KSR Report Not Good

[blue35]

(2) APPLETON AND JONES: With every game that goes by, the thought of this team needing to replace the duo of Smooth and Joe C becomes more and more apparent. This weekend Tyrone Appleton made his visit to Kansas and the early reports of the visit are not good for the Cats. Appleton told a Kansas website that the visit went great and that he is likely done visiting schools….tough news for the Cats who hoped to get him in town next weekend for the Arkansas game. Appleton said he may have a decision this week, which would likely point to a Jayhawk destination for the JC point guard. The Cats have increased the heat recently with Verdell Jones, the Chicago point guard that is one of the best players left uncommitted at this time. He told the Cats Pause earlier this week that the Cats were near the top of the list and that he hoped to visit again before the end of the season. The folks I talk to around UK are high on Jones and it may be the case that he becomes priority #1 soon if Appleton heads to the Big 12.

[DonnieKat]

(2) APPLETON AND JONES: With every game that goes by, the thought of this team needing to replace the duo of Smooth and Joe C becomes more and more apparent. This weekend Tyrone Appleton made his visit to Kansas and the early reports of the visit are not good for the Cats. Appleton told a Kansas website that the visit went great and that he is likely done visiting schools….tough news for the Cats who hoped to get him in town next weekend for the Arkansas game. Appleton said he may have a decision this week, which would likely point to a Jayhawk destination for the JC point guard. The Cats have increased the heat recently with Verdell Jones, the Chicago point guard that is one of the best players left uncommitted at this time. He told the Cats Pause earlier this week that the Cats were near the top of the list and that he hoped to visit again before the end of the season. The folks I talk to around UK are high on Jones and it may be the case that he becomes priority #1 soon if Appleton heads to the Big 12.

How many schollies do we have available for next year? By my count, four- Joe's, Ramel's, Legion's and Coury's (with Coury going on an academic scholarship). We could potentially have five if someone were to transfer. My ideal class would be the following:

Liggins
Miller
Tyrone Appleton (backup: Verdell Jones)
Brad Tinsley (backup: Bud Mackey)
JUCO big man

This would be a very good class IMO. Losing Appleton will hurt, but it's not the end of the world.

[needmore44]

Appleton told rivals after his Kansas visit this weekend that he won't be taking anymore visits (meaning us this weekend) and that he would probably announce sometime this week.

[ukbob]

Just what I have seen, heard and read....Appleton was the major get and we will not get him. Jones is not in his class skill-wise and would take a few years to develope.

BG knows all this better than anyone, and it ultimately comes down to his judgement, but IMO, if you cannot get an IMMEDIATE impact PG for next year (which will be a killer), then skip Jones and wait for GJ and Ross-Miller in 09-10.

BG should be going all out for Hopson, IMO. In fact, he should have been doing that for some time. We need talent and lots of it.

[Cal_tucky]

I agree with everything UKBob said, only problem is we are SEVERELY late in the Hopson sweepstakes and frankly I don't like our chances. Heck I don't even know if we're really recruiting the kid, but we need him BAD. Man I can't understand Appleton not at least listening to another school's offer, we get burnt on that situation time and time again. Would it kill him to visit our campus and listen to the staff's pitch on why UK is the best place for him?

[matt colvin]

I agree with everything UKBob said, only problem is we are SEVERELY late in the Hopson sweepstakes and frankly I don't like our chances. Heck I don't even know if we're really recruiting the kid, but we need him BAD. Man I can't understand Appleton not at least listening to another school's offer, we get burnt on that situation time and time again. Would it kill him to visit our campus and listen to the staff's pitch on why UK is the best place for him?

We're not late. And we ARE recruiting him.

[needmore44]

I agree with everything UKBob said, only problem is we are SEVERELY late in the Hopson sweepstakes and frankly I don't like our chances. Heck I don't even know if we're really recruiting the kid, but we need him BAD.

May I remind you of Jai Lucas who committed to FL after being recruited by UK and OK St. for months prior.

[Will Lavender]

Seems as if we're forgetting that Appleton already visited UK.

On another note. Hopson/Miller/Appleton or Jones/Liggins. Weird class, if it turns out that way. Makes a person believe there's going to be a defection (or two) at the end of the season with the way the staff has recruited. They've said from the beginning that they're not going to recruit positions, but come on. Nobody really believes that.

We need bigs. And if Patterson leaves... :eek:

[freethrow]

I agree with everything UKBob said, only problem is we are SEVERELY late in the Hopson sweepstakes and frankly I don't like our chances. Heck I don't even know if we're really recruiting the kid, but we need him BAD. Man I can't understand Appleton not at least listening to another school's offer, we get burnt on that situation time and time again. Would it kill him to visit our campus and listen to the staff's pitch on why UK is the best place for him?

Well, considering how much Coach G did the moment he was hired at landing a top recruit as well as some future ones I would think that having all this time to prepare for another recruiting target is plenty of time for him, if he truly thinks Hopson is his best option.. :)

[Cal_tucky]

Big difference between Patterson situation and Hopson. Patterson had been recruited by the previous staff for a long time and was still in contact with coach Hobbs up until Gillespie came in. He had been to UK on visits and met the team. From all official reports we are just now getting into the recruitment of Hopson, much later than UT. I'm not saying it's impossible, just not probable IMO.

As for the Lucas deal to UF, you're right UF came in the last second. But Donovan has a history of being able to do that successfully, and they just came off back-to-back NC and I think the UK coaching change threw his plans off, perhaps he just didn't get enough time to know BG who knows. But BG was able to get Legion in and signed very quickly so like I said there's still hope.

Will, I didn't realize Appleton had already visited UK, was that an official visit?

[Will Lavender]

Will, I didn't realize Appleton had already visited UK, was that an official visit?

I may be wrong, it's happened about three times before, but I believe it was unofficial.

[Will Lavender]

"JUCO PG Tyrone Appleton has become the hot ticket for a number of top programs ... Iowa State on official visits and has been to Kentucky for an unofficial."

That's a quote from KSR.com. I can't link it because the link seems to be snapped. I don't think they'll sue me.

[needmore44]

He did go on and unofficial to Lexington, but has been to Kansas twice since then.