John Calipari says he will recommend to Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones and DeAndre Ligins that they put their names into the draft, but do not hire an agent. He says that the likely NBA lockout has complicated matters quite a bit, and does not know yet how much of an impact that it will have on the 2011 draft, but that it will certainly have one.
In other Calipari news, Coach Cal scoffed at the NBA rumors, and said that they were aimed more at affecting recruiting than anything else. That's very likely true, because rumors that a coach may be leaving for the NBA can certainly impact the decision-making of the kind of recruits Calipari likes to bring in.
Here are the rest of today's links:
-
NBA Lockout Looming - No Summer Leagues :: Chris Diggs - UK Fan Blog
This is another indicator that we may be seeing the return of some of the freshmen who might have been expected to leave. - Calipari happy with where he is, where Cats are heading :: Cincinnati.com
-
John Calipari says players should look at the NBA - CBSSports.com
Calipari noted that he believes Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones both have the potential to be selected in the lottery, but he is unsure where each would be slotted. If the players find out that they could be at the end of the lottery, they might be best suited to return to school. If however, they are guaranteed a selection towards the top of the lottery, Calipari said that it may make more sense to keep their names in the draft.
I think this is very good advice. I hope at least a couple come back, but if they don't, all the best.
-
Trevor Lacey getting a lot of visitors :: Jody Demling - Recruiting
This might be a guy Calipari pushes pretty hard on, especially if it looks like Knight stays in the draft. -
Kyle Wiltjer Scheduled To Arrive In Lexington June 9 :: The UK Nation
Love this kid. -
Kentucky's defense is starting over new - SEC Blog - ESPN
It hasn’t been an easy adjustment, but Minter is starting to see guys adapt to the new system. Guys like middle linebacker Ronnie Sneed, linebacker/safety Winston Guy, cornerbacks Martavius Neloms, Randall Burden and Anthony Moseley, and defensive tackle Luke McDermott have all caught on nicely, Minter said.
I sure hope Minter can make a difference in our defense. If so, Kentucky could become a dangerous team next year. "Trust but verify?"
-
Calipari: Underclassmen have no clear choice in NBA's muddy waters - NCAA Basketball - Sporting News
Players such as UCLA’s Malcolm Lee charged eagerly onto the early-entry list with no apparent concern for this issue, although coach Ben Howland warned it could damage his development.
"I feel bad because I think it’s a really tough time for these kids to be coming out," Howland said. "From the standpoint of the lockout looming -- how that affects the draft, how that affects your ability to position yourself for a team you’re drafted by."
Howland's right.
-
Calipari and those NBA rumors, plus notes and links :: John Clay’s Sidelines
John Calipari met with some local media yesterday and talked NBA draft decisions, those pesky NBA rumors and more. Cal said the NBA rumors were to screw up recruiting. He laughed at that, as well he should. But you wonder if his connections to World Wide Wes and LeBron James have anything to do with the constant pro rumor mill.
I think the William Wesley thing is way, way overblown. People still treat that guy with more suspicion and respect than was ever afforded some of history's worst gangsters. Weird. Have we run out of people to legitimately hate?
-
Ballin' is a Habit: Mike Anderson keeps the Arkansas recruiting class intact
The new Arkansas head coach was walking into a bit of a difficult situation. John Pelphrey had landed one of the best recruiting classes in the country, but with the head coaching change, the question that many in the Natural State -- and a number of other coaching staffs -- were asking was whether Anderson would be able to keep those kids committed.
According to Andy Katz, he has. And it was probably an easier task than you or I expected.Well, that's good news for Arkansas and those kids. I really respect kids that stay committed during a coaching change.
-
Arizona's Williams leaving for NBA draft
If anyone should be leaving, it's this kid. What a player. -
Ten for Tuesday: Most Disappointing NCAA Tourney Losses :: Kentucky Sports Network
I think this is pretty much right. Anyone want to add to this? - Kentucky Sports Radio :: Pete Rose’s Thursday News and Views
-
Notebook from Calipari media session : The Kentucky Kernel
Calipari denied the size of Reliant Stadium, which is an NFL dome, had any effect on UK’s poor shooting in the game. He said UK took more bad shots in that game than its four previous games, but that having a chance to win on a last-second shot was all he could ask for.
Kentucky did take a lot of bad shots in that game, particularly Brandon Knight.
-
Roundtable season wrap-up with Calipari (Part 2)
Question: Does Josh Harrellson have a place in the NBA right now?
Calipari: I think he does. But again, only one team has to like you, and you only have to fit for one team. There may be 20 teams that say no, but it only takes one team. It's the same thing in the draft. They say, 'Well, he is in the top 12.' Well, one of those 12 has to take you. 'Well, he is at 19.' 'Really?' 'Well, what if they like you at nine?' It's the same for him. We have to figure out what teams like him. The kid rebounds, he shoots better than you think, he is a load down there. There are a lot of those in the league.
Read the whole thing. Also read Part 1.
-
Even Calipari unsure if Knight, Jones should stay in draft :: Beyond the Arc
When John Calipari isn’t sure, you know it’s a screwy NBA draft. The Kentucky coach wants stars and likely lottery picks Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones to throw their names into the draft pool – but staying in is another story. -
Kentucky inks third straight top recruiting class - Yardbarker
Never in the history of team recruiting rankings has a program had such dominance with the overall class and success in landing the top players nationally quite like Calipari has. Prior to coming to he landed a top five class thanks to Tyreke Evans and a top 10 class thanks to Derrick Rose.
"Never in the history ..." I like the sound of that.
-
John Calipari thinks NBA draft combine a good choice for DeAndre Liggins :: Vaught's Views
This is very interesting insight into the NBA evaluation process. What it boils down to is that first impressions are everything. -
Dunlap discusses a dream come true : The Kentucky Kernel
Awesome for Victory Dunlap to go so high. Great for our hoops program. -
Cal: Lamb 15 pounds and one year from being lottery pick — Jerry Tipton on UK basketball
Works for me. -
Can UCLA Basketball Regain Elite Status? The Window is Closing - Bruins Nation
Does this sound familiar to anyone? It reminds me of the latter part of Tubby Smith's time here. But Westwood is not Lexington, and as the author points out, fan support is far different here than there.
In my judgment, Ben Howland is suffering from the same problems Smith had at Kentucky, which is really a perception problem with elite recruits. These days, you simply cannot have an elite program unless you can recruit at an elite level except occasionally.
UCLA would seem to have a number of structural advantages that few other schools possess, so it seems to me that Howland's style and how he is perceived by the elite high school players are the main obstacle. So UCLA has to make a choice there, or Howland has to find a way to change that perception.
- More Early Season Info: From New England To The Caribbean - Blogging the Bracket