More Validation of Kentucky’s Recruiting Class

Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports has once again confirmed Kentucky’s position atop the 2012 recruiting classes. He says the early favorite for the title was Arizona with four top-35 prospects, but Kentucky’s late signing of Nerlens Noel secured our rightful place atop college basketball recruiting classes. Following Kentucky are UCLA and Arizona. No other SEC teams made the Top 25- perhaps an early sign of how SEC play will go this season?

Here’s what Goodman has to say about Kentucky:

For the rest of the list, click here.

@KristenGeilKSR

Source: ksrcollege.com

Scout.com Analyzes UK’s Number One Class

In his infinite wisdom, Evan Daniels of Scout.com named Kentucky his number one recruiting class of 2012, despite a late push from UCLA. His article says that Nerlens Noel will be the defensive anchor, with Archie Goodwin and Alex Poythress as the leaders on offense. While Daniels believes that the new Cats are ripe with potential and will succeed in the dribble-drive offense, he also notes that expectations are high (duh, it’s Kentucky coming off a national championship season) and we lost basically all of our scoring.

My take? I’m not even nervous. Calipari is a seasoned vet when it comes to turning individuals with lots of raw potential into team-oriented players with the ability to crush souls. With the addition of 16 one hour practices over the summer, we have plenty of time to become the lean, mean, national championship winning machine that we know and love. It’ll be a fun ride.

Side note, congratulations to my little sister from graduating from high school yesterday. I’m more proud of this picture than I am of your diploma. 

Source: ksrcollege.com

How Worried Should We Be?

This is apparently what a worry wart looks like.

In the past 24 hours reports have broken that the NCAA is asking questions about our boy Nerlens Noel regarding his advisors, means of paying for unofficial visits, and academics. As usual, NYT college sports reporter Pete Thamel is spearheading the Kentucky witch hunt, but any time the NCAA launches an investigation, a negative outcome is a distinct possibility- especially when Kentucky is involved. Personally, I’m still not over our forced breakup with Enes.

So wistful.

So exactly how worried should Kentucky fans be that Nerlens Noel may eventually be ruled ineligible and leave a gaping hole in Kentucky’s quest for nine? Let’s break it down:

First, the NCAA is scrutinizing Noel’s relationships with Chris Driscoll (a former Providence assistant coach who volunteered for Noel’s local amateur team) and Errol Randolph (a former substitute teacher at Everett High School). Driscoll was banned from Tilton, Noel’s high school, whose officials have vaguely accused him of not having Noel’s best interests at heart. Randolph has in the past publicly listed a social media connection to sports agent Andy Miller, which has since been removed. While Driscoll seems to have somewhat of a shady past, there’s absolutely no damning evidence that would smear his relationship with Noel. Randolph denies a professional relationship with Andy Miller and has stated that the link appeared on his page because he was browsing Miller’s profile. As of now, then, it doesn’t seem like the NCAA has anything here; however, call me paranoid, but I feel like the NCAA can easily spin an innocent relationship into a rule-breaking affair. Projected heartache potential for UK fans: Medium to Low.

The concerns surrounding Noel’s finances center on his unofficial visits to Louisville and Kentucky. Universities can not pay for recruits’ unofficial visits; Noel’s camp says his father paid for the visits. The NCAA seems to just be hyper-vigilant in this case, which makes sense for the most coveted recruit of the year. PHP: Low.

Finally, with Nerlens suddenly deciding to reclassify to the class of 2012 and graduating a year early, questions have risen regarding his academics and whether he’s been on top of his school game. Admittedly, he’s probably had to work extra hard to make up for missing class and assignments due to college visits and all-star games. However, Noel’s headmaster has said that he expects Noel to finish all his course work this week and graduate on time. Noel is also expected to take classes over the summer to ensure that he qualifies academically for a scholarship, which is typical of basketball players at Kentucky. In this case, the NCAA is probably just doing its job since Noel’s reclassification hinges on his school credits checking out. PHP: Low.

All in all, this “controversy” just seems to be another case of Pete Thamel having too much free time on his hands during the off-season. The triumvirate of UK, Calipari, and the number one recruit in the country is just too much for the NCAA NOT to investigate, and it should all check out with time. Take a deep breath and knock on wood- we should be in the clear for nine.

Happy birthday Jon Hood! @KristenGeilKSR

Source: ksrcollege.com

Adios, 8pril

What a month. Today is the last day of April, and for having only thirty days, it felt like the longest month of my life. I think I finally learned to “savor the ride,” as everyone advised us to the entire season. Not a day has gone by where I haven’t worn a UK championship t-shirt,  or watched a video of Woodland and Euclid after the final buzzer and teared up for a moment.or stared lovingly at my front page of the Herald-Leader from Tuesday, April 3rd. I feel absolutely no qualms about saying that even VH1 would agree that this was the BEST MONTH EVER.

Before we move on from 8pril and into the season already known as Dy9asty, let’s take a quick look back at what April showers brought us (hint: much more than May flowers).

First and foremost, the men’s basketball team brought the glory back to the Commonwealth with the long-anticipated eighth national championship title. Combining talent unmatched by any other team in the nation and a brotherhood that was apparent to anyone with eyes, the Cats achieved a 38-2 record and John Calipari’s first national title. Ever since he was hired three years ago, Calipari has put his heart and soul into reinvigorating the program after the Dark Days of BCG, and his coronation was completed on a Monday night in New Orleans. The fans reveled in the streets, letting loose fourteen years worth of pent-up celebration efforts, and the best part is that everyone involved truly believes we can continue this high for at least the next season, if not longer.

Where’s Kristen?

But since Kentucky fans constantly have “On to the Next One” playing in their mental soundtrack, it was barely a week before we turned our attention to next year’s Wildcats. Shabazz Muhammad and Nerlens Noel, the two most highly coveted recruits from next year’s class, announced their decisions in an ESPN Signing Day special. Muhammad went first and declared his official move to the City of Angels, sending UK fans into a brief panic. Nerlens, however, saved the day and revealed his decision in the most dramatic way possible:

That picture will never get old. 

With our recruiting class solidly anchored, the time was finally right for UK’s starting five underclassmen to officially declare for the NBA draft. On April 18th, Calipari sat surrounded by Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb, Marquis Teague, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Anthony Davis, who surprised absolutely no one by officially committing to the 2012 NBA drafts. BBN collectively wished them well, and the boys have reciprocated our appreciation by taking Kentucky by a storm, traveling constantly to all ends of the state to give fans autographs, pictures, and legitimate prom poses with these future NBA stars. The National Championship trophy also went our tour with Coach Cal, Matt Jones, and a fancy bus. The most important thing we learned from this road trip, aside from the fact the Calipari and his players are completely dedicated to the programs’ fans, is that Shoney’s in Elizabethtown was recently remodeled. 

I’m really hoping UK Athletics uses pictures like this in a new, Travelocity Gnome-style marketing campaign. Just a suggestion.

Post-season recruiting is in full session right now, and it’s looking like that will have to keep us occupied until the NBA draft on June 28th. The Cats have their eye on Anthony Bennett, whose enigmatic approach to his recruitment has everyone speculating. He’s not set to make a decision for another month or so, so there’s a lot of sitting, waiting, and wishing to be done in Big Blue Nation this May.

Finally, and honestly one of the month’s events that I have found the most genuinely thrilling, our editor in chief Ally Tucker has gotten The Call up to the main KSR site. She absolutely deserves her new position of weekend editor, and it seems like forever ago when the two of us were embarking on our original blogging adventures at Tuckers Tales (check it out for some giggles… and remember, it’s TuckersTales.net, not TuckersTales.com. Two VERY different sites). Ally has put in an incredible effort when it comes to promoting KSR College and keeping it functioning on a daily basis, and I can’t wait to see how she’ll help take KSR to the next level. This is how excited I am, and you should be too:

And on that note, goodbye, 8pril. It was unbelievable while it lasted. But now…

@KristenGeilKSR for the non-basketball news we face in the imminent future, including Derby, Olympics, and Monday Night Karaoke. Also, Ally, I really wanted to insert one of those pictures of you dressed up as Michael Jackson for his tribute skate at Champs, but I refrained. Figured it wasn’t professional. However, if anyone reading this wants to see it, get at me. 


Source: ksrcollege.com

2013′s Jimmie Taylor has UK in his Final Five

Jimmie Taylor, a 6’10 center in the class of 2013, has narrowed down his college choices, and UK has made the cut. According to Ben Roberts of Next Cats, Taylor will also consider Georgetown, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Alabama (Taylor lives in Greensboro, AL). Kentucky is the only school that has not made Taylor an offer, and he plans on visiting Lexington, Vanderbilt, and Georgetown in the fall.

ESPN rates Taylor as 19th in his class, and like Anthony Davis and now Nerlens Noel, Taylor is considered an effective shot-blocker with great length and the ability to impact a game without necessarily scoring the most points (see also: Anthony Davis in the national championship game).  At 210 lbs, conventional wisdom says he’s a little skinny to be a dominant center, but we who have seen Anthony Davis play in person know better. When describing Taylor, ESPN also uses the phrase “he rebounds the ball with an attitude,” which I can only assume means that he gives a sassy snap of his fingers after hauling one in.

Looking at his list of schools, it seems obvious the Taylor wants to play basketball in the SEC.With Nerlens Noel already expected to leave after one year, Taylor seems a natural continuation in Calipari’s latest line of shot-blocking centers. However, Calipari will need to step his game up to battle Alabama’s home court advantage in the recruitment of Taylor. Cal has had a lot of success recruiting players right out from under Alabama’s nose- DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe- and Jimmie Taylor would be a great get for the class of 2013.

Here’s your requisite highlights video. Let’s get him.

@KristenGeilKSR

Source: kentuckysportsradio.com

Nerlens Went To Prom, Too

Looks like Eloy has some competition for Kentucky basketball’s Prom King. Nerlens Noel found time to stop by Henry Clay High School’s prom at the Hyatt in downtown Lexington on Saturday night.

It may not be traditional formal attire, but the flat top fade is classy enough to make up for it. I can only hope he stayed for the Cha-Cha Slide.

Side note- I continue to be amazed at Noel’s natural knack for good PR. Between him and Calipari, no baby in BBN has gone unkissed, no elderly woman has had to ask for help crossing the street, and apparently no prom must occur without a celebrity appearance. Keep it up, Nerlens.

@KristenGeilKSR. 

Source: ksrcollege.com

Friday Night Notes

Like Friday Night Lights, but with prettier girls. I’ll make this quick, because if you’re in the same celebratory mood as I am, you probably don’t want to spend too much time reading blog posts on your computer right now.

-Speaking of celebratory moods, UK fans have a lot to rejoice about this week. Besides the fact that our national championship is still less than two weeks old, John Calipari worked his magic to secure a commitment from Nerlens Noel, a 6″10 one-man swat team and the number one recruit in his class. After losing Shabazz Muhammad to UCLA, Nerlens’ Nerlens’s Noel’s commitment was even more valuable for the Cats, and the general consensus around BBN seems to be we got what we needed.

-And because Noel’s commitment already has Kentucky fans salivating over the thought of next season, now seems like a perfect time to look at some pre-season rankings. CBS Sports named Kentucky its top team in their preseason rankings, with Indiana, Louisville, Kansas, and Michigan rounding out the top five. What do four of the top six teams have in common? Here, see if you can tell from this handy graphic:

(h/t @Bjwynn)

-As happy as we are with our current recruiting class as it stands now, most agree that we need one more top-tier player to commit before we can go ahead and order those #DY9ASTY shirts. 

-The national championship trophy is still making the rounds in Kentucky, kissing babies and shaking hands. Or I guess technically it’s Calipari doing that, but whatever. The crew is traveling via a very fancy RJ Corman train that I imagine resembles the Orient Express.

Nothing but the best for Coach Cal and fellow UK coach alum Joe B Hall and Herky Rupp (son of Adolph). Today’s stops included Frankfort, Midway, and Elizabethtown. Shoney’s was Coach Cal’s restaurant stop du jour- a slight step up from yesterday’s McDonald’s, I think.

-Tubby Smith may soon be making his way back down South. Rumors are circulating that Tubby is being considered for the head coaching job at LSU, recently vacated by Trent Johnson. Tubby would be a great fit for the job, in my opinion- with 12 years of SEC head coaching experience, he has the knowledge and the ability to turn the struggling LSU program around. I’m rooting for you, Tubby.

That’s it for tonight, friends. Enjoy your Friday night and I’ll be back with you tomorrow.

I ain’t a player but I tweet a lot. @KristenGeilKSR

Source: ksrcollege.com

All Eyes On Us

Nerlens Noel reacts to a projection of how Coach Cal would look with a flat top. I die.

As the ever-sagacious Britney Spears once mused, “There’s only two types of people in the world; the ones that entertain, and the ones that observe.” It’s become increasingly clear over the past four years that Kentucky basketball is the former, an entertaining, never-ending circus with John Calipari as the grinning ringmaster (albeit a well-run show that turns amateur performers into well-trained professionals ready to travel with Cirque du Soleil- too far?). No other college basketball program can touch our hype, our mystique, and the level of spectacle we experience on a daily basis. Our fans launch themselves on board with the latest news, recruits, hair cuts, whatever, with the passion of a thousand Michael Boltons. Want proof?

They tweeted this at 10:40am today. Who wants to bet those numbers have become even more extreme now that it’s been nearly a full 24 hours since the announcement?

Or how about Ross here, possibly the first member of BBN to officially adopt the flat top as his hairstyle of choice?

Sir, you are a role model for us all. Tara Bilby, step your game up. 

And finally, let’s not forget the barrage of t-shirts and other apparel that are quickly rushing our way. One UK fan (@jbknight444) tweeted me a shirt that is presumably on its way to the printer as we speak:

… as well as another design that may be coming out soon:

From @TyBunk’s account

It seems that “Fear the Brow” was merely easing UK fans into the signature-quirky-hairstyle-fad waters; with Nerlen’s flat top, BBN was fully prepared to unreservedly embrace that fresh fade the second he spun around and revealed his buzzed logo to the world. We’ll be talking about this one for a long time, folks, and it just goes to show the Kentucky basketball never stops.

There’s only two types of girls out there: the ones that tweet a lot, and the ones that are scared. I’m the former. @KristenGeilKSR

Source: ksrcollege.com

Late Night Confession: I Doubted.

When I took on this venerable role of KSR College Intern, I swore an oath to be honest with you, my beloved readers, and now is a time where that honesty may turn against me. Because for about four hours yesterday afternoon, I lost faith in Coach Calipari. I gave in to the rumors, the tweets, the whispers behind closed doors that burrowed into my brain and convinced me that neither Shabazz Muhammad nor Nerlens Noel was going to don a Wildcat hat at the end of the night. And let me tell you, the feeling was scarier than this movie poster:

Like any good UK fan, I obviously know Calipari’s stellar recruiting history. I lived through the roller-coaster that was Terrence Jones’ commitment. And yet, insecurity gradually crept over me throughout the day as I became more and more attached to my Twitter feed. I began to rationalize that not landing either of tonight’s featured recruits wouldn’t damn UK for the 2012-2013 season. I preemptively consoled myself with “Well, it was a fun run, but it couldn’t last forever,” resigning myself to the fact that it was impossible for UK to even come close to matching the glory that was last season. I was the non-believer that Charlie the Unicorn taught us to shun way back in 2010.

Shabazz’s announcement only confirmed my secret fears, and it only got worse from there as every major member of the media continued to report that Nerlens would choose Georgetown. My cable was out, and I took that as a cosmic sign that I wasn’t meant to have my heart broken watching Nerlens commit to Georgetown. Out of a masochistic sense of duty, I logged on to the KSR Live Blog, with Twitter on my sidebar, yet I purposely ignored the time on my computer and refused to count down the moments before Nerlens announced. I even tweeted a disclaimer, stating that Nerlens announcing his college choice via haircut was so ridiculous, I wouldn’t even be mad if he chose Georgetown. And still I doubted.

My doubt was so corrosive, so widespread, that it didn’t even recede when all social media outlets virtually exploded with news of Nerlens committing to UK. I had to call my family in Lexington before I believed it. I had to text Ally Tucker and confirm that this was, in fact, real life. I had to watch the video on ESPN posted five minutes after the actual commitment. I had to read every comment on the KSR Live Blog and write a post for KSR College myself before I became a believer, before my doubt was given a flattop haircut and subsequently chased out of town- forever.

John Calipari, this is my confession. I doubted you. In a moment of weakness, with emotions running high the week after a national championship and the fragile feeling that surely this euphoria couldn’t last, I gave in to my insecurities and lost faith in your recruiting and your complete dominance over college basketball recruiting. I’ll go to church in the morning for a real confession, but in the meantime, I hope this will do.

These are my confessions. Just when I thought I said all I could say, my coach Calipari says he’s got #1 on the way. @KristenGeilKSR.

Source: ksrcollege.com

So, we didn’t get Shabazz. Let’s not kid ourselves, BBN: we wanted this guy, and we wanted him badly. But to quote the great Adolph Rupp, ”You can take a boy to the Coliseum, sit him down for 5 minutes, and if he doesn’t want to play at Kentucky after just looking at the place, he is too dumb to go to college anyway.” But if he doesn’t want to be a part of what the Cats did last year and look to do again this year, well, to quote my friend Daniel Porter, “He has no soul.”

Let’s move on to who we DID get, the new object of BBN’s affections- Nerlens Noel, who instantly made history by announcing his college choice via a buzzcut-logo shaved into the side of his head. Nerlens will instantly take the place of soon-to-be-departed Anthony Davis, and according to some, may even exceed the high standards Davis set this past year. In an interview with the rest of the recruiting class, Noel made it clear that chasing a national championship factored heavily into his decision, and the class as a whole is already focused on bringing home banner number nine.

To recap: Kentucky now has the 1, 15, 17, and 35 recruits in the nation. Anthony Bennett (7) is expected to commit to UK soon. Alex Oriakhi is still considering the Cats. Calipari will have his fourth #1 class in a row. I’m still shaking with excitement from last week’s title, and now I have a whole six months to contemplate the possibility of greatness, repeated.

Shabazz, it would have been fun, but we’ll be just fine without you.


@KristenGeilKSR

Source: ksrcollege.com