2008 Recruiting: Where the Cats stand

[WildcatRick]

by Matt Jones
http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/wp-content/uploads//2008/01/maurice-sutton.jpg (http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/wp-content/uploads//2008/01/maurice-sutton.jpg)
Throughout the season, one common denominator that has brought together all the fans is a belief that things will be better for the Cats once Billy Clyde gets his players here. Thus recruiting has taken on an even greater importance and has become the focus of fans even more so than in previous years. Yet, the information out there simply isnt what it once was. Part of that is because Gillispie hasnt been here long enough to create the long-term relationships that help you realize which players he is focusing on and part of that is simply because this staff doesnt do leaks like the previous one. In past years, you knew what coach was going where to see what kid fairly quickly and with little effort. This group keeps things much closer to the vest and knowing whether they will zig or zag is never clear.

Thus knowing what players will be part of the Class of 2008 is somewhat of a mystery. Very few top quality members of the class are still out there and of the ones that are, it doesnt seem UK is a big player for most of them. Thus we are left with speculation and “sleepers,” something that can leave some fans a bit worried. Here then is a breakdown of where the Cats are and what the next couple of months of recruiting may look like.

DEPARTURES: At the end of the season, the Cats will lose two of their more polarizing players in recent years, Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford. With their loss, the Cats will lose the two most potent one-on-one scorers on the team and a great deal of the team’s offense, especially late in the game. However it does open up two scholarships for recruiting purposes to be filled by the 2008 class. In addition, this season Mark Coury (who came to UK as a walk-on) was given a scholarship, and it too can be returned (along with shipping and handling) to UK, giving another spot for the class. At this point I forsee at least one transfer from the class, bringing the likely number of scholarships available up to 4. Often you will hear fans say that Billy Clyde should “run off” some players to open up scholarships but I am not sure what exactly that would accomplish. A guy like the Big Black Member (who the coaches are high on and believe will contribute before he leaves UK) would leave, but with the scarcity of resources out there, you might get a player that is very similar coming in. At this point four scholarships looks to be the number the Cats can work with and will likely focus in on.

2008 CLASS:

http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=4690

[Bombastic Blue]

Interesting read. He forsees 1 transfer and then leaves Craters name off of his list of returning post players. HHHHHMMMMMMMM.

[wildcatnc]

ok according to my thinking we only have 12 players on scholarship (using Roster from UKathletics.com and counting Mark Coury). That leaves 1 now, assume 1 transfers, plus take Coury's and the two departing seniors means we have 5 schollies for next season right?

I mean on scholly next year we have - 1. 2Pat, 2. Jasper, 3. Meeks, 4.Carter, 5. Williams, 6. Porter, 7. Harris, 8. Stewart, 9. Stevenson -

That leaves 4 open without even having someone transfer. Am I missing someone? I mean this is a good problem to have - I am not going to complain.

My worry is 09 when we can get a quality big man, John Wall, John Hood - we have -0- schollies available and already one commitment

I trust BG knows how to clear this up. I think a couple players will transfer at end of season.

[cosmonaut]

I'm pretty sure it isn't guaranteed that Coury will get his scholarship taken away.

[WildcatRick]

He wouldnt be having it taken away. He was given a scholly for this season, period.
I'm pretty sure it isn't guaranteed that Coury will get his scholarship taken away.

[matt colvin]

The Member is Still on the Team (http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=4692)

by Matt Jones @ 1:34 pm. Filed under Blue Blooded Opinions (http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?cat=1)
http://www.ukathletics.com/image_lib/mbb_2007mug_williams.jpg
In a news tidbit that would certainly make Chevy Chase and General Franco happy, Morakinyo Williams (aka the Member) has NOT left the UK basketball team. On Saturday many rumors were swirling that he had transferred and there was some scuttlebutt that he might not even be on the bench for the game. But he was there, hairline in place, cheering on the Cats to victory. Today Joe B Hall mentioned during his radio show that he had transferred, but this too was faulty information and was followed by Denny saying he regretted to inform everyone that Samaki Walker was going pro early. So rest easy folks, the Member is still here…..ready to give British love to UK fans everywhere.

[matt colvin]

I wouldn't be surprised if Jones was talking about Williams transferring. At any rate, I'll be surprised if we don't have a transfer by season's end.

[cosmonaut]

He wouldnt be having it taken away. He was given a scholly for this season, period.



How do you know Coach won't let him keep the scholarship? He obviously thinks highly of Coury. I mean, if I was the coach, there is no way he keeps the scholly but maybe Coach thinks he deserves it. Hopefully not.

[Bombastic Blue]

How do you know Coach won't let him keep the scholarship? He obviously thinks highly of Coury. I mean, if I was the coach, there is no way he keeps the scholly but maybe Coach thinks he deserves it. Hopefully not.

Don't get me wrong, I love Coury, I love his grit, determination, and heart. I love the attitude that made him pass on several mid-major, full ride offers, because he expected better for hisself. I love how he campaigned and sold hisself to UK and walked on because of his belief in hisself. I love how he has made the most of his opportunities.

But, the truth is, he's a walkon. He's a walkon because his family has the money to let him live his dream. If it comes down to passing on a recruit that we need or pulling Marks schollie, Coach will pull the schollie.

That's what I think.

[jkeller]

Don't get me wrong, I love Coury, I love his grit, determination, and heart. I love the attitude that made him pass on several mid-major, full ride offers, because he expected better for hisself. I love how he campaigned and sold hisself to UK and walked on because of his belief in hisself. I love how he has made the most of his opportunities.

But, the truth is, he's a walkon. He's a walkon because his family has the money to let him live his dream. If it comes down to passing on a recruit that we need or pulling Marks schollie, Coach will pull the schollie.

That's what I think.

To me that is wrong. It's like giving your friend a gift because he's been a good friend to you, and then taking it back from him to give it to a hot chick you've just met.

[Bombastic Blue]

To me that is wrong. It's like giving your friend a gift because he's been a good friend to you, and then taking it back from him to give it to a hot chick you've just met.


I don't see it that way. A scholarship is for 1 year at a time. Mark gets to keep the one they gave him. I mean, UK isn't going to ask for the money back. He's a walkon. He was given a gift of a 1 year schollie because it was there. If next year it isn't there then all bets are off and we go back to the original arrangement. No harm. No foul.

Any way you look at it, the Courys save 30 or 40 large that they never expected to save.

[Matt Dillon]

All scholarships are for one year. Anyone's can be pulled at the end of each season, not just one given to a walk-on.

[swimuk1]

All scholarships are for one year. Anyone's can be pulled at the end of each season, not just one given to a walk-on.

I scholarship is renewed on a year to year basis. However, unless certain things were agreed upon in "writting" by both a coach and player there only three ways a player's scholarship can be taken away;

Not being picky just informing.

1. SA quits the team

2. SA becomes academically ineligible

3. SA breaks team rules or schools rules or policies. (this has to be documented as well)

If the SA does not meet any of these criteria it will be very difficult to not renew the scholarship in question. However many times there is an agreement with a coach and player where in a scholarship is good for only one year and one year only. This may be for various reasons.

[Matt Dillon]

I trust that you know what you're talking about. It seems there is a lot of misinformation floating around (what a surprise huh?). I believe I've read numerous posts on here, by various members, stating that scholarships can be taken away w/o any reason.

[grillman]

If as a student athlete a coach pulled your schollie without a good reason or agreement , do you think said student athlete would stay on the team .
duh!

[DCWildcat]

I trust that you know what you're talking about. It seems there is a lot of misinformation floating around (what a surprise huh?). I believe I've read numerous posts on here, by various members, stating that scholarships can be taken away w/o any reason.

I've read the same.

[teamchemistry09]

If as a student athlete a coach pulled your schollie without a good reason or agreement , do you think said student athlete would stay on the team .
duh!

If you wanted to play bad enough and mom and dad had enough money yes

[swimuk1]

I trust that you know what you're talking about. It seems there is a lot of misinformation floating around (what a surprise huh?). I believe I've read numerous posts on here, by various members, stating that scholarships can be taken away w/o any reason.

I can speak for everyone else but my information come from 6 years of D1 coaching....if a scholarship is taken away the SA can ask for a hearing as well...now is D1 ball a SA is probably going to do this as he realizes the coach will not play him if he stays...but that is a NCAA rule.

[blewis18]

Ok, first of all... Swimuk, I live in Statesboro too. Small world. Second who did you coach?

[swimuk1]

Ok, first of all... Swimuk, I live in Statesboro too. Small world. Second who did you coach?

It is a small world....I coached swimming(shocker) I know.

[blewis18]

It is a small world....I coached swimming(shocker) I know.

Haha, yeah dumb on my part i guess. I go to Ga Southern (shocker there too). Didn't think there were that many of us in these parts. Good to know!

[swimuk1]

Always good to have CATS fans close bye...we should get together for a game or two....my wife is a professor at GSU...which has a good ball team this year as well....Beat UAB!!!:shrug1:

[RCS]

If we are going to use an anology, it is more like a friend of yours drops and you have extra food so he stays for dinner. If he stops by the next day and you don't have extra he isn't going to be mad since you are not responsible for feeding him.
Coury came in as a walk on and has spent 1.5 seasons on scholarship because we had extras. That is pretty good. I have a feeling we will have a scholarship next year also for him since I don't think BCG is going to take someone just to take someone and so we will have an extra scholarship. I doubt very much that he will have one his SR year when we will need one desperately.

[billoliver40]

I've read the same.

This is about taking away schollies for whatever reason.

First of all, I'm agin it. The University made a committment, as did the player. If someone thought a kid would turn into something else and he didn't, then too bad. I'm not talking about not living up to academic standards....that's reasonable. I'm talking about "oops, not quite what I had in mind as a player."

Guys, you can't do that. Hal Mumme almost destroyed the football program doing that to Dusty Bonner. You lose the trust of any kid that might have an idea of coming to your school.

Do you make mistakes recruiting? You bet. Live with it. That's what the coaches get paid for. Most people cringe at the thought of P Patterson leaving Kentucky for the NBA, but we talk about yanking a kid's scholly that doesn't live up to expectations.

Soapbox over.

[sardiscat]

" Hal Mumme almost destroyed the football program doing that to Dusty Bonner."

Mumme didn't take Bonner's scholarship away. He took his starting position away, which meant Bonner wasn't going to get off the bench unless the starter got injured, so Bonner transferred. Mumme was always way short of the maximum number of scholarship players allowed, so there was never any reason for him to even think about yanking anybody's scholarship.

[westtncat]

This is about taking away schollies for whatever reason.

First of all, I'm agin it. The University made a committment, as did the player. If someone thought a kid would turn into something else and he didn't, then too bad. I'm not talking about not living up to academic standards....that's reasonable. I'm talking about "oops, not quite what I had in mind as a player."

Guys, you can't do that. Hal Mumme almost destroyed the football program doing that to Dusty Bonner. You lose the trust of any kid that might have an idea of coming to your school.

Do you make mistakes recruiting? You bet. Live with it. That's what the coaches get paid for. Most people cringe at the thought of P Patterson leaving Kentucky for the NBA, but we talk about yanking a kid's scholly that doesn't live up to expectations.

Soapbox over.
Im pretty sure coury knows how all this works. We made a commitment for a year. Coury has benefitted from this deal. If I have read most post correctly for the last couple of years we all want U.K. back to what it used to be, you cant do that by giving scholarships to walkons when you need them for top recruits. Players go pro early after saying they will stay scholarships arent renewed for specific reasons. Its the nature of the game. Coach g will do whats best for the university over all as a whole.

[billoliver40]

" Hal Mumme almost destroyed the football program doing that to Dusty Bonner."

Mumme didn't take Bonner's scholarship away. He took his starting position away, which meant Bonner wasn't going to get off the bench unless the starter got injured, so Bonner transferred. Mumme was always way short of the maximum number of scholarship players allowed, so there was never any reason for him to even think about yanking anybody's scholarship.

Good point. I was inaccurate. This is precisely what happened. Also agreed that coaches "take" scholarships continually by simply not playing certain players and they leave for other schools.

Still...I stand by if a kid is willing to stay and pay the price, even if that includes little or no playing time except for practice sessions, the University should stick by its' original decision.

[bluegrassking]

I'd imagine that Coury knew his scholorship was temporary when he got it and would have about zero problem giving it back to help the team.

[DCWildcat]

I'd imagine that Coury knew his scholorship was temporary when he got it and would have about zero problem giving it back to help the team.

I think the same

[RCS]

the University should stick by its' original decision.
The original decision was to not give him a scholarship. At no point has it been suggest to my knowledge that Coury's scholarship is anything other than temporary. It is looking like he may get to keep it another year but there is not way he keeps it in 2009 when we have 0 scholarships available.

[Will Lavender]

Are we even positive that Mark Coury is on scholarship? I may be totally wrong, but I thought I remember reading that he was on academic scholarship.