Crybaby Gillispie "sues" Kentucky

Gillispie, who couldn't win at Kentucky, is upset because he was fired. People daily get fired over not performing at work. Get over it.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i6tKn2Hc8WGbEkNXHqpxJ7NoRSxwD98ETQE00

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Former Kentucky men's basketball coach Billy Gillispie sued the school Wednesday, seeking at least $6 million he says he is owed on his deal after being fired without cause.

Gillispie, who was dismissed last spring, was working under a memorandum of understanding but hadn't signed a formal contract during the two years he coached the Wildcats.

He contends that under that memorandum, he should be paid $1.5 million a year for four of the five years left on the deal. The suit also asks for an undisclosed amount of punitive damages, attorneys' fees, court costs and interest.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in Dallas contends the school's athletics association is in breach of contract and has committed fraud because the university never intended to honor the agreement.

"Rather than honor its written, signed deal with coach Gillispie, defendant prefers instead to pretend as though no deal was ever reached," the lawsuit says. "Unfortunately for defendant, its make-believe world is just that."

University attorneys expressed surprise over the lawsuit.

"The university was continuing to negotiate a separation in good faith and his counsel had asked for more time," they said in a statement.

Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart, reached Wednesday at the Southeastern Conference meetings in Destin, Fla., said he had no comment.

"I just got off the phone with our attorneys and I can't say anything," Barnhart said.

Jimmy Stanton, a spokesman for University of Kentucky President Lee Todd, also declined comment because the matter involves pending litigation.

Much of the 24-page lawsuit highlights the 49-year-old Gillispie's biography, describing him as an up-and-coming coach who resurrected a Texas A&M program before leaving to lead Kentucky, the nation's all-time winningest college basketball program. It also says he was negotiating a new contract with Texas A&M and that Kentucky officials interfered.

"He resigned a promising, successful position as head-coach with a rapidly ascending program at Texas A&M," it says. "He did so because he believed (the university's) false representations to him during his negotiations."

In three seasons with the Aggies, Gillispie was 70-26, making the NCAA tournament twice including the Sweet 16 in 2007. The previous three seasons before Gillispie came on board, A&M was 20-22.

Gillispie went 40-27 in two seasons with the Wildcats, including a 22-14 mark last season that tied for the second-most losses in the program's 106-year history. A stumble down the stretch left the Wildcats out of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1991.

He also was criticized for failing to properly represent the school as an ambassador and occasionally being prickly with the media, including two halftime clashes with a female ESPN reporter.

His one-page termination letter concluded Gillispie was not a "good fit" for the school, and it specifically cited his failure to come to an agreement on a full employment contract.

During a news conference the day after he was fired, Gillispie maintained he was due the full $6 million buyout as stipulated in the memorandum of understanding.

"That's what it says in the contract, that's what it looks like to me," he said. "I don't know all the details and all those kind of things. I just know we signed a contract. It was a shorter version than maybe some."

Gillispie's attorney, Demetrios Anaipakos, said Wednesday that Gillispie prefers to let the lawsuit speak for itself for now. He said it was appropriate that it be filed in Texas rather than Kentucky.

"This lawsuit belongs in Dallas because that is where the University of Kentucky contacted coach Gillispie," he said. "That is where they negotiated their deal, and that is where parties reach the understanding he would be a new head coach."

Gillispie still has a home near Lexington. He is not coaching right now.

Former Memphis coach John Calipari agreed to an eight-year, $31.65 million deal in April to succeed Gillispie as Kentucky's head coach. Barnhart stressed at the news conference introducing Calipari that it was a full employment contract and had been signed.

Calipari has already attracted some of the top high school recruits in the country to Lexington, including securing two star players Gillispie had recruited.

Memphis' Rose may have cheated on SAT

http://espn.go.com/chicago/news/story?id=4210798

The Memphis men's basketball program has been charged by the NCAA with major violations during the 2007-08 season under former coach John Calipari.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal first reported the story on Wednesday after obtaining a letter detailing the allegations through the Freedom of Information Act.

The allegations include "knowing fraudulence or misconduct" on an SAT exam by a player on the 2007-08 team.

The wording of the letter to Memphis indicates that the player in question only competed during the 2007-08 season and the 2008 NCAA tournament. The player's name was redacted in the letter due to privacy laws.

Sources told ESPN.com Wednesday night that Derrick Rose was the player in question. He played only one season for Memphis before being selected as the first pick in the 2008 draft by the Chicago Bulls.

The letter also alleged that Memphis provided $2,260 in free travel to road games for an associate of a player. The NCAA is charging Memphis with a failure to monitor.

If the NCAA allegations are proven true, Memphis might have to forfeit their NCAA-record 38 victories and Final Four appearance.

Luther Topps, who coached Rose's AAU team, told the Chicago Sun-Times he's known about the NCAA's investigation for several weeks and said he thinks the NCAA believes a former high school teammate of Rose's took the SAT for Rose.

Memphis received the notice of allegations on Jan. 16 and is scheduled to appear before the NCAA Committee on Infractions June 6.

A source within the Memphis program told ESPN.com "the current team will 100 percent not be penalized.'' The source does not expect a reduction in scholarships.

Calipari left Memphis for Kentucky on March 31. The NCAA has requested his presence at the hearing, although he is not named in the report.

"Even though I'm not at risk, I will fully cooperate with the NCAA hearing," Calipari said in a statement. "... [I] will have no further comment."

Calipari is expected to talk to the NCAA before Tuesday when he leaves for China, Kentucky representative DeWayne Peevy said. A year ago, Calipari and a collection of Conference USA all-stars traveled to China to exchange basketball ideas. Calipari would likely speak to the Committee on Infractions in a teleconference since he wouldn't be able to be at the June hearing.

Athletic director R.C. Johnson told ESPN.com on Wednesday night that Memphis has been investigating the test score and women's golf infractions for months.

"We still have to determine if the test score was fraudulent," Johnson said.

After that is determined, Memphis will investigate whether anyone at the school knew about a fraudulent test.

Johnson said the student-athlete who is alleged to have been involved is cooperating. Johnson said if something were to be discovered in terms of violations, "nothing would happen to [current Memphis coach] Josh Pastner."

Peevy told ESPN.com on Wednesday that Calipari was up front with Kentucky prior to his hiring. He said Kentucky was made aware of the allegation.

"It's important to note that there are no allegations against John Calipari in the report," Peevy said.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Kentucky said "It is normal procedure for the NCAA to ask a former coach to participate in a hearing. Therefore, Coach Calipari will participate as requested.

"Coach John Calipari has received a letter from the NCAA stating that he is not at risk of being charged with any NCAA violations in this case.

"This is a University of Memphis issue and the University of Kentucky will not comment any further."

Kentucky assured its boosters when it hired Calipari it had done its due diligence in checking his background.

"Sandy Bell and the compliance folks talked with the NCAA and checked records and facts," Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart said April 1 when Calipari was introduced at Kentucky. "David Price, other people at the high level with the NCAA, assured us how much they enjoyed working with John in that process.

"We have all had our critics about how we manage and lead our programs. For seven years I've had my share and I've been through it. Our commitment at the University of Kentucky to compliance and discipline has always been strong, and that will not change. John's commitment to compliance and discipline has always been strong, and that will not change."

Interestingly, Price, the NCAA's vice president of enforcement, issued the NCAA letter sent to Memphis that detailed the infractions.

Calipari has been involved in NCAA violations in the past. After his 1995-96 Final Four season at Massachusetts, it was discovered center Marcus Camby had accepted money and gifts from two sports agents. The NCAA forced UMass to forfeit all 35 victories from that season and vacate its Final Four appearance and banner.

Meet 24,000 of the most friendly people one could ever meet

If you ever stop by Kentucky, come by Rupp Arena. You will meet 24,000 friendly people and an experience you won't forget.

Ashley Judd - college's most beautiful sports fan - blog #1

Bad Kentucky Players Leaving - the mess is still far from over

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090526/SPORTS03/905260411/1002/sports/Trio+leaving+UK+basketball+team

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Jared Carter, A.J. Stewart and Donald Williams will not return to the University of Kentucky men's basketball team, UK announced Tuesday.

Carter, a 7-2 senior, will not seek a fifth year, after sitting out the majority of the 2006-07 season due to a shoulder injury. The Georgetown, Ky., native finished his career with the Wildcats averaging 1.0 points and 1.1 rebounds in 42 games.

"I've enjoyed my experience at UK and will remember all the people and players I've met along the way, especially Mr. Keightley," Carter said in a release, referring to Mr. Wildcat Bill Keightley. "I'm looking forward to moving on with my life and am excited to see what professional opportunities await me."

Stewart and Donald Williams are both seeking to transfer.

Stewart, a 6-7 sophomore, averaged 2.0 points and 1.5 rebounds this season. He shot 82 percent from the free throw line, while averaging 5.7 minutes per game.

"I appreciate Coach Calipari and the staff being truthful with me," Stewart said in a release. "I want to further my career both academically and athletically at a school where more playing time is available. I know that coach will do anything possible to find a great situation for me."

Williams, a 6-3 freshman, did not see any action in 2009.

"My time at Kentucky was a great experience," Williams said in a release. "I developed great friendships with my teammates; the environment was great; the fans showed us a lot of love; my teachers were great. It was just a good experience for me and a wonderful opportunity to improve myself, being around different guys from different areas. Even though I had to sit out this year, I would have liked to have played and helped, but with coach leaving, sometimes it just happens that way."

UK - all time in wins and winning pct

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_teams_with_the_most_victories_in_NCAA_Division_I_men's_college_basketball

W L PCT

1 Kentucky 1988 635 .758
2 North Carolina 1984 703 .738
3 Kansas 1970 793 .713
4 Duke 1876 815 .697
5 Syracuse 1753 806 .685
6 Temple 1711 960 .641
7 St. John's 1686 868 .660
8 UCLA 1672 726 .697
9 Pennsylvania 1657 949 .636
10 Notre Dame 1651 908 .645
11 Indiana 1641 909 .644
12 Utah 1637 858 .656
13 Illinois 1609 853 .654
14 Western Kentucky 1602 780 .673
15 Oregon State 1594 1180 .575
16 Louisville 1587 831 .656
17 Texas 1586 945 .627
18 Brigham Young 1578 994 .614
19 Washington 1574 1056 .599
20 Arizona 1568 858 .646
21 Purdue 1565 927 .628
22 Cincinnati 1553 915 .629
23 Princeton 1552 986 .612
24 West Virginia 1550 972 .615
25 Bradley 1537 1006 .604

Kentucky Cheerleaders - 17 National Titles and counting!

http://www.ukathletics.com/genrel/011809aaa.html

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Dominance is the only word that is needed to describe the UK cheerleading team. For the 17th time in school history, the Kentucky Wildcats are home of the Universal Cheerleading Association National Championship trophy.

The back-to-back national champions have now claimed the national championship trophy 13 times since 1995. During that stretch, Kentucky only lost possession of the trophy in 2007 and 2003. Before 1995, Kentucky won the 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1992 national championships.

Kentucky won the competition by a margin of 14.5 points on Sunday night. Kentucky finished with a score of 473.5 out of 500 with the next closest being Alabama with 459 points and UCF with 454 points. Rounding out the top five was Memphis in fourth, and Louisiana and Kansas tied for fifth. Other Southeastern Conference schools in the top 15 were Tennessee, who tied for eight with Cincinnati, and Mississippi State and Mississippi finishing 11th and 12th, respectfully.

"This one was special for us because this year there were several really good teams here," cheerleading Coach Jomo Thompson said. "We had a great routine, but Alabama and UCF drilled their routines as well, so for us to win by 14.5 really is something special."

Thompson said that he was also excited about Alabama finishing in second place because former UK assistant David McDowell is now a coach there. Thompson said they talked about wanting to finish in the top-two spots and was pleased that it happened. McDowell was a UK cheerleader from 2001 to 2003 and took over assistant coaching honors from 2004 to 2006.

Thompson said he is most excited about bringing the trophy back to all the UK fans and great people at Kentucky.

"I am so excited that we are bringing back our 17th national championship trophy to the Bluegrass," Thompson said. "I am happy to bring this trophy back to the fans and so glad that we represent the University and everyone at Rupp Arena."



Senior Randi Bishop and the dance team perform at Rupp Arena wih the Wildcat
Dance Team Finishes Seventh Overall
The University of Kentucky dance team finished in a tie for seventh place this weekend at the 2009 College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championships. The National Championships were produced by the Universal Cheerleaders Association and the Universal Dance Association.

The top-10 finish is one of many for the squad at the UDA National Championships. In 2000, the team finished in fourth place at this event. Kentucky shares the seventh-place finish with Louisiana State. Tennessee took home the top honor this weekend followed by Florida State, Minnesota, Cincinnati and Wisconsin-Madison rounding out the top five. Michigan finished in sixth place with Michigan State finishing eighth, Central Florida ninth and Memphis 10th. Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arizona, Rutgers, Alabama and Mississippi finished 11th through 17th, respectfully.

Most of the dance team's success has come in the United Spirit Association College Nationals. In the USA Nationals, the Blue and White have gathered six top-four finishes since 2003. Kentucky has finished third in the last two years and second in 2006. In 2005, the squad won the national championship, finishing first in the jazz category. Before winning the national championship, the team finished in fourth place in 2004 and third place in 2003.

UK dance team head coach Cathy Coyle said the team was hoping for a top-10 finish and is proud they achieved that goal. She said the team's motto heading into the weekend was "one team, one dream, believe."

UK women - most beautiful on earth

Calathes to turn pro

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/sec/2009-05-23-florida-nick-calathes-pro_N.htm

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida guard Nick Calathes, an All-SEC pick last season as a sophomore, has decided to turn pro.
Florida Today has learned that Calathes, who averaged a team-leading 17.2 points per game, is negotiating a deal to play for the Greek team Panathinaikos rather than return for his junior season at UF but is still interested in the NBA. His departure leaves Erving Walker, a freshman last season, as the only scholarship point guard on the Florida roster. The Gators recruited several elite players but failed to sign any of them.

The 6-foot-5 Calathes, who is of Greek heritage and tried out unsuccessfully for that country's Olympic team last summer, has told Gators coach Billy Donovan of his decision. The school has not made any official announcement, pending a finalized agreement.

The Casselberry, Fla., native has also been working out for various NBA teams — including Dallas and Sacramento — and hopes to be a first-round draft pick. He is attending this weekend's NBA pre-draft camp in Chicago. While Calathes has not officially signed with an agent, he has let UF know he is leaving — regardless of his draft status.

SI.com currently does not have Calathes projected as a first-round draft pick or as one of the top point guards in the upcoming draft on June 25. Insidehoops.com, however, has him going 29th to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Underclassmen have until June 15 to pull their names out of the draft and return to college if they do not sign with an agent.

FIND MORE STORIES IN: Florida | Dallas | Chicago | Los Angeles | Sacramento | National Collegiate Athletic Association | Billy Donovan | Panathinaikos | Nick Calathes
Panathinaikos has won more than two dozen Greek national championships and five Euro League titles. His deal is believed to be worth more than $1 million.

Calathes was the SEC co-freshman of the year in 2008 and last season was a first-team All-SEC selection and the only player in the nation to average better than 15 points, five rebounds and six assists a game. But he leaves UF without playing in the NCAA Tournament after two straight NIT berths.

Bio - Jamal Mashburn

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamal_Mashburn

Jamal Mashburn (born November 29, 1972 in New York City) is a retired American professional basketball player. A small forward, Mashburn was a prolific scorer in his 12 seasons in the league, with a career scoring average of 19.1 points per game. He is nicknamed "The Monster Mash"[citation needed] and "Masher".

Mashburn had a very successful basketball career in college, playing for the University of Kentucky. He was the fourth-leading career scorer for the Wildcats and a consensus First Team All-American by his junior year, prompting him to declare himself eligible for the 1993 NBA Draft. Selected 4th overall by the Dallas Mavericks, he was very successful as a rookie, leading all rookies with 19.2 points per game and breaking seven separate Mavericks rookie records along the way to an All-Rookie Team selection.

In his second year, along with third-year pro Jim Jackson and rookie Jason Kidd (collectively known as 'Triple J'), Mashburn led the Dallas Mavericks to the biggest turnaround in the NBA that year. He is the third-youngest player to score 50 points in an NBA game (LeBron James is the youngest). He also broke many franchise records and blossomed into one of the best scoring forwards in the league.

However, injuries reduced Mashburn's value and he was traded to the Miami Heat in the middle of the 1996-97 season. He played a reduced role in the Heat's offense, so his offensive production dipped. In 2000, he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets where, as leader of a young squad of players, he took on more of the scoring load and in 2003 was selected to the All-Star Game in Atlanta, playing for the East. In his first All-Star appearance, he scored 10 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 14 minutes of play in a 155-145 double-overtime loss to the West.

Mashburn continued his stellar play in the 2003-04 season, but injuries plagued him for most of the year and he managed to play in only 19 games. Bothered by problems with his right knee (patella femoral irritation), he decided to sit out the 2004-05 season in hopes that his knee would recover. He had microfracture surgery performed on his knee, a risky surgery that not all players have been able to recover from.

Despite his decision to sit out the year due to his knee, the Hornets still traded Mashburn, along with Rodney Rogers, to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for forward Glenn Robinson on February 24, 2005. Mashburn was never able to recover from his chronic knee problems and never saw court time for Philadelphia. He was on the injured list for all of the 2004-05 season and the inactive list for 2005-06. On March 24, 2006, the 76ers waived Mashburn, who subsequently announced his retirement from the NBA. He had career averages of 19.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.

Mashburn lives in Miami, Florida with his wife Michelle, his daughter Taylor, his son Jamal also known as "J" and his golden retriever Scooby. He currently works for ESPN and appears on NBA Fastbreak.

UK roster not set

http://rutgers.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=948508

John, your question is the next question to be asked concerning Kentucky recruiting and its 2009 class. If Meeks does come back (and there is some optimism in the Kentucky program that Meeks will return for the 2009-10 season), Kentucky would have 17 players on scholarship, four over the limit of 13.

Something has to give, and academics are the first thing that will shake up the Kentucky roster. At least three current Wildcats are in questionable academic standing, and at least three Kentucky recruits have yet to make it through the NCAA Clearinghouse. Sources closely involved with DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe say that both prospects have the class work and standardized test score to make it through the Clearinghouse. John Wall, however, is still waiting for his test score, and there are also questions concerning his core curriculum.

So, although Calipari has signed one of the best recruiting classes in college basketball history, the class is not in the bank yet.

If the academic component doesn't drop the roster down to 13 scholarship players, then I'm certain that the players at the bottom of the roster who need to leave will easily be convinced that it is in their interest to transfer to a program where they can get more playing time. A number of mid-major programs are ready to pick up potential casualties in the Billy Gillispie-to-Calipari transition.

Will Jodie Meeks return? Andy Katz seems to think so

http://www.straitpinkie.com/sports/cats/andy-katz-anticipates-jodie-meeks-will-return-to-uk/

I posted a full update on Jodie Meeks and the NBA Draft last night so make sure you check that out, but there is some new information Jodie from Andy Katz’s blog this morning:

Kentucky’s Jodie Meeks has even more reason to return to play for John Calipari now that John Wall has committed to play the point. Having Wall alongside him would take more pressure off Meeks. NBA sources expect Calipari to convince Meeks to return just like Patrick Patterson did last week.

Could this turn out to be the best off season in the history of college sports? The roster is obviously not finalized yet, but it’s already safe to call the work that Calipari has done “Extreme Makeover: Big Blue Edition”, and his handiwork will become even more of a masterpiece if Jodie Meeks elects to return.

UK recruits ranked number one by most experts

The University of Kentucky has landed the best college basketball recruiting class of 2009. This is undisputed. The only question that remains: Is this the best recruiting class of all time?

There are many Web sites that offer opinions on high school sports prospects, but no site covers this better than www.Rivals.com (now part of Yahoo! Sports). According to Rivals rankings, Kentucky has commitments from the four five-star prospects, including the top two overall players.

Here is the list of Kentucky’s 2009 recruiting class:

1. John Wall, point guard, No. 1 overall prospect
2. DeMarcus Cousins, power forward, No. 2 overall prospect
3. Daniel Orton, center, No. 22 overall prospect
4. Eric Bledsoe, point guard, No. 23 overall prospect
5. Jon Hood, shooting guard, No. 40 overall, “Mr. Basketball” from Kentucky
6. Darnell Dodson, small forward, transfer from Miami Dade Community College

On paper, this is a very impressive class. But there are several problems with comparing recruiting class. One major issue with judging classes is that the fourth-best player one year could be much better than the fourth-best player the next year. Also, one outstanding player can be worth two or even three very good players. A third problem is that, in this day and age, so many great players turn pro after one year.

We will not be able to judge this Kentucky class for several seasons. But we can take a look back at some of the best recruiting classes in recent memory. Here is a look at three of the best.

Duke, 1997
At the time, this class was viewed as one of the best ever. Coach Mike Krzyzewski brought in three top 10 players in Elton Brand, Shane Battier and Chris Burgess. They also signed point guard William Avery. This class was terrific on paper and also performed well on the court. While Chris Burgess, dubbed by one scout as “a cross between Larry Bird and Bill Walton,” did not pan out, Brand, Battier and Avery all went on to great success at Duke.

In their sophomore seasons, this class lost to UConn in the 1999 championship game. Then Brand and Avery left for the NBA. After they left, Battier stepped up during his junior and senior seasons. This class was good because it had both immediate star power (Brand) and good sustained play (Battier).

Ohio State, 2006
Coach Thad Matta landed five good players, none bigger than the top overall prospect Greg Oden. Dubbed the “Thad Five”, the group also consisted of shooting guard Daequen Cook, small forward David Lighty, point guard Mike Conley, Jr. and junior college transfer Othello Hunter. (Conley was actually the fourth-rated player in this class.)

This is where we have to decide how we are going to judge this new wave of recruiting classes. With so many players only staying in college for one season, it is difficult to rank current recruiting class on an all-time list. I mean, who is more valuable, a one-year, Kevin Durant rental or four years of solid play from Shane Battier? Durant posted much better numbers, but he did not win a single NCAA Tournament game.

When all is said and done, this class will go down as one of the most talented of all time. However, I cannot rank them as one of the best of all time. Oden, Cook and Conley each played only one season before jetting to the NBA, while Lighty was the Buckeyes’ best all-around player last season.

In their one season together, this team made it all the way to the NCAA championship game, before losing to Florida. Had the big three stayed one more season and won a championship, they may very well have gone down as the best recruiting class of all time. But one season is too small a window to even rank them on an all-time list.

Michigan, 1991
Nicknamed the “Fab Five,” this is the gold standard by which all recruiting classes are judged. The class consisted of Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson. Five is misleading, as this class really had four stars. Webber, Howard, Rose and King were all selected to the 1991 McDonald’s All-American team (there were 20 players on this team).

This class was the definition of top-heavy. I have heard more than one scout say that Webber was the most dominating high school player they have ever seen. (Presumably, these people have never seen LeBron James.) Bringing four star players to one college in the same year is impressive. Their hype as well as their play put this class over the top.

What was great about this team was that the youngsters led the way right from the start. During their freshman season, they lost in the national championship game, behind four freshman starters. The next season, Michigan again made the title game, losing to North Carolina. This was the “Webber timeout” game.

After this game, Webber left for the NBA. Rose and Howard stayed for one more season, where the Wolverines lost in the Elite Eight to eventual champs Arkansas.

While this team never won it all, it has to go down as the best recruiting class of my lifetime. I remember watching Webber, Howard and Rose. It was amazing to see a group of freshman change the game the way these kids did.

Kentucky, 2009
As I said, we will have to wait a few years to judge this class. All I know right now is that Kentucky’s team looks terrific on paper. In addition to their six new players, the team also had two first-team All-SEC players last season, shooting guard Jodie Meeks and power forward Patrick Patterson. Patterson is returning next season, while Meeks is deciding whether or not to enter the NBA draft. If Meeks returns, we could be looking at one of the deepest teams of all time.

When John Calipari left Memphis for Kentucky, he said he planned on restoring the tradition of excellence that is synonymous with Kentucky basketball. It now looks like he could do that in year one. Granted, he’s doing it at Memphis’ expense by taking his best recruits with him to Kentucky, but it would still be impressive.

As for this incoming Kentucky class, they are probably only going to have one year together. Similar to Ohio State’s 2006 recruits, it is difficult to rank a class on an all-time list if they only spend one season together. But perhaps this class will be different. Calipari is bringing in a lot of talented players, so this class may be able to survive if a few go pro. Then again, does anyone remember the one year Jimmy King and Ray Jackson spent at Michigan without the big three? I know I don’t.

John Wall commits to UK

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/ncaa/05/19/wall.kentucky/index.html

When John Wall, the No. 1-rated point guard in the high school class of 2009, sat down for his final recruiting-deliberation meeting with advisor Brian Clifton late on Monday night, Clifton asked him a point-blank question.

"John, what do you want to do?"

Much of the college basketball nation had been waiting months for the answer, as the John Wall Sweepstakes turned into the John Wall Saga, with as many as eight schools still in the hunt for his services in April. The 6-foot-4 product out of Raleigh, N.C.'s Word of God Christian Academy had nearly committed to Memphis, but re-opened the process when coach John Calipari left for Kentucky. The number of angles into Wall's recruitment was overwhelming: He was a North Carolina fan, and Roy Williams phoned him from the Final Four, but never offered a scholarship. Wall's mother was an N.C. State fan. His advisor and former AAU coach, Clifton, was high on Duke.

Clifton's brother, Dwon, another one of Wall's former AAU coaches, was hired by Baylor. Florida pitched him on NBA-style pick-and-rolls; Kansas pitched him on joining a national championship-caliber team. Miami surprisingly secured Wall's last official campus visit, and he nearly committed there, too. Kentucky had been the destination for Wall's first out-of-state visit, back when Billy Gillispie was the coach, and once Calipari arrived in Lexington, he put the full-court press on Wall, and continued to do so even after signing another five-star point guard, Eric Bledsoe. The long-standing feeling amid the chaos was that the Wildcats remained in the driver's seat.

On Monday, Wall finally had an answer for Clifton: "I want to go to Kentucky."

Calipari's sales pitch won out. Wall cited his relationship with the coach "as the thing that pushed [Kentucky] over." Calipari had, Clifton said, managed to assuage any concerns about a glut at the point-guard position in Lexington. "They told John that even though he'd have to fight for the position, he was their guy," Clifton said. "They said they were recruiting him to start, and to run the team. And John was convinced."

A Kentucky source confirmed to SI.com that they'd been contacted on Monday night with the news. Clifton said he believed Calipari was at Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals in Pittsburgh when he received a text message about Wall's decision. The Kentucky coach they first spoke with was assistant Rod Strickland, whom Clifton said was also instrumental in swaying Wall to Lexington due to his NBA experience at point guard. When they got Calipari on the phone later in the evening, Clifton said the coach's first words were, "Thank you."

It was an understandable time to be thankful. Calipari already had Rivals.com's No. 1 recruiting class for 2009-10 prior to Wall's commitment, but with him Kentucky appears to assembled one of the best recruiting classes of the decade. It includes a second five-star point guard in Bledsoe, a 6-1 prospect from Birmingham, Ala.; two five-star big men in 6-9 DeMarcus Cousins of Mobile, Ala., and 6-10 Daniel Orton of Oklahoma City; a four-star shooting guard in 6-6 John Hood of Madisonville, Ky.; and a four-star junior college small forward in 6-7 Darnell Dodson of Miami-Dade Community College. "We'll have a lot of pressure on us," Wall told Scout.com. "Everyone says we'll be the best class in a while, but it'll be bumpy because a couple of us will be freshmen. We'll get on the right page and make a good run at it."

The expectation is that Wall will be handed the reins to Calipari's Dribble Drive offense in much the same way that true freshmen Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans were at Memphis the past two seasons. Both players were one-and-done at the college level; Rose went on to be the No. 1 pick in the 2008 NBA draft, while Evans is a projected Lottery Pick in next month's draft.

Wall, who has Rose-like athleticism, is widely considered to be the top prospect in a loaded 2010 draft pool. Because he turns 19 this fall and is in his fifth year of high school, rumors swirled in April that Wall might explore a jump straight to the NBA. But, as Wall told SI.com then, "I already promised my mom and my dad, before he died [passing away from cancer when Wall was 9], that I was going to college, so I'm not even thinking about the NBA this year."

Multiple NBA sources indicated that Wall would have been a highly coveted pick even without a year of college experience. "He would have gone in the top three this year, guaranteed," one NBA executive told SI.com.

Now Wall will be at the helm of a team with four other potential NBA players in Cousins, Orton, Bledsoe and junior power forward Patrick Patterson, who passed up on becoming a first-round pick in order to come back to Lexington for another season. Swingman Jodie Meeks, a senior-to-be, still has his name in the NBA draft pool but is likely to return to Kentucky as well. After averaging 23.7 last season, he'd be a leading candidate for first-team All-America status and provide much of the scoring punch in an offense with Wall at the point. "Kentucky is going to do a lot of good for John," Clifton said, "and I think he's going to do them proud, because there are a lot of people there who've been thirsting to get back to those days of old, when Kentucky was king of the hill."

Patterson to return for 09-10 Season!

http://www.kentucky.com/978/story/789424.html

Citing the chance to play for a national championship-caliber team next season and graduate next spring, big man Patrick Patterson has decided to withdraw his name from the 2009 NBA Draft.

The University of Kentucky made Patterson's intentions known Friday afternoon, leaving teammate Jodie Meeks as the only Wildcats player in the NBA Draft.

Meeks' father acknowledged his surprise that Patterson withdrew from the draft.

"If it's the right thing for him and his family, I'm happy for him," Orestes Meeks said. "My deal is more surprise than anything else. He couldn't have done any workouts (for NBA teams) because the workouts haven't started yet."

His son won't begin workouts for NBA teams for more than a week, the elder Meeks said. Meeks' decision to stay in the draft or return to Kentucky would come after the workouts.

"He's just starting the process," Orestes Meeks said. "There's no update because nothing has happened yet."

Meeks, who led UK and the Southeastern Conference in scoring last season, is one of about 50 players to be invited to the NBA's Pre-Draft Camp in Chicago later this month.

When asked to put that invitation in perspective, NBA consultant Chris Ekstrand said, "The draft has 60 picks. Draw your own conclusions."

The elder Meeks noted that Patterson's return enhances UK's attraction for Jodie Meeks.

"I think it'll be a very big tug," Orestes Meeks said. "He knows how good they'll be. They'll be extremely good."

Patterson, a 6-foot-9 forward, led the SEC and ranked 11th in the country in field goal percentage (60.3 percent) last season. He was one of the league's most productive players.

"I have the chance to graduate in three years, which is important to me and my family," Patterson said in a statement released by UK. "I want to help Kentucky compete for a national title, and even more than that win its eighth national championship. I'm also really excited about playing for Coach Cal and developing my game in the dribble-drive offense."

UK's first-year coach, John Calipari, expressed happiness with getting to coach Patterson next season.

"In the month that I've been at Kentucky, I've been blown away by Patrick Patterson," Calipari said in a UK news release. "He is one of the nicest individuals I've met and one of the fiercest competitors that I've been around. I'm thrilled I get to coach him next year."

As for the curious timing of Patterson's withdrawal before working out for teams, Ekstrand speculated that Patterson could have learned already where he projected in the draft. The NBA's Undergraduate Advisory Committee could have given Patterson an estimate by now on where he might be drafted, Ekstrand said.

Earlier this spring, Calipari spoke of Patterson being able to make himself a lottery pick in the 2010 NBA Draft if he returned to Kentucky next season. That supported the general view of Patterson being taken in the second half of the first round at the earliest.

UK plans to make Patterson and Calipari available to answer media questions on Monday.

Patterson was the only player in the SEC to rank in the top five in scoring (17.9 ppg) and rebounding (9.3 rpg). Patterson also led the league in double-doubles with 15, the eighth most in a single season in UK history.

Dick Vitale, ESPN's Hall of Fame commentator on college basketball, saw Patterson's return as making Kentucky a "legit top-10, top-15 team" next season.

Vitale noted that UK remains in contention for point guard John Wall, generally considered the nation's top high school prospect. Plus, Meeks could return.

"If they get John Wall and Jodie Meeks comes back, they'll be ready to take on the Atlanta Hawks," Vitale said. "Never mind the NCAA title. They'll be going for the NBA title."

John Wall arrested

http://ballhype.com/story/john_wall_flies_above_the_law/