UK target Liggins rising up board

by JL Blue on Jun 26, 2007 7:07 AM EDT in Basketball Comment 10 comments

Web rumors are notoriously hard to verify or even decipher, depending on the author or sources, but it has been reported that 6'5" combo guard DeAndre Liggins, listed as the 18th-best prospect in the 2008 class, has made an unofficial visit to Kentucky, and came away very impressed.

Marc Maggard has some scoopage on this story. I don't know Marc personally, and have no reason to disbelieve anything he says, but color me skeptical of anyone not directly related to these prospects calling anyone a player's "leader" without public statements to that effect.

That said, simply getting a visit from Liggins -- once considered a Kansas lock -- is a great step. And if what Marc is reporting is actually true, then that would be great news.

Here's some video of Liggins in action. One thing to note, from viewing these previously, is that Liggins is most fascinating in that he doesn't stand out as a scorer like so many point guards in high school video montages. In fact, it's his all-around game and passing -- watch how many plays #34 in white makes that lead to baskets -- that show him melding into the team. That isn't a bad thing.

Update [2007-6-25 17:47:28 by JL Blue]:

Two other nuggets to note:

* Former UK de-commitment Draymond Green will announce Thursday between Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Indiana, according to rivals (premium article)

* Willie Warren, one of UK's top targets, dropped a bombshell today in a Rivals preemy story from Kansas site, saying he has decided to attend college with Rotnei Clarke, the shooter we profiled recently here at ASoB. Kentucky is only one of three schools recruiting the duo. Oh, and Clarke is allegedly visiting this weekend ... possibly with Warren. Stay tuned.

Update [2007-6-25 23:6:19 by JL Blue]: [PART II]

Victoria Sun gets the interview with Deandre Liggins post visit. No sense of his interest, but they got him on campus.

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REcruiting

Its going to be an interesting few weeks in the recruiting world if Liggins is as high on UK as Marc says.

Rotnei Clark is coming for a visit this weekend and according to Marc he could likely commit while he is here is sufficiently impressed. According to Marc or KSR the staff is trying to get Warren in for a visit with Clarke to advertise the package deal plus the staff likes where they are at with Miller.

They sure arent going to take 5 wing players becuase of our desperate need for a couple more bigs. So who is going to pull the trigger first?

by davw83 on Jun 25, 2007 12:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't know ...

it may be that the staff thinks they can develop Williams and Stewart into players. They figure to have Carter for as many as 3 more years, and Patterson for a couple at least. We could use another 4/5 guy, but I don't think it's absolutely critical.

It looks to me like Gillispie is fine with stocking this team with lots of athletic swing players. That makes running a more up-tempo game a lot easier. We'll just have to see. I confess, I would feel better if we had another big guy, but the idea of getting Miller, Clarke and Warren next year and no bigs doesn't depress me.

by Truzenzuzex on Jun 25, 2007 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ack!!

I forgot about Liggins.

Well, I just don't know what's on Gillispie's mind. Maybe it's just a horse race, I don't know.

by Truzenzuzex on Jun 25, 2007 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This commit busines...

I don't want to hear any more predictions of an on-campus commitment.

Let's just be happy to get talented guys in fir visits.

I love 'em, but the UK fanbase for some reason doens't seem to ever learn from its overzealous gullibility when it comes to recruiting (I refer, of course, to the number of 'Done Deals' over the last few years) ...

The Online home of Big Blue Nation ...

by JL Blue on Jun 25, 2007 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, God ...

how true.

by Truzenzuzex on Jun 25, 2007 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Billy G

Billy G seems to go after a lot of players who could really help the team regradless of the position they play. I think thats an interesting choice seeing as how you might get a team stacked with a particular type of player say a 6-6 swing man. But your 5 6-6 swings that you got may all be lights out players.

I think who he ends up taking for 08 will be key in finding out what kind of team he is trying to build, especailly if more kids commit than we have spots for.

by davw83 on Jun 25, 2007 1:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Power forward

I do really think we need at least one more really good power forward. I think two fours would be better in his system than a four and a five if he really likes speedy post players.

by davw83 on Jun 25, 2007 1:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

KSR

KSR is saying that on Kansas Rivals.com , that Willie Warren has stated his intention to go to the same school as Clarke. That'd be a hell of a package deal.

GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!

by UKWildCatFanatic on Jun 25, 2007 3:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs