BCG in Madisonville Today

[blue35]

Billy Gillispie was in Madisonville today to see Jon Hood according to some folks down there. Hood is getting major attention from Duke and if he gets an offer there, then a UK vs Duke battle for an in-state kid could materialize. Hood is the real deal and is a player that I am told Gillispie truly covets. Hood will likely decide by mid-summer and I expect him to be one of the 2 or 3 top priorities for this staff over the next few weeks.

http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=5879#comment-742572


At the 3rd region tournament, I was told by a person close to the Hood family that Jon’s Dad is really wanting Jon to go to Duke. Take it for what it’s worth.

[Blue_N_White]

If Jon Hood....a Kentucky kid....signs with Duke.....:eek:

Man...I shutter to think about THAT possibility! Hood will likely be the '08-'09 Kentucky Mr. Basketball. Of course, if he signs with Duke...he might just be kissing THAT title good-bye (right, Scotty Hopson?). But can you imagine how THAT would be played up by the media across the country???

In back-to-back years....Hopson signing with Tennessee and Hood with Duke!?!?!

I remember Rex Chapman when he was about to announce his college choice his senior year. It was between Louisville and Kentucky. And Rex had always been a Louisville fan, and most of his friends and everyone at Apollo and around Owensboro thought there was a good chance that he would sign with UL. But practically every one of his friends and people around him were Kentucky fans....and well....we saw how that played out and ended up.

I've gotta think that Hood would almost have to choose the homestate Wildcats over the hated Dukies. He'll have an instant friend base with people he knows from Madisonville attending UK....and an automatic fan base and welcoming party everywhere he went from around the state. But if he signs with Duke....he'll all but assure himself of being THE most hated player at every gymnasium he plays at his senior year....including his own! So I've gotta think that UK would win out in this battle. I'm certainly crossing my fingers for that to be the case, anyway.....

I just can't believe his own father would like to see him at Duke over UK!!! That almost baffles the mind! But that could very well just be a nasty little rumor floating around at this point and time....

[Terry623]

[quote=Blue_N_White;447494]If Jon Hood....a Kentucky kid....signs with Duke.....:eek:

.....

I just can't believe his own father would like to see him at Duke over UK!!! That almost baffles the mind!




Oh the agony...my son is going to Duke for FREE! Yea, I can see how disappointed I would be in my son's choice! :icon_mrgreen:

[boomdaddy]

Any talk about a certain school being better than another school is hogwash, especially when it involves sports stars. The only reason for a star player to pick one school over another for academics is if a certains school doesn't offer a certain field and the kid is certain that he won't be making the pros. And, the way kids change majors like socks, does it really matter what fields of study are offered?

A fact of life is that it isn't how much you know, but who you know. A star player at a university can always get a foot in the door, because of his local ties to the community and state of that school. Like it or not, an honor student will get beat out by a former college star for a job opening.

Here is my take on going to college and getting a degree. The "degree" is to help you go into whatever white collar profession that you are choosing. It is to prepare you for the work place. Now, someone tell me how a piece of paper ( a degree ) is worth that much to a kid who is in the pros and making millions? For the rest of us, the degree holds significance. For pro athletes, it is a nice decoration that can be hung on the wall.

[JWORLD]

If Jon Hood....a Kentucky kid....signs with Duke.....:eek:

Man...I shutter to think about THAT possibility! Hood will likely be the '08-'09 Kentucky Mr. Basketball. Of course, if he signs with Duke...he might just be kissing THAT title good-bye (right, Scotty Hopson?). But can you imagine how THAT would be played up by the media across the country???

In back-to-back years....Hopson signing with Tennessee and Hood with Duke!?!?!

I remember Rex Chapman when he was about to announce his college choice his senior year. It was between Louisville and Kentucky. And Rex had always been a Louisville fan, and most of his friends and everyone at Apollo and around Owensboro thought there was a good chance that he would sign with UL. But practically every one of his friends and people around him were Kentucky fans....and well....we saw how that played out and ended up.

I've gotta think that Hood would almost have to choose the homestate Wildcats over the hated Dukies. He'll have an instant friend base with people he knows from Madisonville attending UK....and an automatic fan base and welcoming party everywhere he went from around the state. But if he signs with Duke....he'll all but assure himself of being THE most hated player at every gymnasium he plays at his senior year....including his own! So I've gotta think that UK would win out in this battle. I'm certainly crossing my fingers for that to be the case, anyway.....

I just can't believe his own father would like to see him at Duke over UK!!! That almost baffles the mind! But that could very well just be a nasty little rumor floating around at this point and time....


Would love to see Hood come to UK and speaking of Rex(my favorite all-time UK player), let's just say he was well compensated for attending UK.

[bigblueben]

I have said this before, but if Hood chooses Duke over UK, his family will probably have to move to Durham. Well, not Durham, anyone who has ever been there knows that place is the armpit of America. Maybe, Raleigh. Jon will have alienated an entire community and state. Once you go to Duke, there is no coming home. The harassment would be unbearable I am sure. Not saying this behavior would be acceptable, but it is a fact of life.

[JayB]

[quote=Blue_N_White;447494]If Jon Hood....a Kentucky kid....signs with Duke.....:eek:

.....

I just can't believe his own father would like to see him at Duke over UK!!! That almost baffles the mind!




Oh the agony...my son is going to Duke for FREE! Yea, I can see how disappointed I would be in my son's choice! :icon_mrgreen:


He wouldn't be my son anymore :) And I would tell him that !!!!!!! Who wants to learn with a bunch of " were better than you snobs anyways " I'll take a brain tumor before I go to DUKE :thumbdn:

[jkeller]

I hate the dookies as much as the next person, but I would much rather have Derrick Favors or Renardo Sidney for '09.

[ibleedblue2]

I hate the dookies as much as the next person, but I would much rather have Derrick Favors or Renardo Sidney for '09.
I'm hearing you brother. Hood is a Ky. boy thugh, but we gots to go for the overall talent.

[crazzedcats22]

I hate the dookies as much as the next person, but I would much rather have Derrick Favors or Renardo Sidney for '09.

I agree, but it's hard to pass up a KY kid, especially one that's as good as Hood

[crazzedcats22]

If Jon Hood....a Kentucky kid....signs with Duke.....:eek:

Man...I shutter to think about THAT possibility! Hood will likely be the '08-'09 Kentucky Mr. Basketball. Of course, if he signs with Duke...he might just be kissing THAT title good-bye (right, Scotty Hopson?). But can you imagine how THAT would be played up by the media across the country???

In back-to-back years....Hopson signing with Tennessee and Hood with Duke!?!?!

I remember Rex Chapman when he was about to announce his college choice his senior year. It was between Louisville and Kentucky. And Rex had always been a Louisville fan, and most of his friends and everyone at Apollo and around Owensboro thought there was a good chance that he would sign with UL. But practically every one of his friends and people around him were Kentucky fans....and well....we saw how that played out and ended up.

I've gotta think that Hood would almost have to choose the homestate Wildcats over the hated Dukies. He'll have an instant friend base with people he knows from Madisonville attending UK....and an automatic fan base and welcoming party everywhere he went from around the state. But if he signs with Duke....he'll all but assure himself of being THE most hated player at every gymnasium he plays at his senior year....including his own! So I've gotta think that UK would win out in this battle. I'm certainly crossing my fingers for that to be the case, anyway.....

I just can't believe his own father would like to see him at Duke over UK!!! That almost baffles the mind! But that could very well just be a nasty little rumor floating around at this point and time....

To be honest, I doubt he cares about any of that. He is going to have a huge fan base and tons of friends if he were to go to Duke as well. Most of these kids want to go to a school where they will get the most exposure and have the best chance to make it to the NBA. Right now, there is no argument that Duke is a better choice than UK based on that criteria.

[sardiscat]

"And Rex had always been a Louisville fan, and most of his friends and everyone at Apollo and around Owensboro thought there was a good chance that he would sign with UL. But practically every one of his friends and people around him were Kentucky fans....and well....we saw how that played out and ended up."

UK changed coaches after Chapman's junior year in HS. That made the difference. Chapman has said he was not going to play for UK under Joe Hall because of Hall's (undeserved, IMO) reputation for not turning his guards loose. Sutton was known for having a guard-oriented offense.

[Blue_N_White]

OK...let's test everyone's memory here:

What was one of THE main things that Coach Billy Gillispie said....shortly after (perhaps DURING his press conference when he accepted the UK job) being hired?

OK...time's up.

He said (not exact words, paraphrasing a bit): "We've gotta do a better job of recruiting, and we've gotta make sure that we keep the Kentucky kids home".

The point I was making about Rex....was that there was a point and time where an in-state blue chip Kentucky basketball player (other than the ones in Louisville) simply did not go to another school. Period. Even though Rex always liked and was a fan of Lousiville growing up, he still went to Kentucky. So if another potential Kentucky Mr. Basketball...the highest rated player in the state...leaves the state to play for another college (especially a RIVAL like Duke) is huge. I don't care how people spin it or what they wanna say....it's huge. It's something that never used to happen....and if Hood follows Hopson and it looks like this is going to be a trend......well, I'm not sure exactly what to say.......

[Blue_N_White]

"And Rex had always been a Louisville fan, and most of his friends and everyone at Apollo and around Owensboro thought there was a good chance that he would sign with UL. But practically every one of his friends and people around him were Kentucky fans....and well....we saw how that played out and ended up."

UK changed coaches after Chapman's junior year in HS. That made the difference. Chapman has said he was not going to play for UK under Joe Hall because of Hall's (undeserved, IMO) reputation for not turning his guards loose. Sutton was known for having a guard-oriented offense.

Yep, very true, sardiscat. I just didn't go into all that detail. I know Rex personally and went to high school with him (a year older, a couple of grades higher). Knew most of his best friends a little better than Rex, but still knew him well enough to know the reason (and remember him driving his brand new IROC Z-28 the week after announcing he was going to Kentucky). Of course, the IROC was bought by his parents with the money that they had been saving for him to go to college....;)

[sardiscat]

"Of course, the IROC was bought by his parents with the money that they had been saving for him to go to college...."

Of course. That's the same thing Jack Givens's parents said about the new Mercury Givens "bought" the week after he signed with UK.

[KY Native in IN]

So if another potential Kentucky Mr. Basketball...the highest rated player in the state...leaves the state to play for another college (especially a RIVAL like Duke) is huge. I don't care how people spin it or what they wanna say....it's huge. It's something that never used to happen....and if Hood follows Hopson and it looks like this is going to be a trend......well, I'm not sure exactly what to say.......


well sure it's bad...terrible...i'd love to see a madisonville guy go to UK and represent again.....but there's a lot of things that are happening today that didn't happen even in the 70's....you've got not only mid majors on ESPN and such on a regular basis, you've got high school games on those channels as well....you don't even have to go to college to be in the pros anymore....that didn't use to be either....you don't have to go to the top 10 elite programs to get to the pros either and you'll get exposure, attention from scouts, etc etc...our games are on national TV also, EVERY game....24,000 plus will be cheering for him on a game by game basis...that's more than will be cheering at Cameron Indoor....have him go to Browning Springs gym and he'll get a feel for Cameron Indoor.....if he thinks duke will get him into the pros "quicker" than UK he may be deceived in his thinking (if that's his ultimate goal)....you don't think scouts come to UK games? you think UK has fallen that far off the radar? i don't....not at all....just cause we've had a few down years and no NC's or FF's in that past 9 or so years, doesn't mean we're not an elite program anymore.....it's just great recruits are going everywhere, even mid majors....that's life....things change.....

but i can tell you one thing for sure, Coach G is a recruiting MONSTER!!!! and if he doesn't come to UK, it's not because Coach didn't give 1000% of his effort to get him to commit to being a Wildcat....Coach sees something in him that can be helpful and productive....you think he's gonna bow down to the almighty Mike Kryseweski?....not on your life!

having said all that....i hope he comes to UK, i'd love to see a madisonvillian in the blue and white again!

[blue35]

Yep, very true, sardiscat. I just didn't go into all that detail. I know Rex personally and went to high school with him (a year older, a couple of grades higher). Knew most of his best friends a little better than Rex, but still knew him well enough to know the reason (and remember him driving his brand new IROC Z-28 the week after announcing he was going to Kentucky). Of course, the IROC was bought by his parents with the money that they had been saving for him to go to college....;)

If I'm not mistaken it said " I-Rex Z-28...

[JOHN BLUEBLOOD]

[quote=Terry623;447513]


He wouldn't be my son anymore :) And I would tell him that !!!!!!! Who wants to learn with a bunch of " were better than you snobs anyways " I'll take a brain tumor before I go to DUKE :thumbdn:
I like the way you think!!

[lighthouse]

I'm going to wait until I see Hood play again before I decide how bad I want him in Ky Blue. I saw him in the LIT last year and he did not impress me at all. He doesn't have good coaching at Madisonville North Hopkins, and I'm skepical about his development.

[DBCAT]

I agree, but it's hard to pass up a KY kid, especially one that's as good as Hood


I have only seen Hood play once, and I honestly didn't think he was very good at all. Maybe he just had an off night, but he was really unimpressive. I didn't see what all the fuss was about.

[Blue_N_White]

I'm going to wait until I see Hood play again before I decide how bad I want him in Ky Blue. I saw him in the LIT last year and he did not impress me at all. He doesn't have good coaching at Madisonville North Hopkins, and I'm skepical about his development.

I've seen enough to recognize that the kid has serious talent, and if nothing else, could be and provide Kentucky with just what they need - a serious outside shooter with deep range who can consistently stroke it. That's not all his game is...but for that aspect alone, I'd take him. 6'-7" guys with range like that and who are fundamentally sound, coachable, and potential 2 guards/swingmen with that kind of upside and ability to be the Kentucky Mr. Basketball don't come around every year.

Hey....if Coach K, Donovan, Pitino and Gillispie all see something in the kid........

And blue35....that was the well known rumor, wasn't it? "I-REX"....LOL!!! :icon_lol:

[Backrate]

yes this is the kind of player you recruit for many reasons. If he becomes a very good player u will have him and not have to play against him and hear how u should have recruited him. if he is only a so so player he is still from ky and will not give up on u

[jdeasy]

I know the whole Hood family very well. None of what's been posted in this thread about Jon Hood and dUKe is true. Especially about his Dad wanting him to go there.

In fact, it's just nonsense.

[Will Lavender]

I know the whole Hood family very well. None of what's been posted in this thread about Jon Hood and dUKe is true. Especially about his Dad wanting him to go there.

In fact, it's just nonsense.

Good to hear.

[DTBrand]

I have only seen Hood play once, and I honestly didn't think he was very good at all. Maybe he just had an off night, but he was really unimpressive. I didn't see what all the fuss was about.

Did you see the Ohio County game? One of my friends is friends with one of the assistant coaches over at Madisonville-NH, and said that was Hood's worst game of the year. If that helps any.:shrug1:

[DBCAT]

Did you see the Ohio County game? One of my friends is friends with one of the assistant coaches over at Madisonville-NH, and said that was Hood's worst game of the year. If that helps any.:shrug1:

Yep, that's where I saw him. He was not impressive during that game at all.

[DTBrand]

Yep, that's where I saw him. He was not impressive during that game at all.

He had that dunk about a minute into the game and you didn't see him much after that.

[countrycat]

Apparently Jon has his cast off and his wrist is completly healed. I hope he has a great season. He is probably around 6'7" right now and may still be growing. I read a post on this thread that they hope we get Jon because we need a consistant outside shotter, at this point that is a problem for him. I hope he is UK caliber next year but at this point he has to make some improvements. Good luck Jon, I would love to have a Madisonville boy on the team. If BCG is in town that means alot to me.

[Blue_N_White]

:icon_lol:

Want a good laugh?

Read this article.....posted on a web page dedicated to University of Tennessee athletics (GoVolsXtra):

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2008/apr/28/vols-recruiters-get-jump-toward-2009-prospects/

Scroll down towards the bottom and read this part:


Jon Hood, a 6-6, 185-pound shooting guard from Madisonville, Ky., is getting a long look from the Vols, among others.

Ranked No. 39 overall and No. 7 among shooting guards, Hood recovered enough from a broken wrist to score 20 points in one half at his last AAU tournament.

Hood also is considering Duke, Kansas, Louisville, Indiana and Purdue, among others.That last part really got me: "Hood also is considering Duke, Kansas, Louisville, Indiana and Purdue, among others".

Among others? No mention of Kentucky. Gee...I wonder who they are referring to with the "among OTHERS" comment? :icon_rolleyes:

[ibleedblue2]

:icon_lol:

Want a good laugh?

Read this article.....posted on a web page dedicated to University of Tennessee athletics (GoVolsXtra):

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2008/apr/28/vols-recruiters-get-jump-toward-2009-prospects/

Scroll down towards the bottom and read this part:

That last part really got me: "Hood also is considering Duke, Kansas, Louisville, Indiana and Purdue, among others".

Among others? No mention of Kentucky. Gee...I wonder who they are referring to with the "among OTHERS" comment? :icon_rolleyes:
Us. I didn't know UT was in the mix for Hood.:shrug1:

[countrycat]

Us. I didn't know UT was in the mix for Hood.:shrug1:
I will go on record right now and say there is no way Jon Hood goes to UT. And I am NOT going out on a big limb to say it.

[Blue_N_White]

Yeah....I don't think Tennessee is a strong option...but they have offered, and Hood did admit in an interview through the courier-journal.com that he "likes the style that Coach Pearl plays".

The reason I wanted to post that...was because I found it awfully funny that the GoVols web site seemed to refuse to mention Kentucky by name.

"Among others" :icon_lol:

[countrycat]

In a very short time nobody will be able to forget the name KENTUCKY.

[ibleedblue2]

In a very short time nobody will be able to forget the name KENTUCKY.
I like how you think.

[Blue_N_White]

In a very short time nobody will be able to forget the name KENTUCKY.

In the case of Tennessee...I think it's more of a conscious CHOICE for ommission rather than anybody "forgetting".... http://www.smileyhut.com/angry/dry.gif (http://www.smileyhut.com)

[crazzedcats22]

I know the whole Hood family very well. None of what's been posted in this thread about Jon Hood and dUKe is true. Especially about his Dad wanting him to go there.

In fact, it's just nonsense.

great to hear, I would love to see him wearing the blue and white (UK's blue and white that is)!!!