Peach Jam update, Andrew Harrison has a big night, Jamal Murray makes his debut, Skal has a promising start to his NBA career, more trouble for UofL Hooker Scandal, and more!
The July evaluation period is the most important time for recruiting of the year and the Peach Jam is the most important event during this time period. Usually after the event, John Calipari leaves with his biggest targets and he knows who he is going after and who is really interested.
Here are some names to watch out for in the coming months in regards to the Kentucky Wildcats and the class of 2017:
Trae Young- Point Guard
Nick Richards- Center
DeAndre Ayton-Center/Power Forward
John Petty- Shooting Guard
Mohamed Bamba- Power Forward
Kevin Knox- Small Forward
Hamidou Diallo- Shooting Guard
Quade Green- Point Guard
Jarred Vanderbilt- Small Forward
Lonnie Walker- Shooting Guard
Obviously we will hear more names as the months advance, but I think these are the key guys. Trae Young seems to be the guy that Calipari wants the most at this juncture and he's going all in for him. I feel good about getting him, but Quade Green is a nice consolation prize. Green recently stated that between Duke and Kentucky, it's all about who commits first between him and Young.
I also feel good about John Petty and Cal is pushing pretty hard for Knox, but Vanderbilt seems like Kentucky's to lose at small forward. DeAndre Ayton just popped back on the radar. There have been academic issues with him and there were questions of whether or not he would even go to college. He has been telling the press at the Peach Jam that he has been in contact with the NCAA and he is academically on track to go to college and that is what he intends to do.
Bamba is a freak athlete and would be Cal's choice for centers, but Duke is making a push and he seems to favor them at the moment. I think that is why Cal has gotten more serious about Nick Richards. Hamidou Diallo is one helluva athlete and a heavy Kentucky lean, but with what seems like an inevitable Petty commitment, Duke is picking up steam with Diallo.. Lonnie Walker is new on the scene for the 'Cats but Cal really seems to like what he has seen from the shooting guard at the Peach Jam.
Again, this is all in flux but I haven't seen Cal work this hard at a Peach Jam. He knows he has to land a monster class along with some guys that are going to stick around for years to come to solidify future seasons. Charles Matthews was supposed to be one of those guys but he opted to go elsewhere.
Tweets of the Day
How about @DrewRoc5 tonight?! 23 points, four rebounds and four assists. Floor general who deserves an opportunity in the league.
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) July 9, 2016
It's a big deal for Andrew Harrison in the summer league. His brother, Aaron Harrison, has been tearing it up for the Hornets and looks to be solid for a roster spot. Andrew's spot isn't as solidified as his brother's but this is a great start.
WKU commit Mitchell Robinson came to play against DeAndre Ayton. MR is alert/instinctual defensively. Promising skill offensive. Elite.
— Jerry Meyer (@jerrymeyer247) July 8, 2016
Robinson just stated that he would still welcome John Calipari and Kentucky in recruiting him. Stay tuned for that one.
Quickies
Kentucky extends Barnhart’s contract through 2022 - The University of Kentucky extended Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart’s deal through 2022 and offers retention bonuses and an enhanced retirement package as well as regular salary increases.
John Calipari says his mentor Larry Brown isn't done- In the midst of all of the human drama in Dallas, Texas, SMU coachLarry Brown decided to announce his resignation based upon the fact that the 75-year-old didn't like his new contract even though he recently put the program on probation. Brown is a hall of fame coach and the only coach to ever win the title in the NBA and in college. But he has now left three programs with postseason bans, Kansas and UCLA being the other two, so this part of his career cannot be ignored.
Keni Harrison not going to Rio - Former Wildcat Keni Harrison is not going to the 2016 Olympics. The former UK star and current American record-holder in the women’s 100-meter hurdles finished sixth in the finals on Friday in Eugene, Ore., and failed to make the Olympic team.
No. 1 recruits in 2017 and 2018 face off at Peach Jam, but both may skip college - DeAndre Ayton and Marvin Bagley played against each other Thursday, but could have NCAA issues. After a period of lack of contact, Ayton has again emerged as a priority for Kentucky.
Is Skal Labissiere finding his way early in the NBA Summer League?- He finished the game with 7 points, a steal, two blocks, and 8 rebounds in a blowout loss to the Raptors. The surprising part is the 8 rebounds he pulled down. If Skal finds success at the NBA level, will that be a positive or a negative for John Calipari and recruiting? He actually had a better night than fellow Wildcat and Kings teammate Willie Cauley-Stein who had 7 points and five rebounds.
Jamal Murray with solid debut in the summer league- Murray scored 14 points in the Nuggets win over the Timberwolves last night. As is his custom, Murray started slow, going scoreless in the first half. Murray admitted to being nervous in his debut. Rookie Kris Dunn of the T-Wolves led all scorers with 25 points.
More UofL Hooker drama!- The Bluegrass Embarrassment, aka the Louisville Cardinals basketball team, just can't seem to shake Katina Powell news. Powell is counter-suing UofL students that originally sued her because they claimed she devalued their degrees by having sex with their basketball players and recruits. A judge dismissed the original suit and there is a hearing for August 1st for the current suit is claiming that the students were extorting Powell in a frivolous lawsuit. Why aren't the students suing Rick Pitino, or Tom Jurich, or Russ Smith, or Montrezl Harrell, or any of the numerous players named in Powell's book? I've said it before and I'll say it again, I think the NCAA will come down with the hammer. This is too much of an ongoing black eye for college basketball.
EKU Player Charged With Criminal Mischief - Eastern Kentucky Football player and former Wildcat Patrick Graffree has been charged with criminal mischief, terrorist threatening and harassing communications. Graffree previously played at Kentucky. Last January, he was involved in a fight between UK and EKU Football players. Not very shocking given his antics involving Drew Barker.
Flashback Friday: Freddie Maggard’s 1991 UK Football Player Profile - Fresh out of the 1991 UK Football Media Guide, we have Freddie Maggard's player profile page for his senior season.
Team-first mentality followed Ormerod to UK and now into Hall of Fame - Former Sacred Heart and Kentucky point guard Carly Ormerod is being inducted into the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday. She played at Sacred Heart from 2002-05 and won three state titles and two state tourney MVP awards in that span. She was plagued by injuries in her last two years at UK, but the time being sidelined may have fueled a coaching career in her future.
Kyle Busch dominates Xfinity Race at Kentucky Speedway-Busch led 185 laps and the defending Sprint Cup champ looks to win the Quaker State 400 in the NASCAR race today.