If this happens the way it’s being reported, I really hope everything works out for Donald. It’s pretty risky going to a school to play basketball with only 1 year guaranteed to be paid for. I’m happy he’s coming to UK, but it seems to me like there are a lot of ways this could end badly no matter what the understanding is between coach and player. Forget about “tradition” or “sacrifice” or whatever – if you’ve got the chance to go to a major conference basketball program for 4 years and not have to pay for it, you’ve got to take it over just 1 year.

Even if it turns out that DW will get some combination of Pell grants/academic scholarship/financial aid for subsequent years as Acdixon supposes above, there is still a chance it won’t cover everything a basketball scholarship would. There’s also something to be said about the peace of mind that comes from knowing all your school related costs are going to be taken care of in a single package over trying to cobble together aid from various and sundry sources.

If you check how Gillispie manged his rosters at UTEP or TAMU, you’ll not see this as unusual at all.

Academic scholarship would require 2 years and 3.3 GPA whereas Williams barely qualified this summer. Simply not going to happen.

One recent example of a similar situation was a JuCo PG (Tim Crowell) offered by UC for 2007 season only and transfer (or walk on status) for 2008 season. He transferred.

Transferred to UK in 1994 with scholarship promised for 1995 (redshirt year) but not for 1996. As it turned out, Padgett flunking out opened a scholarship for Anderson in 1996.

As I read the NCAA regulations once a person (in this case Donald Williams) is even recruited as a scholarship player he/she is no longer eligible for an academic scholarship without being counted against the program’s athletic scholarship limits. Thus accepting an athletic scholarship as Williams has evidently done eliminates the academic option even if he, as unlikely as it seems, qualifies. My guess is that Coach has adopted the “crossing the bridge when he gets to it” philosophy in the anticipation of changes to the roster in 2009, i.e. departures, recruit overs, changes in minds, etc. Put another way: The future is now!

Tru,

According to Victoria Sun (writing for the “new” Kentucky Ink), Williams was NOT offered a scholarship by Marquette. It is likely that he was not offered by anyone, which would make his UK decision easier to understand.
In any case, it is obvious that BCG is a “cross that bridge when we come to it” kinda coach.
If DW becomes a major contributor, Coach G will find a way to keep him.

From UK’s point of view, I smell at least one “one-and-done” coming on board next year. In order for that to happen, somebody is going to have to give up their scholarship or transfer. One player will graduate this year and we already have two committed. That puts us at our maximum, and we still have a decision to make about a trasferr who is already here. this year. This leaves no room for Wall or Orton who might come for one year only. Coach is also recruiting several others from 09.I look at us either losing a player to the NBA at the end of this year, another transfer, one of our next year seniors going on an academic scholarship or a player volunarily giving up his scholarship to become a walk-on in order to fit everyone on the team. It looks like now we are giving partial one or two year scholarships in the attempt of gaining enough talent to win the NCAA. What do you think?

Perhaps Williams has his own perfectly logical motives for his actions. Perhaps he knows that it is unlikely he will play in the NBA. But, perhaps he is aware that playing for BG will teach him a lot about basketball. That knowledge and the experience he would get even as a non-scholarship player could be worth much more than a free education at some other school. Maybe he is thinking about a future as a coach. Or more likely he is thinking about a future overseas. He could think that playing for BG without a scholarship is more likely to allow him to achieve his goals than playing for another lesser coach. It sounds crazy that a young person might be so far seeing, but you never know who is talking in these kids ears. Or BG could have suggested the very same things himself.

I agree with the possible scenarios, that you see happening at the end of the year. It seems that the idea of comitting to UK and taking a soft two year ride before becoming an impact player is what Coach wants to avoid. Coach likes strong, quick, lean athletes who realize that they have to bust their butt in practice to get playing time. AND that the FUTURE IS NOW. Sieze the Day, even if it is for only one year.

Finally, I don’t believe that any high school player should come to KY unless they believe they can play at the next level. This is a harsh statement, but you need to have proven yourself before accepting a scholarship. The high competiion level of the SEC and NCAA tournament make granted scholarships to so-called “project” unfair to both the student/athlete and the school. Players must recognize their strengths and be willing to work on their weaknesses. Just look at the Florida NCAA two year Chamionship team. How many are playing in the NBA? How many members of that team are dominating in the NBA?

College chamionship teams are made up mainly of “tweeners” (four star and below) players who must learn to play multiple positions. Case in point, at 6’8", what position will Patterson occupy at the professional level? At his current size I believe small forward. That means before he leaves KY, he has to show the pros an impressive perimeter game. What position will Jodie Meeks play in the NBA. I think he will be too small to play against a Kevin Durant at shooting guard, thus his only hope is at the point. Ramal never got a real chance to run a team until Coach G. You can go through our entire roster and try to predict where these kids will turn oput, but with Coach you will know that they will have been trained in the fundamentals of basketball and in multiple positions.

Long story-short welcome aboard Donald Williams!!! Alex Legion’s loss is your and our gain!

Played behind Rajon Rondo as frosh and soph – no shame in that.

He played a mixture of SG and PG as a junior, then more PG than SG as a senior.

The college game is so tricky when it comes to developing players for the next level. You have the immediate needs to develop and position your talent so that you can win the conference and NCAA title and also the need to develop your players so that they are ready for the pros. Nowhere is this more difficult than in developing the point/lead guard position.

Assuming that an 18 year old can lead a team of college or professional players is a big stretch. Not withstanding the Derrick Roses and Brandon Jennings of the world, to be sucessful, this position requires much more practice in the art of decision making than most kids graduating from high school possess. This position cannot be just about passing and making assists or the defenses will simply sink back into the center and make it impossible for the rest of the team to score. To be a great point/lead guard, you must score without being a “gunner”. You must be able to make the opposition pay if they foul you. For most kids it takes time to develop these skills and that is why European ball has developed into a paid minor league system and college has evolved into an “unpaid/educational” minor league experience. The bottom line is that Ramal needed more time to become what he will become a point guard. Whether you blame his lack of being prepared on playing behind Rondo or anything else the huge number of turnovers last year illustrate my point. Notice in no way am I suggesting that Ramal lacks the drive to do this.

That said, when you get a five star one-and-done player in this position, how do you plan your future after they leave. Rondo is a perfect example. I think Coach G. has it right. Multiple players in multiple positions give everyone experience. Obviously you have to eventually go with your best as your starters, but we have to realize not everone will make the pros. Due to physical limitations, most of our 6’4" and shorter players will have to be point/lead guards at the next level.

In the final analysis, these “tweeners” need to use all four years of college to help them develop their skill set. If the NBA doesn’t work out for them, at least they have a college education.to help them for the future.

Am I correct or does it look like we will have more scholarships available after this junior class graduates? Depending on performance and other issues, DW might get additional scholarship years after next year.

1 Sr – 6 Jrs – 3 Soph – 3 Frosh.

2 recruits so already 1 over.

Having trouble due to my age. Who is the sixth junior?
1. Meeks
2. Porter
3. Stevenson
4. Harris
5. Galloway
6. ?

Since Pilgrim is a transfer, he is using this year to learn the system, with an expectation of getting a scholarship next year, but with no guarrantees from UK. Am I right.?

If this is correct then Pilgrim would have two years of eligibility left. either at UK or any other school or he could walk on for a year at UK until the logjam of scholarships thins out when this year’s juniors graduate. Soo… here is another scenario where Coach has an option to have a scholarship available for Orton. With the other possibiliities, voluntary walk-ons, transfers, etc. we could have even more scholarships available. I’m sure that clever coach of ours has considered all the possible permutations. Either way, it looks like Coach has a plan that includes certain players and that he is in fact increasing the overall talent level of the team. Look out SEC!

All are 1 year, renewable at discretion of UK.

Pilgrim likely EXPECTS one but none is guaranteed.

Prince and Bogans declared for NBA draft so UK signed Adam Chiles that spring (2001).

Both returned to UK. Chiles’ LOI guaranteed his 1st year on scholarship, renewable after that.

UK had 14 players and 13 scholarships for 2002 roster. Marquis Estill went off scholarship and on grant-in-aid $ (based on financial need) that school year.

I’ll be watching out for you. Ken I’m right behind you! WAY!!!! Bheind you!