Kentucky Wildcats Morning Quickies: Michelle Wie Edition

Congratulations to Michelle Wie, who captured her first major on Sunday at Pinehurst. This U.S. Open victory was expected much earlier for Wie, who made the cut at the U.S. open when she was only 13 years old. Now 24, she has struggled to make a major impact on women's golf until yesterday.

You may also remember her as attempting to play on the PGA Tour. But all those youthful faux pas now seem behind her. It's good to see, but I have no idea what that stuff was on her leg.

Also, as an aside, I am not following the World Cup this season. Anyone who would like to write about it, please let me know by email.

Tweet of the Morning

Does anyone still think Cal is overpaid? He's raised UK's profile nationally more than anyone else could have. That translates into dollars

— Greg (@GregNJ) June 23, 2014

Indeed.

Your Quickies:

Kentucky football

• In case you missed it, good news on Darius Fullwood's recruitment today. He is a top UK target for 2015. {Via Hank}

• Damien Harris hung out with Randle Cobb over the weekend which is significant because he was scheduled to attend a camp at Ohio State. {Hank}

• J.K. Britt is close to a decision. UK is in his top four. He's a Rivals (5.6) 3 and also a Scout 3. {Hank}

• Eli Brown is considered a major steal for Kentucky...see # 11. {Hank}

• Cats offer Bowling Green HS's Darrian Scott. {Hank}

• Kentucky may be interested in a Kansas transfer who may not be eligible for Louisville since he's had no issues during his career at KU. ;>) Sometimes, I just can't help myself. {Hank}

• St. Thomas Aquinas DB to announce tomorrow, according to both Patrick Loney and Justin Rowland tweets....He's down to South Carolina (projected) and Kentucky. {Hank}

• Ohio cornerback recruit Kei Beckham is Ben Roberts' recruit of the week:

  "I actually thought he probably would have been committed to Kentucky already," said recruiting analyst Josh Helmholdt, who covers Ohio for Rivals.com.

  The bad news for Kentucky is that other schools have done well to keep Beckham's recruitment going. The good news is that many who have followed it — including Helmholdt — still consider UK his most likely destination.

  It's about time for some Yahtzees.

Kentucky basketball

• Calipari offered a 2016 player while going out to visit Stanley Johnson last year. Consider:

  It's rare for Calipari to offer a scholarship so early in a player's high school career — Cage hadn't even started his sophomore season at the time — but the UK coach had a special tie to this prospect.

  Cage's father is Michael Cage, the 15-year NBA veteran who once led the league in rebounding. Calipari coached Cage for one season with the New Jersey Nets.

  Ahhh. Yes, it's out of character for Cal to make such an early offer, but the explanation seems quite sufficient.

• Eric Davis is makin ga return trip to Kentucky. I like this kind of player, one that can do some point guard duty but who is mainly a shooter. Doron Lamb was a huge factor in Kentucky's success in 2011 and 2012.

• Extra practice time is what the coaches are looking forward to in the Bahamas, not the beach and nice weather. Good to know they have their priorities straight.

• Coach Cal talks about Dean Smith, and calls him "The original players-first coach."

• UK awards JMI sports its athletics and multimedia marketing rights.

Other Kentucky sports

• A.J. Reed and Matt Reida both got some time in AAA minor league ball this past weekend, both having good hitting games.

• 2015 talent Skal Labissiere, after recovering from a stress fracture in his back, is still a top UK target.

• John Calipari has been in touch wiht 6'7" 2015 shooting guard P.J. Dozier. Hat tip: Aaron's blog.

Links posts

• The Leach Report: Monday Wildcat Links

College football

• An investigative report into how the police and prosecutors handled the Jerry Sandusky case will be released today. Somebody pass the popcorn this could be good.

College basketball

• The need for more revenue could lead to alcohol sales at games. I get the reasons for not doing it, but I wish the SEC would reverse their current policy, even if it's only for beer.

• Another lawsuit against the NCAA, this time for concussions.

• Oh, man, this is really sad news. Baylor's Isaiah Austin has been diagnosed wth Marfan Syndrome, and must quit playing basketball. That's just tragic.

• Cincinnati's Mick Cronin gets a nice raise and an extension.

• Ouch. LSU loses a highly-ranked 2016 commitment.

• Jarnell Stokes NBA Draft profile. He could be the steal of the second round if he doesn't go in the first.

• Joel Embiid continues to scare off teams with early picks.

Other sports news

• Nerlens Noel returns to Kentucky, talks about UK:

  "Willie at the three?" Well, that would be something!

• Addison Reed of the Arizona Diamondbacks is giving up smokeless tobacco after the death of Tony Gwynn from cancer of the salivary gland.

• Ole Miss is out of the CWS. It's just Vandy and Virginia now.

Other news

• Heh. Sting to his kids: "You want money? Go make your own. I'm spending mine."