Dakari Johnson makes the 5th top 25 player in Kentucky's 2013 basketball class, and Mark Stoops lands a four-star cornerback. Yesterday was a good day for the Big Blue Nation.

Today, the Kentucky Wildcats women's team takes on the Alabama Crimson Tide on the road at 3:00. Be sure to visit Greg's preview and open thread.

Tweet of the Morning:

Every time I think about moving out of Kentucky, the John Calipari show comes on and makes me never want to leave the home of the #BBN.

— Tyler Green (@tgreen8091) January 6, 2013

Yeah, I feel this way as well.

Your Quickies:

Kentucky football

• Recruiting Insider - Some Louisville, Kentucky football signees are starting to enroll // The Courier-Journal

  UK will have three players reporting to campus this weekend: Mississippi junior-college defensive end Za’Darius Smith, Texas junior-college tight end Steven Borden and Chattanooga, Tenn., high school quarterback Reese Phillips.

  Great. The earlier they get started, the better.

• Kentucky Sports Radio // UK Recruit Asiantii Woulard “Has The Wow Factor”

  By now, everyone here knows the name Asiantii Woulard. He’s part of the parade of recruits visiting UK next weekend, and according to his father, may sign with the Cats shortly thereafter. This is good news. Great news. Outstanding news, even. Why? well, he’s a four star recruit, in the ESPN 150, an Army All-American, and the #1 dual purpose quarterback in the nation.

  It just keeps getting better.

Kentucky basketball

• Kentucky basketball lands No. 1 center in 2013 class //Kentucky.com

  Johnson called UK signee James Young a "good friend," and said the future Wildcat has been telling him to commit to Kentucky ever since Johnson decided to reclassify in November.

  Johnson's family was really sold on Calipari, so while Young's friendship never hurts, this recruitment was more about his family and their relationship with the UK coaching staff.

• Kentucky adds No. 1 center in 2013 class in Dakari Johnson // vaughtsviews

  The 6-10, 250-pound Johnson, who briefly played at Sayre High School in Lexington, is a solid scorer inside who calls himself a “hard worker” on the court.

• Kentucky Wildcats, Gonzaga Bulldogs among dark-horse contenders // ESPN
  It's strange to think of UK as a dark horse for the title, but I think that's what they are at this point. In a month, it might be different. We'll have to see.

Other UK sports

• UK Hoops Vs. Alabama PreGame: Rolling The Tide // A Sea Of Blue
  Greg's preview and game thread.

• UK Hoops Takes Winning Streak on the Road to Alabama // UKAhtletics.com

Links posts

• Kentucky Sports Radio // The (Sunday) Morning After Links
• John Clay's Big Blue Links

College football

• Notre Dame vs. Alabama: College Football's Epic Rivalry // The Daily Beast
• Saban says the no-huddle offense will continue to revolutionize football // Saturday Down South

College basketball

• South Carolina matches win total from last year // Anderson Independent Mail
  Frank Martin is a definite upgrade. The Gamecocks are still a couple of years away from being a threat in the East, I think.

• Resetting the SEC Race: A Look at the Seven “East” Teams // Rush The Court

• Fleeing Big East schools working toward lucrative TV deal for basketball // ESPN
  The question is, what will happen to the Big East?

Other sports news

• John Wall’s presence at practice boosts Wizards’ spirits

  A bouncing, spry Wall was perhaps the encouraging sight of all, as the former No. 1 pick was constantly running — and running his mouth.

  Wall showed some burst, but not the usual explosiveness that many have grown accustomed to seeing from the notorious speedster. That will take some time — since Wittman said Wall just started contact practices on Thursday — but he was moving around without fear on his injured left knee.

  Good to hear John Wall is back.