Friday Quickies: Jai Lucas Watch Edition

Can Kentucky close the deal?

By John Morgan Francis@MonJorgan Aug 21, 2020, 6:40am EDT

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Earlier this week, reports broke that Texas Longhorns assistant coach Jai Lucas has “been in contact” with the University of Kentucky to fill the void of an empty position for assistant coach. With Kenny Payne leaving Kentucky head coach John Calipari’s staff for the New York Knicks, Kentucky is quickly looking for their next recruiting guru.

Kentucky coach John Calipari has been in contact with Texas assistant Jai Lucas about joining the UK staff, a Texas spokesman confirmed. As of now, Lucas is still a Horn, going through workouts at Cooley.
— Brian Davis (@BDavisAAS) August 18, 2020

It’s hard to imagine turning down an assistant position as the historical Kentucky basketball program, especially under a legendary head coach like Calipari. It’s just as difficult to imagine Lucas turning down the position considering after being recruited by Kentucky back in 2007.

UK just posted this job for new Basketball Recruiting Coordinator pic.twitter.com/SXrCmvdamN
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) August 21, 2020

An assistant coach since 2013, Lucas brings experience as well as a quality reputation of landing highly-coveted recruits. He’s the ideal candidate for the vacant assistant position at Kentucky and a likely choice to fill it, should he leave the University of Texas.

Tweet of the Day

Dislocated left index finger for Damian Lillard in a game that the Blazers were already getting routed ... just a dispiriting development after days of fun and success for eighth-seeded Portland
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 21, 2020

A worst-case scenario for Portland.