BREAKING: Cats nab '09er Orton

by JL Blue on Oct 12, 2008 3:39 PM EDT

Multiple news sources now reporting that five-star 2009 center Daniel Orton has verbally agreed to join the Kentucky program.

Orton, who is in Lexington this weekend attending Big Blue Madness, chooses UK over Kansas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

Rivals.com lists Orton as the No. 3 center prospect and the No. 22 player overall in his class. The commitment is a big one, as it shores up UK's interior in the event of Patrick Patterson's departure to the NBA or gives Kentucky a potentially dominant interior with Orton, Patterson, incoming transfer Matthew Pilgrim and JUCO transfer Josh Harrellson.

More to come.

0 recs | Comment 33 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Im salivating....

with the image of PP, Pilgrim and Orton as a front line. They probably wouldnt all play at once but that is some big bodies

by SevenRings on Oct 12, 2008 4:26 PM EDT 0 recs

If Patterson stays ...

… scholarships are going to be an issue. Right now, we have 3 commits for 2009 (counting Orton), and are losing only 1 senior, plus Donald Williams has agreed to relinquish his scholarship next year, if Marc Maggard is correct.

That still leaves us one scholarship short. I have no doubt that we’ll find a way to make it work, but it’s out there.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Oct 12, 2008 4:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

No Big Deal

2 Cats now on scholarship, won’t be (in 2010).

Great Get!!! (Orton)

by FortyYearCatFan on Oct 12, 2008 6:52 PM EDT up 0 recs

The day of playing small forwards in the power forward position is over at

Kentucky. If Patterson stays, and I hope he will, this will give us a powerful , aggressive and very mobile front court. However, it puts a terrible pinch on guys like Stewart, Stevenson and Harrelson. One or two of these players will be second string and the other third string with very little PT. If Pilgrim is to challenge for the small forward position, he must develop the foot speed, a handle and perimeter touch to beat out the likes of Harris, Miller and Hood. If not, I see him as the first forward/center off the bench much like the Florida national championship team had. Either way, if tit is true that Orton is coming, I believe Harrelson’s size, muscle and outside shooting ability will give him a leg up on Stephenson. This year will tell a great deal.

by Blueobsessed on Oct 12, 2008 6:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

PF In Recent Years

1998 and 99 = Scott Padgett. 10 year NBA career.

2000 = Marquis Estill, Jules Camara, Marvin Stone.

2002 = Tayshaun Prince. All-Amercian. Now NBA star.

2003, 04, 05 = Chuck Hayes. 6-7, 240. Now in NBA.

I see very few “small forwards” among those.

by FortyYearCatFan on Oct 12, 2008 8:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

No denying that Kentucky

has been undersized recently. Prince was certainly not a typical PF and Hayes consistently went up against taller players throughout his career.

Those were talented players, but, at least for me, they aren’t what comes to mind when I think of a model PF (Patterson).

Orton, if hype materializes, will allow for suitable replacement for the likely NBA bound Patterson. If Patterson stays for an extra year, Orton brings considerable depth to the frontcourt which will hopefully power Kentucky deeply into March.

Two months (!). Two weeks. Two pencils.

by Thomas Hunt Morgan on Oct 12, 2008 9:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

Forty, I meant no challenge to your vast knowledge. I was just speaking of having

to put a 215 pound Bobby Perry up against some of the bruiser PFs of the SEC. While Bobby is one of my all-time heros, he was out matched underneath. Thankfully he had such a sweet outside shot and was deadly at the free throw line. Or maybe we might consider the need last year to use a walk-on like Marrk Coury, because we didn’t have any other 245 pounders to try to help Patrick.

My point quite simply, is that with Orton, Patterson and Pilgrim we are not using small forwards or just bodies to fill the PF position. We now have not only the size, but the talent that has been lacking for the last couple years.

by Blueobsessed on Oct 12, 2008 9:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

Tay

Tay is a small forward at the NBA level thats about it.

I think he is referring to Bobby Perry. Perry should have been a small forward but i feel he had to play out of position after Chuck left. Thats about it. With the exception of the last couple years since Chuck left school UK had been pretty solid at power forward this decade.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Oct 12, 2008 11:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

Perry

2006 = UK played 3 G, 1 F, 1 C offense.

F were Perry, Thomas, and Sims.

2007 = same offense.

F were Perry, Thomas, and Stevenson.

Perry was natural 3 but the others were 4. Thomas was 235 before his surgey to remove tumor. Sims played PF in JuCo ball. Stevenson is still PF at UK.

by FortyYearCatFan on Oct 13, 2008 10:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

I agree

Oh I agree but was just explaining dude’s thinking to you.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Oct 14, 2008 4:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

Tru...

With the scholarship situation for next season as it is does that pretty much rule out any chance of landing Favors or Boyd (even if they are a long shot)?

by SevenRings on Oct 12, 2008 9:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yes.

Favors and Boyd will not be part of next year’s class, in my opinion. I don’t think Favors was coming anyway. Boyd has academic issues, and at this point he looks like a back up plan.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Oct 12, 2008 10:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

There was virtually no chance what-so-ever that Favors was coming...

He is keeping us on his list because it looks good to keep UK on your list. He’ll be staying in Georgia…most likely Georgia Tech

by BBallSophist on Oct 12, 2008 11:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

Don't count out NC State in the Favors sweepstakes.

Still not a crook!

by TrickyD26 on Oct 13, 2008 1:50 AM EDT up 0 recs

Just so we don't get confused, like some over at The Cats Pause ...

… Pilgrim is already on scholarship, he just isn’t eligible to play this year. He will be practicing with the team all year and going to school at the university, and his scholarship counts against our limit this year. He isn’t part of the 2009 recruiting class, although that’s who he will be starting his UK playing career with.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Oct 12, 2008 4:58 PM EDT 0 recs

Coach

Has a plan to get UK back in National picture. I trust whatever he does. He knows what he is doing a lot more than we do. I noticed how relaxed and happy he looked at Madness and the players…just WOW!

Aren’t there other schollies available besides basketball? where someone Coach wanted to keep on the team could play?

by kykat51 on Oct 12, 2008 7:58 PM EDT 0 recs

There are a several options for adding a scholarship.

other type of scholarships (i.e. academic)
a scholarship becoming a walk-on for a year
a transfer since the player will receive practically no playing time

Either way, with Orton, Uk will have five players who have been ranked among the top 35 players of their respective classes backed up by the rest of the team that is highly athletic and experienced. I can not think of a single member of our team that some other good team would not covet.. Barring academic problems, injury or some other problems, this team has SEC Champs and final four written all over it.

by Blueobsessed on Oct 13, 2008 7:06 AM EDT up 0 recs

I think ...

… we will solve the scholarship shortage. There are lots of ways, and if Tubby Smith could do it, I’m confident Gillispie can.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Oct 13, 2008 8:25 AM EDT up 0 recs

5star player

If he commits,UK has landed a great player.

by -Zoso- on Oct 12, 2008 8:12 PM EDT 0 recs

Super news

I mentioned it before BB Madness that it would be cool to land a huge recruit as a result of Madness just to spite the NABC. I wonder what is going through their mind about now?

by SevenRings on Oct 12, 2008 8:59 PM EDT 0 recs

I sincerely hope...

…that they are seething. I hope they’re seeing red, because right now everything I see is BLUE! HAHAH!

Orton is a great player. He’s a huge, strong, athletic big man with a strong skill set. Just a HUGE get for Gillispie.

Even if Patterson leaves for the NBA I think our frontcourt next year will be the best in the country with Orton, Pilgrim, Stevenson as a senior, and Harrellson as a junior.

by BBallSophist on Oct 12, 2008 9:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yeah ...

… I think so, also. If Patterson stays, I think we will have the best front line in college basketball. If not, we will still be good.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Oct 12, 2008 10:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

patterson might stay

patterson might stay…. its a really really small chance but when i went down to the locker room after madness, patterson and orton were talking to each other like they were brothers…maybe patterson was a deciding factor in ortons choice to go to uk?

by hummer11092 on Oct 12, 2008 10:48 PM EDT 0 recs

patterson

It seems like Patterson played a big role in Orton’s commit. I hope Pat stays but think we will be very solid even if he leaves.
It does seem like we would be one scholarship short if Pat stays but lets get real. Someone will probable transfer. I have absolutely no one in mind and do not think poorly of anyone on the team but teams lose players every year and G has a history of transfers.

DEEETROIT BASKETBALLL!!!

by davw83 on Oct 12, 2008 11:03 PM EDT 0 recs

Why would Patterson help recruit Orton so hard?

I want you all to imagine what 2009 could look like…Orton, Patterson, Pilgrim, Meeks, Liggins, Miller, Hood, Harrelson, Stevenson, Galloway, Vilarino, Harris…

Upperclass leadership (Patterson, Meeks, Harris, Stevenson), experienced players (Liggins, Miller, Galloway, Harrelson) and some great new studs to the lineup (Pilgim, Orton, Hood, GJ).

Without PPat, this is an Elite Eight team at worst and with Patterson…#8?

Still not a crook!

by TrickyD26 on Oct 12, 2008 11:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

Something a lot of people might not know...

Daniel Orton plays for Athletes First, one of the better AAU teams. Their roster includes Terrence Boyd, Xavier Henry, Kyle Hardrick and Orton…they’re just loaded…

I was fortunate enough to go to Nashville for the Memorial Classic and I had a chance to see Athletes First play a lot. I was struck that, unlike most other AAU teams, they actually ran some half-court sets. including the high-low post with Orton and Hardrick. Orton looked VERY comfortable in the set, making some great passes to Hardrick from the high post and doing a nice job sealing off his defender and making himself big to receive passes from hardrick in the low post. He even hit a few 3s and showed decent handles for a 6’10", 250 lbs manchild. His position defense is also very good. He blocked or altered a lot of shots.

My point, again, is that Orton isn’t just a big body filling the middle. He’s smart, has nice range and touch on his jump shot, and knows how pass. I left that AAU tournament with him at the top of my wish list, and I am absolutely ECSTATIC that that wish came true!

by BBallSophist on Oct 12, 2008 11:17 PM EDT 0 recs

Great comment.

Thanks for that.

I am also very happy that Orton decided to come, I think he is a great fit.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Oct 13, 2008 5:58 AM EDT up 0 recs

Awesome News

Have been a daily visitor to this site and have never posted before. This is such great news I felt I needed to join in the excitement! Can’t wait to see Liggins, PPat, and Orton work together in BLUE! Great job Billy! Now coach’em up!

by TonyDelkFan4Life on Oct 13, 2008 2:55 AM EDT 0 recs

Welcome ...

… and thanks for the comment.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Oct 13, 2008 5:57 AM EDT up 0 recs

Huge.....

Just Huge. I know he has been (repotedly )a serious UK lean, but you never know how these things will work out. I was awaiting this season with much anticipation, but its going to be hard not to look ahead now and dream of what might be.

by sylvar on Oct 13, 2008 9:11 AM EDT 0 recs

The Big Blue Beast is back!!!

I know this has to hurt espn’s feelings. They just love kicking us. Now we will make the basketball world FEAR the Wildcats! Billy G. is proving everyday why he loves basketball as much (or more?) as us UK fans. The man has passion. Orton is a great get and we have to love sticking this one in the faces of all NABC people who complained about our slick maneuver for midnight madness! I’m just rambling, but I’m so excited I can’t help it!!!

by goinss1 on Oct 13, 2008 4:41 PM EDT 0 recs