DeAndre Liggins PG/SF '08

[WildcatRick]

by Matt Jones

So today was an exciting one in UK land as DeAndre Liggins, the #18 ranked player in America by Rivals.com and the #26 player by Scout.com committed to the University of Kentucky. It was a big get by Coach Billy Gillispie and was proof once again of his amazing recruiting prowess. At this point, Gillispie has been on the job for a little over two months and has brought in 5 recruits that were Top 40 guys in their class. Liggins followed the lead of Alex Legion, by visiting on campus and then realizing that Kentucky was the place he wanted to be, even in the process shunning Memphis, which had long been thought to be his leader. To give you an idea of how much ground Kentucky made up, when I spoke with Liggins at the Tournament of Champions, he mentioned Kentucky to me fifth on his list of schools and almost even forgot to mention them at all saying, "and oh yeah, Kentucky too." A month later, he is a Cat.

Liggins is a versatile player that is unlike virtually anyone else in the class. He is 6′6″, but a ball handler….more of a classic point forward, a la Scottie Pippen. He can bring the ball up and set up for his other teammates (thus able to play point) and this is how he is generally used in high school. Liggins believes that he will come in and replace Ramel Bradley, and he may very well do that. However he also has the ability to step out and play the wing, and he (like Derrick Jasper) can be a great big guard in a potential four guard lineup. He is a top-notch defender and penetrator who has no problem getting to the basket. He is not however a great shooter and it will be this skill that will be interesting to watch as the year develops. He compliments Alex Legion very well and the two of them have UK set for some time in the future at the wing position.

more and the videos... http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/?p=2806

[WildcatRick]

[WildcatRick]

[WildcatRick]

[WildcatRick]

[Coldstream]

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=8&c=1&nid=1968745

Ht: 6-6 Wt: 180
Position: SF, SG
Year: Class of 2008
AAU Team: Indiana Elite
High School: Brewster Academy
(Wolfeboro, NH)
2008 Scout.com HS Basketball Rankings (full list):
Pos: SF
Pos Rank: #5
Pos Rating:
Scout.com Player Evaluation:
STRENGTHS Ability to Create Passing Versatility
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT Mid-Range Game Perimeter Shot

A completely unique wing player. Maybe best served being listed as a Scottie Pippen point-forward type. An astute passer with ballhandling skills. Gradually beefing up his scoring credentials. Likely the top prospect in the city of Chicago in the Class of 2008.

[RP_McMurphy]

Enjoy the trip down the Glory Road and may you help hoist a NCAA Championship banner in a few years.

[BigBlue75]

Gillispie nabs top basketball recruit DeAndre Liggins

By Jody Demling



There has been a lot of talk about the ability to recruit the elite players by new University of Kentucky basketball coach Billy Gillispie.

With just over a month to work with, Gillispie landed Patrick Patterson and Alex Legion to complete the Class of 2007 and he's already scored two major recruits for the future – G.J. Vilarino (2009) and Dakotah Euton (2010).
But the Wildcats had no prospects in the fold for the Class of 2008.
Until yesterday when Gillispie made one of the biggest scores of his short tenure, luring the top player from the Chicago Public School League to Lexington.
DeAndre Liggins, a versatile 6-foot-6 player who can play several positions on the floor, gave a verbal commitment to the Wildcats. Liggins had visited the campus last weekend and informed the school of his decision yesterday. "I committed today," Liggins told The Courier-Journal in a text message and later confirmed that "Yeah, UK" it was the Wildcats.


http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/...D=200770627056

[artie5800]

I haven't been this excited about our basketball team in a long time..

[84Cat]

All I can say is WOW! At this rate, by the end of this summer, the '08 and '09 classes will be full and Coach G will down in the elementary schools looking for talent.

[Blue Heaven]

Originally Posted by 84Cat

All I can say is WOW! At this rate, by the end of this summer, the '08 and '09 classes will be full and Coach G will down in the elementary schools looking for talent.

Or the local Day Cares.

[Will Lavender]

Hadn't watched those videos.

MAN we got a gamer.

[DCWildcat]

Originally Posted by Will Lavender

Hadn't watched those videos.

MAN we got a gamer.

Just hope he recovers well from the foot. He'll miss a lot of quality time as this summer is the "it" time for rising senior recruits. Luckily, he doesn't need to be discovered; he's already made a name for himself, so he shouldn't suffer too much.

Broken bones don't tend to have the lasting attenuation on athleticism that ligament, muscle, and tendon injuries have, so he should be ok. I don't see him getting Chuck Davis'd/Curtis Sumpter'd.

[Coldstream]

[matt colvin]

I'm pretty anxious to get DeAndre on campus, lol. He's going to be one tough customer.

[freethrow]

Just watched these videos again and I have to say that I am even more excited about this kid than I was the first time I watched them.

[JayB]

I love this kid already, even with his TOs I like how they said "Prolific Playmaker" LOL

http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.c...asp?CID=741226

Will be nice to have a Playmaker at to PG position.

[Coldstream]

Courier-Journal KY Sports: UK recruit Liggins does it all Courier-Journal KY Sports:
University of Kentucky basketball fans who came out last night to see future Wildcat DeAndre Liggins score a bunch of points were sorely disappointed. But the 6-foot-6 Liggins didn't apologize after his game at the Lexington Christian Basketball Classic.

More...

[Coldstream]

UK signee Liggins shows lots of game

Posted by Mike Fields on January 4, 2008

When DeAndre Liggins arrived in Lexington this week with his Findlay Prep (Nev.) teammates for their game in the Lexington Christian Classic on Friday night, he got a taste of what his life will be like when he plays for Kentucky next season.
“This town’s crazy, the fans are everywhere, wherever you go,” Liggins said. “The restaurant we went to had a sign up, ‘Welcome DeAndre and Findlay Prep.’”
Liggins (shown at left in photo by Mark Cornelison) then went out Friday night and whetted the appetite of UK fans with his all-around play in Findlay Prep’s 83-47 rout of Western Reserve (Ohio). The 6-foot-6 point guard had only six points (he took six shots and hit 1 of 2 three-pointers), but he had six assists and six rebounds. He showed a solid floor game as a passer and ball-handler.
UK assistant Glynn Cyprien and a few Cats, including Perry Stevenson and Ramon Harris, were in the crowd.



http://fieldsnotes.wordpress.com/200...-lots-of-game/