Kentucky Basketball: Eloy Vargas commits to UK
by Glenn Logan on May 15, 2010 3:44 PM EDT
in Kentucky Wildcats Basketball
Email
PrintEvan Daniels of Scout is reporting by Twitter and by this story (subscription required) that former Florida and Miami Dade Community College player Eloy Vargas has decided to cast his lot with Kentucky.
More as it becomes available after the jump.
Some background on how this happened. Arizona was widely considered the favorite for his services before now:
-
Vargas’ recruitment by Arizona stalls because of differing agendas - Wild About AZ Cats
- Report: Eloy Vargas commits to Kentucky -- John Clay’s Sidelines
-
Meyer's Mailbag: Who's next for UNC?
If UK lands Eloy Vargas, does that give them the No. 1 class? - Mike from Lexington
Landing Vargas would push Kentucky past Memphis into the top spot in the national team recruiting rankings for 2010.
Jerry Meyer answers the question on many UK fans' minds.
- Vargas commits to Cal’s Cats | Vaught's Views
80 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Tru
Does this fill the open spot at the five?
Happy Days are here again The sky is all ways BLUE again Happy days are here again !
Yes, pretty much.
We still need another big player.
It’s a debate whether the five was really open, or the four. I think most observers think it was the four, and I would argue it still is.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
the way Cal describes next year there may not even be a five
Vargas’ commitment makes me much less concerned about the Jones coquette.
No matter where you're at, there you are
yea i see it as
3 guards and 2 forwards for next year
knight, lamb, liggins,poole, all will probably be the sg and pg rotation miller ,dodson, liggins will probably run the sf rotation and vargas, kanter and harrellson the big rotation.
i could also see them going small with miller at the 4 spot vs smaller quicker teams
by kentuckywild on May 16, 2010 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Is now a good time to ponder if the Arizona situation was effected by our "closed" subject??
That is probably a reach, but it does make one wonder
I AM THE CAT......The Cat In The Hat!!!
Who knows?
It’s certainly possible, but its all pure speculation.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
well, I dont really care why.....I just care that he adds another piece to the puzzle
I AM THE CAT......The Cat In The Hat!!!
ABC
I have all ready read that very thing. Arizona is a hot topic right now!
Happy Days are here again The sky is all ways BLUE again Happy days are here again !
Are you still
eliglible after a “censor”?
Happy Days are here again The sky is all ways BLUE again Happy days are here again !
We won't know that for a while yet, but it looks very favorable.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
I hope so because
if grades were the reason he left the Gators to begin with, let’s hope he has this study and class thing figured out. Best lesson ever in that was Scott Padgett.
Still I am getting tired of defending my Cats on the issue of their GPAs lately.
by StillCatwoman on May 15, 2010 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions
I hope so because...............
I have to wonder if it’s true that Vargas has signed a LOI would Cal even have offered him one if his grades were not acceptable? Seems to me it would be a waste of time by
all concerned. So if Cal has made a LOI available then his grades must be OK. Kind of a process of elimination. We’ll have to wait and see if the rumor mill is true or not.
by WildcatBlue1930Adolph on May 15, 2010 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions
His grades are fine, at least at MDC.
See the new article I just put up.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on May 16, 2010 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions
It's in that Arizona article
According to Vargas’ AAU coach, Kenny Gillion, grades are not a concern with his former player. Gillion told me last month that Vargas was a straight-A student at Miami-Dade Junior College this year. If Vargas has no academic concerns, than the reason why Arizona and Vargas have separated can be traced to different agendas — Vargas wants to be showcased and Miller desires a player who first and foremost wants Arizona to be on top of the Pac-10 again.
He is, marginally.
He will give Kanter all he wants, I think. He is actually quite skilled.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
Received His MDJC A-A Degree
So should be eligible.
"There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." --James Madison
were gonna be awesome again.........were gonna be awesome again......
I AM THE CAT......The Cat In The Hat!!!
That's 10 Scholarship Players
F Miller, Dodson
C Kanter, Vargas, Harrellson
G Knight, Lamb, Liggins, Poole, Hood (and Polson)
by FortyYearCatFan on May 15, 2010 7:26 PM EDT reply actions
I think Hood will be on the wing.
But other than that, just so.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
More PT There
He doesn’t really have G quickness for SEC.
by FortyYearCatFan on May 15, 2010 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions
I think that's right.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on May 16, 2010 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Sun-Sentinel (Clipped) On Vargas To UK
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/sfl-eloy-vargas-commits-kentucky-0515,0,1585842.story This is the Ft Lauderdale newsaper.
by FortyYearCatFan on May 15, 2010 9:40 PM EDT reply actions
Looks like he was a man among boys at a community college.
What did he average at Florida? And playing time. I would think that would give better insight as to what we might expect at Lexington.
I have be correctly accused of having a 'football fetish'. You know, someone who doesn't think football is the warm up sport to basketball season.
Not really.
The reason is he was hurt his freshman season at UF. He only played in 9 games I think and was ineffective. I read it was a nagging ankle injury that is apparently behind him now. Hopefully he is as good as his numbers suggest.
Looks like
Cal has pretty well expanded his reputation for preparing guards for the NBA to big men. Echo of ABC – “…we’re gonna be awesome again…”. We can start comparing this group to last year…..
Wall —> Knight→ Kanter
Cousins -
Orton —> Vargas→ Lamb
Bledsoe -
Throw in another year experience for Liggins, Miller, Dodson (maybe). Second year with same coach for them and Hood, Harrelson, etc. and we might have a pretty decent year. ;-)
(not sure what happened on the formatting of “last year recruit → this year recruit” but you get the idea)
Actually 6 Recruits
Wall Top 5 = Knight Top 5
Cousins Top 5 = Kanter Top 5
Orton Top 25 = Vargas Top 25
Bledsoe Top 25 = Lamb Top 25
Hood Top 50 = Poole Top 50
but Dodson > Polson.
by FortyYearCatFan on May 16, 2010 7:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Actually 6 Recruits
This is just an opinion but I have a gut feeling that Polson will eventually be a good contributor to the program.
by WildcatBlue1930Adolph on May 16, 2010 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions
There is a formatting guide at the bottom of the page.
Also, PIYF (preview is your friend). :-)
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on May 16, 2010 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Heh.
Yeah, pretty much.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on May 16, 2010 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
And the rich get richer.
Congratulations, nice get. You have to admire Calipari for not sitting still. Now here’s something I’d like you all to remember:
“Pigs get fed, hogs get slaughtered.”
Now leave my little Terrence Jones alone. :-)
Heh.
As far as I know, we are. But Jones does have a say, I think.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on May 16, 2010 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions
well
I’m breathing easier but I’d still like to get another big. Vargas did almost nothing at FL but maybe he wasn’t 100%
at florida
vargas only played 34 minutes over 9 games at florida because of a lingering ankle injury.. he has since dominated the jc ranks and will at minimal be a great role player… look for this guy to be a very good pick up.. he played at the same cc as darnell dodson and averaged 10 more points then dodson did.. can see this guy filling in just great and will probably be a 2 year guy
by kentuckywild on May 16, 2010 3:43 AM EDT up reply actions
so far starters look like
pg-knight sg-lamb sf-miller pf-vargas c-kanter vargas and kanter might switch pos since kanter has the better outside shot
bench- dodson, liggins,hood,harrelson liggins could run pg or sg also if lamb doesn’t get going right away and dodson and hood would relieve the sg and sf positions along with liggins, the biggest problem now is getting our bigs rest with only one bench player big enough. BUT last year if uk would have had a consistent sf and cousins stayed out of foul trouble then uk would have had less subs…i think hood sucks but the rest of the team should be solid … right now uk has a good 8 man rotation that if subs are used right then uk will be pretty good…not last year good but a HECK of alot better then i thought we would be when all 5 guys declared… sorry im rambling
i think hood sucks
Real classy comment, I suppose you can take him one on one?
I woke up feeling BLUE this morning. It's gonna be a great day.
class has nothing to do
with my comment… hood is SO FAR a big disappointment and unless he improves drastically he will be a waste of a scholarship… when i ment the kid sucked, i meant his production and skill level the past year… dont be so sensitive i love uk and everyone that puts on the blue and white but i WILL speak my mind
by kentuckywild on May 16, 2010 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Well
there is a big difference between a player “sucks” compared to “may not have the talent level to start for UK”. No player making the team sucks and not being able to play against NBA first rounders is not a fair measuring stick for a freshmen. Some players take longer to develop into a good college player.
man hood looked like junk
compared to the average sec player…. i have stated that he so far has sucked.. im not ready to write him off, BUT after seeing many of hs games and his very little playing time at uk, im almost certain he will never be a decent college player… sorry just my opinion.. i love uk and respect the game but if a player sucks then well he sucks .. that doesn’t mean they cant get better but ive watched enough basketball to know if a player has the potential to be a major player hood doesn’t have it guys sorry
by kentuckywild on May 16, 2010 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Cameron Mills
Almost never played in 1995 or 1996.
Became a star 3-pt FG shooter in 1997 and 1998.
Too early to give up on Hood.
by FortyYearCatFan on May 16, 2010 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions
again just my opinion
would love for hood to make me look stupid and eat my words…but im not holding my breath
by kentuckywild on May 16, 2010 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions
When exactly did Hood really
get a chance to prove what he can do? He is exactly what this team needs, players with potential that take 3 to 4 years to develop it. That is where the mix of experience and top notch talent comes in. Perhaps one could say that fans who don’t get this suck as well.
I woke up feeling BLUE this morning. It's gonna be a great day.
oh i get it and as
i stated already i hope he proves me wrong but as and avid hs and college basketball watcher i have seen hood a whole lot during his hs days.. his competition was very weak through out hs and his jumping ability is the only real impressive thing ive seen from him… at best he will be a decent bench relief … if he improves drastically …but AGAIN JUST MY OPINION,,, i am done talking about hood.. way to many sensitive fans on here
by kentuckywild on May 16, 2010 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions
wineman, I think we
can disagree with his opinion and how it was presented but he stated it, backed it up with his observations (not reading off some rag or just to generate debate) and stuck to it. I think there are a lot better ways to express your evaluation of a player than “sucks” but that’s his view and he may throw that adjective around without realizing the severity folks like me regard that description.
In my view someone that bad wouldn’t make any college team on any level. Hopefully he thinks there are levels below “suck” reserved for worse players (like me!); but I really don’t want to hear the colorful descriptions of these lower rankings. (Actually I do but Tru might delete them before I’d get a chance to read them.)
ok i take back "suck"
to me there are 3 levels to college basketball athletes …
GREAT….wall, cousins,bledsoe ,patterson
OK……….miller, liggins.dodson, orton
SUCK……krebs…hood
while hood still has the chance to be ok or even great i for one dont see it, but i guess i should have used a word like bad or below average but when something is infact below average it TO ME sucks…. goes for movies, food, relationship.. but i will apologies for any disrepect i might have inflicted to me suck just means a bad player or even a ok player that doesn’t produce … i really hope hood proves me wrong …time will tell
by kentuckywild on May 16, 2010 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I mentioned this before.
We don’t disparage players in here. Please don’t do it. Thank you for your cooperation.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
how can you say that based upon how little time he has spent on the floor???
it’s like a 5 yr old saying they dont like something before they have tasted it……geez….
I AM THE CAT......The Cat In The Hat!!!
the thing that irritates me
about people who go on about how terrible Hood is and how he’ll not ever be a contributor (and I’m not singling out this guy cause I’ve heard it plenty of places), is that he is exactly the kind of player that I thought conventional wisdom was saying we absolutely had to have, and couldn’t win the big one without. I thought it was our supposed DOWNFALL that we weren’t getting the old-style four year student athlete, who would develop, in a traditional manner, over the years and with increased playing time. But the one we actually HAVE, well, he “sucks” because he didn’t get playing time or contribute much playing against his all-world classmates. I guess people want a Wall-like superdeveloped talent that can come in and contribute right away, combined with a Hood-like propensity to stay four years and improve and learn over time. Good luck with that.
by blue kentucky girl on May 17, 2010 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions
look guys
you can get all happy about hood and think he is what we need but i have seen hood play in person and i really think he is not uk caliber .. my OPINION isn’t based on his non-existing pt at uk.. its his hs days… to me had this kid played in a uber talented high school city then he wouldn’t have been on uk’s radar… i already stated i hope he proves me wrong but ill take role players like liggins, dodson, stevenson… hood to me is a strike out and you guys will see.. and tru my opinion on hood shouldn’t get me in trouble with you guys… no matter how many people it irritates … hood is the type of player uk needs???…lol no patterson, wall, miller, stevenson are good examples hood is a good example of a walk on
by kentuckywild on May 19, 2010 3:19 AM EDT up reply actions
It's not your opinion
it’s how you stated it. That was a personal attack on a young kid who is ready to play his heart out for UK when he gets his chance. Your statements said a whole lot more about you than they did about Hood.
I woke up feeling BLUE this morning. It's gonna be a great day.
I don't think Hood is another Carrier or similar UK player of the past at all
He is athletic (high jump champion) and can shoot. I think his time on the bench last year was for defensive reasons and he wasn’t Bledsoe or Wall. I think he will contribute – hopefully this year. He is also a top 50 recruit – something UK’s other shooting guard home boys weren’t. Saying he sucks is like school on Memorial Day.
Please ...
… don’t disparage players. Read the community guidelines.
A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan
by Glenn Logan on May 16, 2010 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions
wild, interesting thought on Hood...
Let’s run some numbers here…
Player 1: 29.5ppg, 13 reb, 4 blocks, 3 assists and 1.5 steals per game
Player 2: 22.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.0 steals per game
Who would you choose?? Guess it would depend upon if you were looking for a “scorer” or an “assist” guy… My money would go on Player #1, as would most folks. Remarkably enough, Player #1’s stats are, you guessed it, Jon Hood’s Senior year stats! And remember, he got hurt towards the end of the season so he didn’t play the whole year. Player #2?? John Wall…
Don’t judge Hood by last year is what I’m trying to say… Stats courtesy of here and here.
If your wings don't sweep....
lol hood vs wall
ive seen enough hs players that averaged great #s come to college and strike out.. hood so far strike out.. wall hit outa the park … wall vs hood no comparing them please the high school ball played in nc is a tad bit more competitive the hs ball in ky
by kentuckywild on May 16, 2010 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions
lol hood vs wall
That my friend is debatable. Hood is no Wall, true. But if I remember Hood did not play in the top basketball classification in Kentucky. I don’t believe we should evaluate Hood
too soon. He’s just going to be a Sophmore.
by WildcatBlue1930Adolph on May 16, 2010 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions
HOW DID I FORGET
stacy poole it was late last night and poole slipped my mind…lol we just need another big and uk is reloaded
by kentuckywild on May 16, 2010 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Just adding that
IMHO jon Hood is a sleeper. He can be another Cameron Mills! Recruited as a shooter, got caught up in all the one and dones last year. This is his time to shine.
Happy Days are here again The sky is all ways BLUE again Happy days are here again !
Yes, we need that reliable 3pt shooter like we usually had (in the 90s)
…thats as far back as this young Cat can remember :)
http://www.gamerclips.net
by kentuckyrules on May 16, 2010 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Or In 2000's
Gerald Fitch in 2001-02-03-04.
Kelenna Azubuike in 2003-04-05.
Patrick Sparks in 2005-06.
Joe Crawford in 2005-06-07-08.
Ramel Bradley in 2005-06-07-08.
Jodie Meeks in 2007-08-09.
by FortyYearCatFan on May 16, 2010 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions
I disagree with this list as the years go.
I know the list reflects players playing career, but none were reliable 3 point shooters their entire career.
Fitch was reliable only 2 years is my recollection, and really reliable his Senior year. In fact, Fitch was as reliable in late game clutch shots as any UK player EVER, at least until his last shot which I was sure was going in. If Fitch had played on this team this year (assuming Cal would have played him) I think this team would have been NC.
Azubuike was reliabe his Junior year most of the time, but that was mostly b/c of playing time limitations.
Sparks was always streaky but he hit some big time shots. In many ways, he was no different than the players we had this year. Streaky and capable, but not reliable every game like a late career Fitch or Meeks.
Crawford was pretty reliable 2 years I think, but Bradley really only his last year as an outside shooter. Bradley was never afraid of taking the clutch shot at the end of the game, but until he was a senior, he never made the clutch shot. Then, he became Mr. Clutch for one year, also as clutch a player as Fitch.
Meeks also only belongs on this list for 1 year due to the playing time limitations as a freshman and injury as a soph. His Jr. year he was reliable as a 3point shooter, clutch in the late game, and a great representative of UK off the court. He also would have put this year’s team over the top.
They Averaged 38% to 40% On 3-pt FG
Those are pretty reliable numbers.
The UK players in the 1990’s did better as Jrs and Srs than they did as Fr or Soph.
by FortyYearCatFan on May 16, 2010 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions
List Of 3-pt FG All-Time Leaders
http://bigbluehistory.net/bb/statistics/career3ptfieldgoals.html Most of the top ones on the list played in 2000’s decade.
by FortyYearCatFan on May 16, 2010 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Just adding that
Exactly! Good comparison. Hood already shoots better than Cameron (one of my favorites) but
he is taller and can, when he has to, rebound. You made a good point.
by WildcatBlue1930Adolph on May 16, 2010 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
What I would give for two big guys that could
pass like Hayes and Daniels and shoot to 15 foot like PPat and Sky.
OK, I’m dreaming. Time to wake up.
What I would give............
Man those two guys were like having 2 Queens in a Chess set! Where would you get them. LOL
by WildcatBlue1930Adolph on May 16, 2010 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Community Guidelines
[UPDATED 01/18/2012]
Related FanPosts on A Sea Of Blue
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
