The Pace Quickens

by Truzenzuzex on Apr 16, 2007 8:00 AM EDT in Media

We are now well into the spring signing period, and things are starting to pop. For the latest recruiting news, try Bill Hodge at CSTV and Recruiting Wars.

First big news - DeAndre Jordan is staying at Texas A&M University and "honor his commitment". Well done.

Second, E-town's Steffphon Pettigrew worked out in front of Billy Gillispie and some of his assistant coaches. Pettigrew gave Gillispie some DVD's of his games, and Gillispie told him he expects to "get back with [Pettigrew] in a couple of days."

I am on record as supporting a scholarship to Pettigrew, I think he can offer us more than many people think. I particularly liked this:

"Since I've always been a Kentucky fan, it feels good to finally get a coach to look at you hard," Pettigrew said. "(Gillispie) is a good coach, and he sounds like a good man."

Meanwhile, Xavier has seen enough and has offered Pettigrew a scholarship. Strangely enough, this is one of the most difficult decisions that Gillispie has had to face so far, and it is critical that he gets it right. I don't mean to suggest he must offer a scholly, but if he doesn't and Pettigrew goes on to star at Xavier, Gillispie is in for a Lofton-like second-guessing by the Big Blue Nation.

The Bradenton Herald examines Gillispie's historical team academic performance, and finds that on the surface, it isn't too good:

Using the Academic Performance Rate, a measure the NCAA adopted two years ago, both schools rank lower academically than UK and rank low enough that if their APRs don't improve, they could be at risk for NCAA penalties.

The red-line, or cut-off score, for academic acceptability is 925. Texas A&M's men's basketball team is currently at 856. This puts the Aggies in the bottom 10 percent of all Division I men's basketball programs.

UTEP, at 877, ranks in the lowest 10-20 percent in Division I.

But the article goes on to describe that there are numerous mitigating circumstances, such as a mass exodus at Texas A&M when Gillispie came on board:

Gillispie said he discussed A&M's APR in his interviews because he shared Barnhart's and Todd's seriousness about academics -- and so he could explain what happened at A&M.

The departure of the six players put A&M "in a deep hole as far as APR," he said. "Our number has been very, very close to perfect since that time."

UTEP's media relations office provided figures that indicated Gillispie had a strong graduation rate in his two years there, 2002-04.

This is obviously important to Barnhart and Todd, and it should be important to every UK fan. Tubby Smith did an average job at reaching player graduation goals, and I hope Billy G. does better.

Patrick Patterson, the biggest remaining fish in the recruiting ocean, will receive an in-home visit from Gillispie this week, according to Rivals.com.

In more recruiting news, Victoria Sun of the Cincinnati Post reports Gillispie was recruiting 5-star guard prospect Willie Warren at 2:00AM in the morning via text message. Quoting Warren:

"That just shows me he's dedicated and when he sees something he wants, he goes after it," Warren said Sunday. "I thought, what is he doing up right now?

"It was 2 a.m. Kentucky time. Once he started texting me, I figured out he wanted me pretty badly."

Maybe this Gillispie guy really doesn't sleep.

Mike Fields has a look at this year's Derby Classic on his blog.

Finally, in news that Rick Bozich reported on his blog the other day, the Cincinnati Post also reports that Gillispie has named Arkansas assistant coach Gynn Cyprien to his staff. Cyprien is known as an outstanding recruiter and assistant as well as what the Post calls "a sterling reputation".

Sounds like Billy G. is off to a great start. What we need now are players.

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Update [2007-4-16 17:19:58 by Truzenzuzex]: Daniel at The Kentucky Democrat has more on Gillispie's assistants, and one I had not heard - Alvin Brooks, also apparently from Gillispie's former staff at TAMU, is said to be joining the staff.

Kirk Bohl of the Austin American-Statesman says Gillispie was the 6th choice of the UKAA. This guy needs to keep his nose in Texas, instead of trying to demonstrate his flexibility with an anal-cranial inversion.

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Excitement...

Every day that passes just seems to be more and more exciting. I'm new to this site, and I have never really tried to follow Kentucky Basketball in the ways of recruiting etc. Gillispie has made this amazingly fun again.

by hollis on Apr 16, 2007 8:16 AM EDT 0 recs

Recruiting

Recruiting is almost as much fun to follow as the season and with a coach like Billy G it's even better because he is so active there is always new news.

I am not sure if it was the Bozich article or not but I read in a newspaper article a couple days ago that Billy was looking at an assistant that was at Ok. State when Jai's older brother was there. I cant remember the assistant's name but he reportedly has a close realtionship with the Lucas's and this could only help us. It may be cyprien but I cant remember the dude's name.

by davw83 on Apr 16, 2007 9:43 AM EDT 0 recs

That was Cyprien

you are thinking about. I linked it in the post.

by Truzenzuzex on Apr 16, 2007 2:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

Off the subject....

I know this is off the subject a bit but I thought I would let anyone who is interested know that Pelphrey is quickly making fans here in Arkansas. After good naturedly ribbing the guy in charge of ARSN (ark radio sports net) about needing a UK link to coach their b-ball team, he told me a story about his first chance to talk to Pelphrey. It was during his first full press conference and the ARSN guy waited for the interviews to be over so he could tell Pelphrey the info he needed to pass along. While they were chatting the ARSN guy tells Pelphrey that no matter what happens this season there were two games that were vitally important to winning. The Texas game and the Missouri game. To which Pelphrey responded that he understood the long-standing Southwest Conference rivalry and he knew that he had to beat Mike Anderson (former Nolan assistant at UofA.) That understanding of another SEC member's history made an instant believer of this guy and a number of others here who have heard the story. My buddy who runs the technical end of their broadcasts started telling me another story that has him on board with Pelphrey but we were interuppted by work. I will be sure to keep updates on him if anyone is interested.
As far as Gillispie recruiting Pettigrew, if the kid can play give him a chance. If you don't land Lucas or Patterson (which UK won't)then you definitly have plenty of room. I am just happy that he is getting a serious look. It seems like after JP Blevins, Josh Carrier & B Stockton Tubby got a little down on recruiting Kentucky boys. The player he should have used for his example was ol boy Sparks. Sure he wasn't the most consistent or the most athletic but when it came to crunch time or leaving it all on the court he was ace. Not to suggest that Pettigrew would be all these, just the knowledge of what some guys would do just to wear a UK uniform should be an influencing factor. With Gillispie I won't worry too much about whether we get the right guys this year. The top-flight talent is already going somewhere else, the holdovers are getting their heads filled because they elected to wait until the last minute. Thankfully it Gillispie's job to deal with these kids and my pastime to pass judgement on the state of the UK program. :)
This may be the wrong time to say this but I am looking forward to September and beyond.

by bluecrip on Apr 16, 2007 3:46 PM EDT 0 recs

Texas....

You know, all the insider info about UK comes out of Texas. I'm not sure how they know so much more about it than our own handfull of "basset hound" reporters. OHHHH wait.....THEY DON'T!

by blueblood on Apr 16, 2007 6:08 PM EDT 0 recs

Thanks

I told Bozich about it since he didnt know anything about it

The Kentucky Democrat
Redbirds Fun
GO BIG BLUE!

by cardsfan84 on Apr 16, 2007 8:00 PM EDT 0 recs

I'll have to check his blog later ...

to see if he reports it. :-)

by Truzenzuzex on Apr 17, 2007 7:30 AM EDT up 0 recs

Alex Legion

I've heard that he has been released from his National Letter of Intent. He's a good Shooting Guard, and furthermore, I've heard Kentucky is among the four schools he is now looking at, the others being Kansas, UCLA and UConn. Has anyone else heard anything on this matter?

by Conquest on Apr 17, 2007 1:27 AM EDT 0 recs

Not too much ...

Legion was not seriously recruited by UK. But he is a very talented player, and I don't seriously expect Gillispie to ignore his reopened recruitment.

At least 75% of top recruits either have UK on their list automatically or would consider us, so I'm not surprised he is interested now. The question is, will he still be interested when he sees how flush we are with 6'4" - 6'6" wings?

I'm thinking UConn is a more likely destination for Legion than UK, but who knows?

by Truzenzuzex on Apr 17, 2007 7:36 AM EDT up 0 recs