Wednesday Quickies: Recruiting Mojo Edition

While Kentucky Football has justifiably been receiving the larger share of the hype around the Big Blue Nation, the basketball program has had some positive momentum too, as Big Blue Madness is less than a month away but most notably on the recruiting trail.

The Wildcats have been making moves in the Class of 2019 as they look to build upon an excellent foundation in the fall. Kentucky is nearly set when it comes to guards and wings but have a couple spots remaining; however, the focus recently has been on the frontcourt, where Kentucky could lose all four of their current big men after the season.

Things seem to be trending upward for John Calipari and the Kentucky coaching staff on the recruiting trail.

Kentucky will host 5-star big man Oscar Tshiebwe (pronounced shoob-way) this weekend and it seems to be down to Kentucky and West Virginia for the 6’9” forward. WVU has been recruiting him longer, but many experts think Oscar is really high on the Cats. Is Kentucky the leader? It’s debatable, but it is certain Kentucky has made up a lot of ground with Oscar and has gained a ton of momentum.

Another 5-star big man will also be visiting Kentucky this weekend as Isaiah Stewart will be coming to Lexington. It was once thought that Kentucky no longer had a chance with Stewart when he cut them from his list, but Kentucky seems to be prioritizing him and now with a visit, there seems to be a lot of momentum for Kentucky in his recruitment. The Wildcats probably shouldn’t be considered the favorite right now, but it’s another instance of positive momentum for Kentucky on the recruiting trail.

Last but certainly not least, Kentucky and Florida have their eyes on Scottie Lewis, the 5-star guard from New Jersey. Just a couple weeks ago, Lewis was viewed as a lock to the Gators, who have been recruiting him for several years. Evan Daniels even logged a pick for Florida on the 247 Sports Crystal Ball, which is usually a solid indicator, but Daniels changed the pick to cloudy and Kentucky has gained some traction after Lewis visited Lexington. He’s been seen wearing a UK jersey on the beach and played a pickup game in front of a crowd in UK shorts recently. Kentucky has a legitimate chance to land one of the best guards in the class.

The 2019 class is shaping up very nicely for Kentucky, and as the fall signing period gets closer, we may have a clearer image of what that class will look like.

Tweets of the Day

Tickets are going fast, so make sure you buy in advance if you plan on being at Kroger Field Saturday night.

Big Blue Madness Campout starts today... wow, that came quick...

And a short video to brighten your day of firefighters in Shepherdsville rescuing a deer from floodwaters.

Your Quickies

Kentucky’s strong start leads to wins in recruiting - Lexington Herald Leader

The strong start to the season, plus a wild atmosphere at Kroger Field is paying dividends on the recruiting trail.

Six things learned from Mark Stoops press conference - Kentucky Sports Radio

Stoops doesn’t care what time UK plays, but he does get home late.

Projecting Bowl Games for the Wildcats - Courier Journal

Most experts are projecting Kentucky to one of the better bowls they’ve been to in decades.

Kentucky has no room for a let down - Kentucky Sports Radio

The players know they have to be on their game for their matchup with South Carolina.

UK commitment Jake Pope selected for All American Game - Cats Pause

The 6’7” offensive tackle commitment was selected to play in the Blue Grey All American Bowl.

Amani Gilmore explains decision to commit on unofficial visit to Kentucky - Cats Pause

The Louisiana QB loved campus and the conversations he had with the Kentucky coaches.

Kentucky Baseball to host two fall exhibitions - UK Athletics

The exhibitions will be Sept. 29 and Oct. 14 at the new baseball stadium.

Josh Allen projected to Philadelphia in new mock draft - CBS Sports

Allen is projected 29th overall.

Trouble at Clemson? - ESPN

QB Kelly Bryant missed practice Tuesday after Trevor Lawrence was named the starter.

Rajon Rondo will reportedly start over Lonzo Ball for Lakers - Yahoo Sports

The former Wildcat is expected to start at point guard despite a lot of buzz surrounding Ball.

Scherzer records 300th strikeout of the season - Yahoo Sports

Only 16 pitchers have accomplished the feat before him.

Patrick Mahomes new favorite to win NFL MVP - Bleacher Report

OddsShark has Mahomes at +300, ahead of Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Todd Gurley.

Mike Pereira predicts adjustments for how NFL calls roughing - NBC Sports

There were 13 roughing the passer calls in Week 3.

Girl singing National Anthem at LA Galaxy game goes viral - The Independent

At 7 years old, Malea Emma Tjandrawawidjaja is catching the eye of people everywhere.