UK Big Man Target...Maurice Sutton

[WildcatRick]

by Matt Jones

MAURICE SUTTON: Still possibly the most under-talked about person left on the recruiting landscape is DC Big man Maurice Sutton. Sutton is being recruited by a number of Big East schools and Kentucky and recently told a reporter that UK is in his top three. He has visited campus and sports an offer from the Cats at this point. I talked to an individual a month or so ago who told me that of all the big guys left to get this year, they think Sutton has the most upside and the most potential to be great. They are worried as to how much he can contribute next year, but they hope to be able to develop him into a scoring threat if he should attend here. Sutton is having a very good Senior season and may still have a couple of visits to come….possibly heading back to Lexington. Keep an eye on Maurice as he still isnt getting the press that UK’s attention on him deserves.

http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=4902

[teamchemistry09]

Sounds to me like another project. All we hear with big men is potential and I want someone who can come in and contribute next season not be here 2 years before he can play. He sounds to me like another Obrzut, Alleyne, Carter, and Williams. Nothing against those guys, but we need someone we can depend on to come in and give us 10 and 7

[blewis18]

Sounds to me like another project. All we hear with big men is potential and I want someone who can come in and contribute next season not be here 2 years before he can play. He sounds to me like another Obrzut, Alleyne, Carter, and Williams. Nothing against those guys, but we need someone we can depend on to come in and give us 10 and 7

While I agree and totally see where you are coming from with these names I also say we have a new coach who definitely knows what he is doing on the recruiting trail. Also we have seen this said new coach come in and actually DEVELOP these guys. I know not Carter and Williams...yet, but there is some still to come. I just say in BCG i trust!!

[BigblueDrew]

Sounds to me like another project. All we hear with big men is potential and I want someone who can come in and contribute next season not be here 2 years before he can play. He sounds to me like another Obrzut, Alleyne, Carter, and Williams. Nothing against those guys, but we need someone we can depend on to come in and give us 10 and 7

There are only about 2-4 of the kind of kids you are describing available every year and this years crop was gone before Coach G even got the UK job. We have to start somewhere.

[jkeller]

Sounds to me like another project. All we hear with big men is potential and I want someone who can come in and contribute next season not be here 2 years before he can play. He sounds to me like another Obrzut, Alleyne, Carter, and Williams. Nothing against those guys, but we need someone we can depend on to come in and give us 10 and 7

That would entail convincing an already-committed prospect to de-commit, basically.

I believe the 10 and 7 guy you are talking about is already on the team, and his name is Perry Stevenson.

[Sticeman]

That would entail convincing an already-committed prospect to de-commit, basically.

I believe the 10 and 7 guy you are talking about is already on the team, and his name is Perry Stevenson.

Agree totally.....

[jkeller]

Agree totally.....

8 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks. Nice all around performance today.

[teamchemistry09]

That would entail convincing an already-committed prospect to de-commit, basically.

I believe the 10 and 7 guy you are talking about is already on the team, and his name is Perry Stevenson.

Yes Perry is that guy BUT we still need a back up who can come in and keep it going. Or someone to start and give that and let Stevenson come off the bench. I love the hussle and heart Coury plays with but lets face it, he isnt someone to have a solid future around. 4 and 4 isnt what we need

[jkeller]

Yes Perry is that guy BUT we still need a back up who can come in and keep it going. Or someone to start and give that and let Stevenson come off the bench. I love the hussle and heart Coury plays with but lets face it, he isnt someone to have a solid future around. 4 and 4 isnt what we need

AJ Stewart will only get better. Remember he's just a freshman and trying to adjust. He's athletic and versatile enough to be that type of player as well.

[dougwhit]

we need a big guy to play with 2pat. two big guys down low. number 8 is in sight

[teamchemistry09]

we need a big guy to play with 2pat. two big guys down low. number 8 is in sight

We need a big guy but not just any big guy. We dont need another Carter/Obrzut/Alleyne/Williams. We need another Perry Stevenson. Only someone who can give Stevensons production their first year not their second

[The Black Watch]

We need a big guy but not just any big guy. We dont need another Carter/Obrzut/Alleyne/Williams. We need another Perry Stevenson. Only someone who can give Stevensons production their first year not their second

Not a knock on Perry or your post, but I'm hoping for more with the next big guy recruited. I love what Perry has been doing, but I would like another Patterson-type talent. JMO.

[jkeller]

We need a big guy but not just any big guy. We dont need another Carter/Obrzut/Alleyne/Williams. We need another Perry Stevenson. Only someone who can give Stevensons production their first year not their second

If Greg Monroe de-commits from Georgetown and suddenly shows an interest in UK then we are set. Barring that I believe we'll have to wait til '09 to get a "ready-made" big man, because there are just none left for '08.

I would definitely rather have Hopson this year than a project simply to have another "big body". We have three "big bodies" on the bench now that we aren't using. I would rather have another scoring guard that could take more pressure off of Pat and Perry.

[Grub]

If Greg Monroe de-commits from Georgetown and suddenly shows an interest in UK then we are set. Barring that I believe we'll have to wait til '09 to get a "ready-made" big man, because there are just none left for '08.

I would definitely rather have Hopson this year than a project simply to have another "big body". We have three "big bodies" on the bench now that we aren't using. I would rather have another scoring guard that could take more pressure off of Pat and Perry.

Greg Monroe commited to Georgetown??? WOW - How did I miss that? I thought Duke and LSU were his finalists.

[jkeller]

Greg Monroe commited to Georgetown??? WOW - How did I miss that? I thought Duke and LSU were his finalists.

It was a while ago I know. I remember Duke being pissed about it because they thought they had him in the bag.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/13/AR2007101301152.html

[teamchemistry09]

Not a knock on Perry or your post, but I'm hoping for more with the next big guy recruited. I love what Perry has been doing, but I would like another Patterson-type talent. JMO.

It would be great to get another guy like Patterson but there isnt one out there for this year and for next year they are all pretty much gone

[DCWildcat]

It's tough. It really is. Hell, Dook blows every other program out of the water in their ability to get what they want--and they've been striking out on the bigs, too.

Take a look at the '05 forwards-- http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/quicklist.asp?School=&Sport=2&DPosition=31&Position=21&Year=2005&qs=1

They've had 3 years to develop now. And think of how many of those guys aren't really contributing that much.

There are very few good big men in any year. And most of the good ones don't end up contributing all that much anyway. I'm sure BCG will land another one in time, but keep in mind, this isn't a piece of cake and sometimes you'll just get a crop of recruits who don't have interest in a school. Think of all the major programs in the country that could draw a recruit's interest, and then imagine the 15 or 20 players (max) who are choosing between those schools. Luck can play a role.

[RCS]

Unless you are UNC who seems to get every big man for some reason. I agree though, to act like there are a lot of PP out there is nuts. He is the best FR big man we have ever had. You have to take guys like Stewart and Stevenson and mold them into contributors. There aren't 15 impact FR bigs in the country most years. At most they ussually can give you 5-7 points and a few rebounds as FR. At this point we are just looking for someone that can mature into a contributor. You can't take a guy like Williams who has SO far to go, but you do look for a guy like Stewart who is clearly talented but raw.

[poodoo]

by Matt Jones

MAURICE SUTTON: Still possibly the most under-talked about person left on the recruiting landscape is DC Big man Maurice Sutton. Sutton is being recruited by a number of Big East schools and Kentucky and recently told a reporter that UK is in his top three. He has visited campus and sports an offer from the Cats at this point. I talked to an individual a month or so ago who told me that of all the big guys left to get this year, they think Sutton has the most upside and the most potential to be great. They are worried as to how much he can contribute next year, but they hope to be able to develop him into a scoring threat if he should attend here. Sutton is having a very good Senior season and may still have a couple of visits to come….possibly heading back to Lexington. Keep an eye on Maurice as he still isnt getting the press that UK’s attention on him deserves.

http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=4902

There's more info on this big man in a Jim Tirey piece in this week's Cats' Pause. Maurice Sutton, a 6-foot-10, 210-pound forward had loved the atmosphere when he had visited Rupp in January. Now he has received the news that he has passed his SAT test that he had taken in that same month. :)

Sutton says that he loves Kentucky and Billy Gillispie. He also says, "I'm averaging almost a triple-double right now" (18 points, 13 rebounds, and over 9 blocks a game). While he may take all five visits, if it "feels right," he may choose a school earlier. He closes by saying, "I am a very Christian soul, so whatever God has in store for me, that's where I will go."

I liked what I read here about Mr. Sutton. He sounds like a fine player AND person. :) Spring may be FUN! :)

[Blue Heaven]

Yes Poodoo! It's always great when you get a player of his caliber, but to get a great person as well to go along with it, it just puts a smile on my face, whether he comes here or not. Good people these days are hard to find and I'm not talking about what folks see on the outside. I just want to close by saying that I absolutely LOVE reading your posts. Your kind nature shows through and that's tough to discern on message boards.

[bluebayou]

I've said it b4 and I'll say it again.....Poodoo sets the standard for CAT fans on this board. Pure class and an always positive attitude to go with it............YOU GO GIRL !!!!!!

[Doug Hardin]

It's tough. It really is. Hell, Dook blows every other program out of the water in their ability to get what they want--and they've been striking out on the bigs, too.

Take a look at the '05 forwards-- http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/quicklist.asp?School=&Sport=2&DPosition=31&Position=21&Year=2005&qs=1

They've had 3 years to develop now. And think of how many of those guys aren't really contributing that much.

There are very few good big men in any year. And most of the good ones don't end up contributing all that much anyway. I'm sure BCG will land another one in time, but keep in mind, this isn't a piece of cake and sometimes you'll just get a crop of recruits who don't have interest in a school. Think of all the major programs in the country that could draw a recruit's interest, and then imagine the 15 or 20 players (max) who are choosing between those schools. Luck can play a role.

Look at the centers, and you'll find even fewer good players. I only recognized a few of the top 10 names, and none because of they've made a name for themselves in college. One (Bynum) is becoming a very good player, albeit in the NBA. Uche Echefu's name rings a bell just because Kentucky recruited him. Then there's Jared Carter at #10.

[MarkPopeHairCut]

Look what Billy has done with Perry
He can develope

[poodoo]

Is there any new info on Maurice Sutton? Again, I had really liked what I had read about him. Thanks.

[JayB]

Is there any new info on Maurice Sutton? Again, I had really liked what I had read about him. Thanks.

Nothing new that I have seen.

I think hes Big East bound, but ya never know nowadays :) I also think he makes perry look like pre subway jared :)

http://unlv.scout.com/a.z?s=86&p=8&c=1&nid=2806415

But coach "I think" is looking for athletic starters, he could be it.