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Got this email from ESPN:
Wildcats at the White House, Friday on ESPNU
contact: gracie.blackburn@espn.com
ESPNU will cover live the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team’s visit to the White House as the 2012 NCAA Division I Men’s Champions on Friday, May 4, at 5 p.m. In celebration of their national title, ESPN basketball reporter Andy Katz will be with the team during the SportsCenterU Special: Kentucky at the White House when the players and coaches meet President Barack Obama.
In addition, ESPNU will follow the team throughout the day and air behind-the-scenes moments in a half-hour special, All-Access: Kentucky at the White House, airing Friday, May 11, at 11:30 p.m.
This is nothing new or particularly special, as they did the same thing for UConn last year when the Connecticut Huskies went to the White House to meet the president. Still, it should be an interesting event, and even though I'll be more focused on the Kentucky Oaks day festivities (Petra and I always take off on Oaks day starting at noon and bet the races), I'll be sure to record it on DVR for later viewing.
In recruiting news, James Young, a rising Rivals 5*, currently ranked #9 in the land for 2013, really likes Kentucky, according to this article from Jeff Borzello of CBS Sports:
Young, a 6-foot-6 small forward from Troy (Mich.), was ranked No. 15 in the country by CBSSports.com heading into the spring, but that is way too low after watching him in Virginia. He might rise to as high as No. 7 when the rankings are updated before the summer period.
The left-hander's athleticism is off the charts, and he's been very difficult to defend in a half-court setting as well. Young has been knocking down 3-pointers with consistency, and his ability to get to the rim or finish in transition is impressive.
"My strongest point is getting to the hole," he said. "Guys don't know how to guard left-handed."
What you have to worry about is his comment about being left-handed. What happens all too often to left-handed players in hight school is that they neglect to develop their off-hand more frequently than their right-handed counterparts. The reason is because going to the left is practically unguardable at the high school level, unlike in college where teams will take your strong hand away as a point of emphasis.
As Terrence Jones discovered his first year at UK, when teams take away your strong hand, it really makes it hard for you to score if you haven't developed your off hand, and limits your effectiveness in many ways. Jones worked on that last summer, and by the end of this year was not only using that right hand, but dunking with it. He did a terrific job of addressing a major weakness in the off season, and it really paid off for him.
My advice to Young -- work on that right hand, son. If you love a slasher's game, you have to be able to go both ways with conviction, and be able to finish with either hand.