about a Juco Point Guard who is visiting Kentucky this weekend. Tyrone Appleton is a name that has been whispered around UK for the past few weeks, but after Jeff Drummond’s interview tonight, we find out that he is visiting UK this weekend and has an offer from Kentucky. Appelton originally committed out of high school to Virginia Tech and was considered a defensive specialist among his class. He currently plays in Midland, Texas (home of “Friday Night Lights”) and is the starting PG on one of the best JUCO teams in America. His recruitment for next year suggests to me that (a) no matter what the big man situation may be, Gillispie is still intent on getting more guards and (b) the notion that it is set in stone that DeAndre Liggins will be a PG at UK is not clear. Appleton is very interested in UK and it will be interesting to see what the result will be of his visit. He is scheduled to join us on the radio show on Wednesday, so stay tuned…..

http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=4506

[KYISSUPREME]

This is the sort of thing I have been expecting. This team needs players, but quick. Hardly any high schoolers left worth taking. Gillispie has had success at other schools with JUCO's. Maybe he can get the right kind to come in here and help out immediately. Without the baggage that follows a lot of these kids. Having a defensive-stopper at pg would be nice, for a change. Wonder if can score, as well?

[boomdaddy]

PG is a big void, right now. Next year, Bradley is gone. UK will be left with Jasper, Porter, and a freshman Liggins. I think bringing in a juco PG is a great move, because Porter is actually a shooting gaurd, who is playing the point and Liggins may or may not be ready to handle the pressure as a freshman.

[jkeller]

Maybe if we sign enough guards we can stack one on top of another and they can be our center. :icon_smile::shrug1:

[teamchemistry09]

Maybe if we sign enough guards we can stack one on top of another and they can be our center. :icon_smile::shrug1:

Looks like thatll be our only option. We need a center

[crazzedcats22]

Maybe if we sign enough guards we can stack one on top of another and they can be our center. :icon_smile::shrug1:

Nice!!!:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

[cats65]

Penetration against our current group of guards has been killing us. This would be a huge key toward doing things Gillispie wants to do on the defensive end.

[crazzedcats22]

it would be great to have another awesome defender like Cliff Hawkins...I loved watching that guy on defense!

[poodoo]

it would be great to have another awesome defender like Cliff Hawkins...I loved watching that guy on defense!

Yes, it would, and so did I! Too, on the Internet we once bought lower level seats in Rupp. My favorite part of that experience was watching Cliff Hawkins play defense. His quickness on defense was just UNREAL from that distance. Too, dribblers were HARRASSED by Cliff and only rarely made it by him, game after game. I also especially remember Cliff's tenacious defense (as part of the Suffocats) in the miraculous second-half performance at Vanderbilt. To this day I feel SURE we easily beat UAB in the Big Dance IF ONLY Cliff had not been playing with a painful back injury. :icon_sad:

We BADLY need such a tenacious defender. I thus like what I read here.

[ryanebelhar]

he stuck by after the game and signed autographs with Coach, Aj Stewart, Patrick Patterson, Mark Coury, Mark Krebs, and Dusty Mills

[teamchemistry09]

He signed UK stuff? Id say thats about as close as it gets to a yes from the guy

[ryanebelhar]

Yes he was signing peoples programs and those big '3's they put in the seats.

[Wildcat5369]

love the "Gary Payton-esque defensve stopper" comparison. It would be a great 1-2 punch with Jasper!!

[bigbluelife]

Rep as a lock down defender- get him here- how many times in a season or seasons do we continue to get beaten off the dribble?

[DCWildcat]

He signed UK stuff? Id say thats about as close as it gets to a yes from the guy

That's actually fairly common for a recruit to do at a UK game (e.g., Jai Lucas, and most of this year's Madness visitors). Says something about how knowledgeable UK fans are about the program :thumbup:

[BleedBlue7]

Hopefully Appleton see's that we are in dire need of a PG. If we get him, he will get playing time instantly.

[teamchemistry09]

I dont see how we are in "dire" need of a PG. Jasper is hurt, not dead. We have Bradley and Porter holding it down for now, which isnt too good. But next year we have Jasper and Liggins to run it. With Meeks and Miller. We need a guard I agree, but not necessarily a PG. Unless hell come in as a backup or take Jaspers job, which I think leads to Jaspers transfer. Thatd be the only option and move Liggins to the 3. Or maybe just run Meeks at the 3 and have him and Jasper out there. But yes we need a guard, but he doesnt have to be a PG. A SG or a SF would do

[WildcatRick]

I dont see how we are in "dire" need of a PG. Jasper is hurt, not dead. We have Bradley and Porter holding it down for now, which isnt too good. But next year we have Jasper and Liggins to run it. With Meeks and Miller. We need a guard I agree, but not necessarily a PG. Unless hell come in as a backup or take Jaspers job, which I think leads to Jaspers transfer. Thatd be the only option and move Liggins to the 3. Or maybe just run Meeks at the 3 and have him and Jasper out there. But yes we need a guard, but he doesnt have to be a PG. A SG or a SF would do

Liggins will be a SF, Bradley has nothing to do with this. Yes, we need a PG.

[Gunsmoke]

Plus it is not a done deal that Jasper will ever be back to full stength. We need a seasoned point guard badly.

[KYISSUPREME]

Plus it is not a done deal that Jasper will ever be back to full stength. We need a seasoned point guard badly.

Very good points, Gunsmoke. It has been painfully obvious to me that we desperately need a point guard, as well. JMO.

[DRCATFAN]

I agree, we need a point guard desperately.

Jasper may come off the IR and be a savior at the position (and I hope so). However, last year Jasper would not take a shot and didn't seem to be extremely quick. He does have positives as well such as size and an excellent passer, so I am not trying to be down on him.

The way BCG talks about Jasper (positively), he's got me expecting big things when he makes it back.

[teamchemistry09]

We need any guard, not just a PG. A SG will do if there is a better one than a PG. But Jasper will be running the point for the next 2 years.

[Gunsmoke]

We need Derrick badly. I hope he makes a full recovery for his sake and the teams.

[poodoo]

We need Derrick badly. I hope he makes a full recovery for his sake and the teams.

Well-said, and me, too, Gunsmoke.

Too, YES, we need another point guard as Ramel is a senior, and Michael Porter seems better at the shooting guard position. By the way, Derrick Jasper can also play the small forward position. I so badly want Derrick to recover and play the point position now and whatever position is needed the most in the future.

[DRCATFAN]

I could definitely see Jasper playing more of a pt forward position if we could land a big time point guard.

With the coaching mess in Arizona, BCG should be texting Mr. Jennings.

[caliparifan]

Man, I just cannot express how happy I am to see DJ back on the floor. He'll help lead us to a V against those dirtybirds.

[DCWildcat]

Last year Tubby got a ton of flack for recruiting point guards. On occasion I joined in with that, but now I think Tubby was right to do that.

[dwarfdorin]

Is there anything new on Appleton?

:widcat::widcat: Go CATS!!!

[matt colvin]

Is there anything new on Appleton?

:widcat::widcat: Go CATS!!!

None that I've seen :thumbup: I don't expect to know anything substantial until the spring signing period....I know that doesn't help any, but it has helped me find patience :icon_mrgreen:

I want this to be a dynamite class so badly, as the momentum we enjoyed pre-season was so invigorating. Need a big and I'll take a pg to back Derrick up until a John Wall or KC Ross-Miller can get in here. If Appleton is the lock-down type guy he is advertised as, he'd certainly be a welcome addition to most any roster.

[poodoo]

If Appleton is the lock-down type guy he is advertised as, he'd certainly be a welcome addition to most any roster.

FWIW, I think such a defensive stopper is sorely needed by this team. Too, I suspect Coach Gillispie feels the same. Here's hoping he can convince Mr. Appleton to commit.