Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
If you werent online late in the day today, you missed what may end up being a fairly big recruiting story for Kentucky. As I wrote about below, Maurice Sutton and Paul McCoy are both playing in this year’s Derby Classic in Louisville and both are being recruited heavily by Kentucky. McCoy is a guard from Oregon with super talent (he is generally considered a 4 star recruit) that most recruiting folks would be considered a lot higher on the totem pole if not for his football talents that have kept him away from focusing on basketball. We will have more on him tomorrow afternoon, including how he has ended up looking at the Cats after decommitting from Pepperdine earlier this year. Kentucky’s interest in him is solid and he will be visiting campus when he comes for the Derby event.
However the much bigger news involves the most likely future Cat, Maurice Sutton. Sutton is from outside of DC and plays for Largo High School in Maryland. A raw, thin big man that has been compared to Perry Stevenson, Maurice can put the ball in the basket, but has a long way to go in his 6′10 210″ frame. However the Cats have a strong interest in him as shown by his quote in an interview with Jody Demling of the Courier Journal (which you should check out):
“Kentucky is No. 1 with me right now,” Sutton said. “I am going to make my visit there when I’m in town and see if it feels right. If he does feel right, that’s it.”
Dating back to Christmas of last year, we have heard that the Cats’ interest in Sutton has been strong and he has played two games in the Bluegrass area over the last year. Now he is planning on coming to the Derby Classic and while visiting Kentucky during that weekend, the Cats may have their newest commitment. Again, Sutton’s game is raw. He is very thin and has been known to be pushed around down low. I have seen him play once and he did not look good at all….BUT I have been told I saw his worst performance and most recruiting analysts that I have spoken to say that he has upside…..maybe not able to contribute a great deal next year, but definitely his best basketball is ahead of him. The big man prospects left in the 2008 class are few and far between and Sutton may be the best long term option available. Either way, UK fans should see this articulate, interesting kid play when he comes to Louisville for the Derby Classic in a couple of weeks. It may be his preliminary visit to a career in Lexington.
A few more notes….
— The Bill Keightley memorial is of course today. Rupp Arena will be available for a public viewing from 10 AM until 3 pm and the memorial will take place at 6 pm. Rupp will be open at 5 to the general public. Rick Pitino, Billy Gillispie, Joe B Hall and Mitch Barnhart, among others, will speak at the event. It will be a sad day around Rupp, but one that will honor a true legend around the program.
— If you didnt see the post earlier, Patrick Patterson had surgery in Charlotte this week and is recovering. The time he will be off the court is expected to be 4-6 months, a longer time frame than had originally been hoped at the time of the injury. Patterson is however expected to fully recover.
— As reported here earlier in the week, Ramel Bradley will be playing in the college all star game tonight in San Antonio, along with Shan Foster and other Senior stars. Make sure and catch the activities on ESPN.
More on Paul McCoy later today, and remember that if you cant be at the Keightley service, you watch the event streaming online at WKYT.com.
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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April 2nd, 2008 at 11:02 pm
avearaged 9 blocks a game. If this guy or stevenson gives Patterson help and keeps him out of foul trouble, Patterson may average 25 ppg.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:03 pm
is the college all star game thursday night?
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:04 pm
does anyone one think we will get derrick favors in 2009 or john wall
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:11 pm
I say pass on this kid and either save the schollys or get Harrelson if he becomes available. No more thin projects. If Carter and Williams leave then OK.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Oh god please no more players like Perry Stevenson, they just can’t cut it… oh wait - Perry Stevenson did pretty good right?
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:13 pm
is mackey going to walk-on cause if he does that would be a huge get
i HOPE carter and williams leave
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:19 pm
Could Sutton, Williams and Carter do something like Voltron or Captain Planet where they combine together to form one great, or at least mediocre, player and only take 1 scholarship?
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:26 pm
hoping a player on the team leaves is not OK…
if they leave on their own volition, by all means leave, but i would rather see them stay and contribute…esp. carter since he is a 4-year guy from kentucky…
i’m not saying that carter is a great player, we all know he’s not, but at least he chose to play at his state school, unlike others that we all know of…
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:32 pm
i find it hard to believe he is better then carter? if so, take him. if not, keep the scholarship. what happened to harrelson? there was a lot of talk about him, but nothing of late.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:39 pm
# 8 I honestly doubt Carter would have been recruited to UK by our current coach. And if he does stay I highly doubt he contributes, especially since he couldn’t crack the lineup this season as decimated as it was.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:41 pm
9- Sutton averaged 16 pts. 13 rebs. and 9 blocks a game in D.C.
Nothing to shake a stick at and your remark that you “find it hard to believe that he is better than Carter” is stupid in too many ways to list.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Wow, I dont know what to think anymore about recruits. I will choose the positive and focus on the fact that some believe “this kid can put the ball in the basket.” Defense is probably what PSteve does best, so if this kid can score, then we have some flexibility and different looks. Of course i also heard that Ramon Harriss was supposed to grow another 2 inches over the summer and put on 25 lbs of ripped, so maybe he can play the 4. Hes what, 6′10 by now.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:42 pm
VII Banners, I hope you are right. Usually unsigned 6″10 athletic guys who are real good who are unsigned at this point are being recruited by everyone in country. I hope you are right. remember, I am on your team.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:44 pm
#8 I hope they leave too. I don’t see any problem with wanting a player to leave the team because he is no good and has had three years in Carters case to produce and hasn’t. It’s not like what I or anybody else thinks has any bearing on Carters future with the CATS anyway. Of Course a kid like Carter is going to play for the CATS. Where else would he go? I’ve heard that he was recruited by UNC but I’m not sure I believe it. Williams must be awful. He has no athletic ability, no hands and apparently no work ethic and from some of his antics on the bench he must be a goofball. We can’t get back on top with guys like these on our bench. I like what Gillispie is doing by getting the best players as possible for walk on spots. Depth is imperative in todays game. Rick Pitino was the first to really have unbelievable depth where 10 guys could make a living playing ball somewhere. This is why he dominated the 90’s and it is even more true today. Gillispie is doing the right things I just don’t think Carter and Williams are part of his plans. In closing it is perfectly fine to hope and want a player to leave the team.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:45 pm
No. 10 Gillispie did recruit Carter while he was at A&M. I remember hearing him making that comment on the radio one day when he was asked about Jared. He did say however, that he didn’t recruit him all that hard because he knew he had no way of competing with UK in that recruitment.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Great walk ons also equal great practices and more rapid improvement for a team.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:50 pm
VIIBanners here, changed my username…. Anyway, #13, your right we are on the same team and I am sorry if my post came off harsh. My thinking is that you have to trust Coach. The guy knows what he wants in a player and isn’t going to sign guys just for the hell of it. If he signs a “project” he will develop him unlike the former coach.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:51 pm
The thing that amazes me with Carter, if I was 7′2 with good hands I would want a chance to play. Why wouldn’t you transfer and at least get a chance to play to see if you could get paid to play somewhere in the world. It does not matter where you play college in regards to your draft status. Curry went to Davidson and now is a household name.
If carter wasnt playing this year, I find it impossible to believe he will play at all next year.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Butchy Dickless- no problem. I couldn’t agree more with you in regards to the development of players under Billy G compared to our last coach. I really think Jasper and Stevenson will show the most improvement in 08-09.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Dude is fugly…
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:14 am
Carter has a little athleticism. He just needs to really focus and play hard. I have never seen a guy take up less space that he does. He uses his body like he is 6′5. He wouldnt have to improve alot of things to play, just how hard he plays and get a nasty streak in him. everytime something doesnt go his way, he just flashes that pathetic look he has which makes him look like a big puss
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:37 am
just to clarify, i don’t think that carter and williams are good enough to play at UK, nor do i think they are the caliber talent that we are looking for in future players…but that does not mean i want or hope that they leave…if they did, would i be disappointed??? i wouldn’t, but i still say let them transfer on their own accord, not run them off…doing things like that eventually comes right back around to bite you in the ass (think karma)…
be honest, if you were in carter’s position, would you transfer??? it’s probably every little Kentucky boy’s dream to play for UK, and if i were in his position, i would ride it out, and reap the benefits everything a former cat can reap after their playing days are over…i would not, however, chase a medical redshirt if i didn’t contribute next year.
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:48 am
so i ran across scotty hopson’s myspace page and noticed that curtis pulley left him a comment. found it pretty interesting:
“congrats on making it out of hoptown man, just keep up the hard work and you’ll make it big one day, dont listen to all of these UK fans on here man, they will turn your back on you faster than anything and they think the world begins and ends with UK basketball, you made the right choice in going to UT. You hold down Hoptown on the court and I’ll hold it down on the field. Once again congrats and keep up the good work boi.”
i guess the hoptown “BOIS” stay together haha…
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:21 am
#20–”People say he looks like MC Hammer on Crack” Do the Humpty Dance, doin the Humpty Hump.
He could look like a girl for all I care. Just come in and hold down the position, contribute, practice hard giving a 110% and no one will care about his appearance.
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:40 am
# 23 jrhehe2 - Doesn’t Curtis have some homework to do?
If he really did post that then he’s digging a hole for himself. I don’t think he’s that foolish to bad mouth his own fanbase. If so, then who’s turning who’s back on who?
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:49 am
25. I was skeptical to believe this but as a student at UK with extreme procrastination issues I found myself surfing facebook. Sure enough on Curtis’ facebook it says under his status.
“Curtis is wonderin what’s up with UK fans sometimes?”
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:26 am
This seems like a project at center to me! That was a big no-no w/the Tubby bashers! Woo and Sheggari and Jared Carter were all projects of our former coach!
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:23 am
Just read some of the comments in this thread and you will see why Curtis made the post he did.BCG has said many times that Carter will be great.I will put my trust in that comment. The way I see it,when he has the right players in his system ,he sees a place for Carter to flourish.Personally, I want all the guys to stay and do well.
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:48 am
An update on Josh Harrellson:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/columnists.nsf/berniemiklasz/s tory/148B4747AB3D3FC38625741B0010B705?OpenDocument
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:20 am
23/25/26/28
UK fans have been killing the program’s recruiting for years for a few reasons:
1) lack of interest/excitement at most home games
2) pontification and criticism of potential recruits who they have never seen play
3) hatefulness towards current and former coaches, staff, and players whenever anything goes wrong
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:02 am
29 Thanks for the link, although I imagine there were some hometown Michigan papers saying that about us with Joe C a few years ago. On the other hand, Harrelson has never played a second for them so it does seem way over the top.
As far as Sutton, I say get him. It’s obvious big slow 7 footers don’t really work in BCG’s system. He wants sleek quick defenders who can recover on defense. I hope we sign Harrelson and Sutton and figure the scholarships out later.
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:07 am
MM is reporting that Leonard Washington may now be qaulified. Can you check on this somebody?
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:24 am
I love this site but if there is one thing I am a little tired of with the blog it is the attempts to make mediocre or cut rate recruits or “projects” seem like good gets for UK. We should have kids like this bending over backwards to come play here.
No more projects! Let’s focus on Harrelson, if that doesn’t work…. Save the schollies and build for the future. UK can’t turn this thing around in a short amount of time by filling schollies with project big men or players originally committed to Pepperdine.
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:25 am
28) He said that Carter “could be great”…if you ever watch his show, he was saying that to motivate him and he said when he said he could be great that Carter was doing well in practice for a few weeks, but the last month or so of the season that wasn’t the case…Coach’s words, not mine
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:44 am
#33 I want Harrellson too but you realize he was recruited to play at “Western Illinois”. What makes you think he is not a project? I just like his size and work ethic that I have read about. I want Roderick Flemings and Josh Harrellson but Flemings was described as a problem in High School so you never know.
I say we get kids that fit into Gillispie’s style and let him do what he can with them.
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:51 am
Article on http://www.aseaofblue.com/ gives good arguments for and against Gillispie going to Oklahoma State. I believe that Gillispie is staying where he is at but the possibility of losing any coach to what I consider a lesser program makes me sick to my stomach.
April 3rd, 2008 at 8:57 am
37tH!!!!!!!!!!!!1111!1!1/111/!!!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:05 am
#30 is right… unfortunately.
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:10 am
It seems to me that time is running out on Harrelson and we may have to move on because it doesn’t look like WI is going to budge. I think Sutton may be the best big man option we have left. I thibnk anyone would choose Harrelson over Sutton but it is not a choice between the two because Harrelson is not an option. I understand we need to make sure we are there if he does become an option but I would bet BCG knows what the odds are of that happening.
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:21 am
33) What is wrong with the fact they were committed to Pepperdine? Brad Tinsley and Paul McCoy were both committed to Pepperdine before they had a coaching change and they are both 4 star recruits that a lot of schools would love to have. Do they have to be former recruits of Big Time schools for us to want them? If they are good I will take former recruits from anywhere.
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:36 am
“articulate, interesting kid”…sounds alot like kissing your sister.
30, I wonder why you think this is a uniquely UK issue? Kentucky’s recruiting ability is directly tied to style of play and player coach relationship. The fans grumble at every school when they see the program falling apart (e.g. FireRonZook.com). Don’t use the fans as a scapegoat.
Billy G is to put it bluntly, still unproven. I certainly hope he will turn things around, but you simply can’t ignore an in-state 5 star recruit for an entire year and then decide to jump on him in Janurary and expect to sign him. Banking on walk-ons and obscure recruits who decommit from Western Illinois and Pepperdine is simply not getting it done. No excuses in 2009.
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:50 am
#41 her is an excuse for 2009. No scholarships.
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:59 am
41 - was he going to be a snake and recruit a player who had verbally committed to another SEC school? So, he did not start recruiting until January because he not that type of guy. He recruits uncommitted players not committed players and admire that.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:00 am
*he IS not
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:07 am
41) Blah, Blah, Blah — go cry over your spilled milk somewhere else. “To put it bluntly”, I am tired of p***y fans that focus on nothing but the negative things (or what they perceive to be negative), no matter what the situation. I always wondered where many non-UK fans got their notions of our fanbase; but then I read through comments on this blog and it becomes quite clear. Billy G has been here for a year, and fans are already questioning every recruit he does/does not get–and then we wonder why he would ever want to leave UK for another job?!? After further review, I am beginning to believe that we do indeed have the most petty, spoiled fans in the country–or at least the most per capita.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:40 am
Is this guy coming in to play basketball or sing backup on Ramel’s new album? I thought the guy from Digital Underground was too old to play college ball.
“My nose is big, uh-uh I’m not ashamed
Big like a pickle, I’m still gettin’ paid
I get laid by the ladies, ya know I’m in charge,
both how I’m livin’ and my nose is large”
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:45 am
This crap is getting old when does football season start.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:48 am
45) Re-read my post. Yes, Billy G gets criticized about on messageboards when the team plays bad or if a prized recruit goes elsewhere. I don’t understand why you and 30 think this is a UK issue. To be honest, I wasn’t crying about anything. I was responding to the incorrect assertion that UK fans are to blame for recruits looking elsewhere. I think fans in general overstate their influence. Rather I was trying to make the point that I’m hopefully that Billy G starts pulling in some top classes instead of relying on less heralded guys who he goes after late in the game. To 43 that’s a bit of a reach, Scotty de-commited from MSU in November and has been documented on this board Scotty and his “people” really didn’t hear anything from UK until Jan at the earliest. At any rate, don’t be so concerned about people voicing their opinions on this board.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:50 am
wow…i should really proofread before i post. That’s some garbled trash, oh well…hopefully you get what i was driving at.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:53 am
In reference to the Curtis Pulley Comment, If you would read the rest of Scotty’s page you would see exactly what Pulley is talking about. There are some UK fans on there that are really harsh. Listen the kid made a decision that he felt was best for him, it only makes UK fans look bad on his page and on this blog to bash the kid. Let it go, and wish the kid the best of luck, even boo him at Rupp if u want, but don’t publicly bash and scrutinize an 18 year old kid for making the biggest decision of his life, just b/c it doesnt suit you. A few of these fans make us all look bad and some of them are on this blog site.
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:37 am
50) I totally agree with that. I couldn’t believe the guy that referred to himself as “We are Kentucky” he absolutely bashed the kid like 5 times. It actually embarrassed me to see this and hope not everyone is as stupid as that guy.
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:45 am
You know when we bash a kid for not coming here its almost like taking back to elementary school when someone was picking teams and you called them names and crap for not choosing you… The kid made a personal choice he thought was best for him…wish him luck …move on…we will settle this on the court next year and let our team do the talking
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:54 am
Hey #30, you’re an idiot. To say that the fanbase has killed recruiting over the past few years, is about the dumbest shit that I have heard on here in a while. The guys that went North(whose name I vowed not to mention on here anymore)killed recruiting. Clyde is one of the best in the bizz, but he can’t part the waters with the slide of hand. Recruiting relationships are not built overnight. This will be Clyde’s first full year at a recruiting class. You’ll be singing a different tune within 2 years.
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Really hope we get MAJOK and not have to worry about Sutton
MAJOK is a future NBA player for sure
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:12 pm
ESPN has a poll on the front page near the bottom, who will restore glory Billy Gillispie or Tom Crean. Make your opion heard!
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:13 pm
sorry about the spelling
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
[...] Kentucky Sports Radio always seems to be on the ball about UK’s latest recruits. Yesterday, they reported Maurice Sutton could be the big man who would give some depth in the frontcourt next year. There [...]
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:39 pm
40) I hear ya, I know that McCoy is a decent recruit, my comment was in response to the Sutton kid. I’m just anxious about getting things back to where they were and I am tired of projects. That was Tubby’s #1 annoyance of mine. Shagari, Woo, Morakinyo, Jared Carter, Stevenson (I’m sure there were others) are our recent big men that, with the exception of Purry whose success is yet to be known, will not amount to much in a UK jersey. It’s maddening.
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I have not seen Sutton play, but the guy averages nine blocks a game playing in a very competitive high school area. He is athletic, long, can rebound and play defense. That is what we need. Most good teams don’t have the classic center that is a great scorer with his back to the basket. You just need a guy who is active on the offensive boards, can catch and dunk and be disruptive on the defensive end. This kid is it! He is not Shagari, Woo or Carter. Those guys could barely walk and chew gum. Is he Kevin Love? No, but he adds quality depth at a position where we need it the most. I say bring him on.
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
I appreciate your optimism 59 but we need (and should be able to get) a top 50 player at center on our team to play opposite Patterson and this guy simply isn’t it out of high school.
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:49 pm
60, Can you name 1 top 50 player at center from the 2008 class that is still available? We will get them in the future,
but for right now, we need to get what help for PP we can and that is exactly what Billy is doing. As far as Hopson,
we need to let it go, just like with Tubby. They both made their choses, let them go and lets support the coach and
players we do have. GO CATS!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
61, There are no big guys left and that is my point, we don’t have one. We haven’t had one in a decade and I am tired of wasting scholarships on projects. Should I list them all again? This Sutton guy may be coming into his own but as of now, he is not ranked on any recruiting website period. He won’t be able to contribute until Patterson is most likely in the NBA anyways. Save the ride for someone with more talent. Last time I checked, if Carter transfers we will have no scholarships available next year, if he doesn’t we have only one.
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:23 pm
What’s wrong with this kid’s snout?