Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
When a kid is trying to determine where to go to college, a number of factors are important: the coach, the location, the tradition, the girls, etc. But one factor that often gets overlooked is the relationships the recruit makes with the players on the team. Virtually every time I interview a recruit, I ask the young man if he knows or keeps in contact with, any player on the UK roster. Years ago, when I asked that question I always would get an answer that yes, they knew Bobby Perry or Ramel Bradley and they liked them both. Who is that guy nowadays….well none other than your favorite walk-on, Bobby’s cousin Dwight Perry.
Most people know Dwight best for the picture above….when he had to commit a foul early in the Villanova game after being inserted into the starting line-up as a mistake. But now Dwight Perry has become the go-to guy for UK recruiting. Over the past few months, interviews with Daniel Orton, Dominique Ferguson, Josh Harrellson, Darius Miller and Terrence Boyd, have included references to their relationships with Dwight Perry. Daniel Orton mentioned how nice Dwight was on their visit and how he tried hard to show him a good time. Dominique Ferguson called Dwight, “a really cool guy” and somebody who “loved the whole UK experience.” Dwight gets the “hosting” duties for most of the big-time guys, and has been seen walking players like Miller, Orton and Ater Majok around UK’s campus. If a big-time recruit is in town, chances are Dwight is there and having something to do with his time on campus.
When I did the Barnstorming Tour, I realized from the former players that Dwight may be the most popular player on the team. Whether he is cracking jokes or dancing around the locker room, nobody is more well-liked than the man who used to not have a name on his jersey. Dwight Perry may never play big minutes on the court, but off-the-court, he is an important part of UK’s recruiting success. While it is unclear if he wants to have a future career in coaching, his ability to connect to recruits puts him in the unique position of being a walk-on who is used extensively as a recruiting force. Along with Ramon Harris, he is the liason to future UK players and recruits. So for that, give the man not one, but two jerseys with the name Dwight Perry stitched permanently on the back….
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July 22nd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I always thought that though he was a nice kid, he might be the reason we are getting good, but not elite recruits
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Had class with Dwight, P Swat, D Jasper.
Dwight was the class clown/cut-up. Always had the other guys rolling. (not on X, just laughing)
That was Stephenson’s and Jasper’s first semester at UK.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I thought Harris was the go-to guy? I guess the Africa trip pushed him out of host duties. Anyway keep it up Dwight! Bring in Orton and we will let you start on Senior Night!
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:28 pm
thank you mister perry. now take john wall over to newtowns pool on a saturday and seal the damn deal!
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Both Perry’s have been great assets to the UK Program. What they lack in on court ability, they made up for with a great repuatation off the court. Kudos.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
I wonder if Dwight has ever used this line…”If you do well, they will eventually let you wear a jersey with your name on the back!”
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Estelle Getty died. ESTELLE GETTY.
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Interesting. I wonder if that’s a reason Coach G likes walk-ons so much, because they have a little deeper pride in being part of the program instead of just trying to blow through town on their way to the pros, and they can be salespeople for the program.
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:08 pm
8# I don’t think its like that at all. I could be wrong. I think Dwight’s personality is where this is based. He’s a people person. Use the force…
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:16 pm
It’s the transitive property folks. Ladies love Dwight Perry. Recruits love ladies. Therefore…
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Maybe Dwight Perry has assistant coaching in mind, if he is a good recruiter now then maybe he can do it as an assistant coach.
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Maybe its just helpful to have a walk on that is no threat to take your minutes be the host of a recruit. “Hey man, you should really come to UK. You can have alllll my minutes. I’ll be right behind you the whole way (and right behind you off the bench…)”
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Maybe John Wall should consider this, if OSU is on his list, those Oklahoma girls must be real fugly!
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,388501,00.html
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:31 pm
I knew Estelle Getty, and damn it, Dwight Perry is no Estelle Getty!
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I think Dwight is the best cheerleader also. I dont know how many times I saw him slap the floor with a towel last year.
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:12 pm
How can we blame Tubby for this?
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Ala M. L. Carr who was also great bench warming cheerleader, and perhaps an even better recruiter circa Bill Walton, Dennis Johnson, and Cedric “Cornbread” Maxwell.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:11 pm
#2 Its STEVENSON. PERRY STEVENSON.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:43 pm
The guy will be a coach. No question.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Yeah, we said the same ting about Steve Massiello. I can see them in the 2020 Final Four against one another. Can’t you? UNC-Greensboro v. Western Kentucky.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:01 pm
18)Must have been Spelling class.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:21 am
If you can’t do it on the court, may as well do it off.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:37 am
It’s great posts like this that many UK fans need to remember and not bash players simply for their skill level.