.

When coach Gillispie was introduced as the head coach last season Kentucky had officially hired their third member of the Henry Iba tree. These coaches tend to play very physical man to man defense and put a strong emphasis on moving the ball on offense. Years of being tutored by some of the most knowledgeable men in the game and a head coaching job at a top tier university are among the things needed to succeed. However their is one thing that you can't teach, coach or instill that some men have.

As we all know recruiting relationships play a vital role in a teams success. It would make sense to assemble a staff with individuals who have a huge knowledge of the game. The nuances, fundamentals hard working, and forward thinking are probably among the credentials a head coach looks for in his assistants.

However, it seems that the Wildcats current regime have gone beyond the resume. Tracy Webster, who played for the University of Wisconsin Madison in the mid 90's. Webster is more often than not the coach laying the foundation with the most heralded players in each class. Darius Morris of the 2009 class is a prime example.

"He's a cool dude," Morris said. "When he first started recruiting me, he made a huge impact. He came on really strong."

Overall people skills and having a good ability to relate with young men is a huge cog in the proverbial recruiting engine. I am sure that other schools have coaches that are just as valuable for their rounded life, people skills and up bringing as their on the court savy.

Players that are blessed with the gift of gab are also a nice addition to the team. Dwight Perry may not contribute much on the court. but his ability to relate to other young men is second to none. This is stated clearly here.

On a side note Mfon Udofia has committed to Georgia Tech.

We were in attendance as Coach Travis Durham and his Kentucky Gators took on Team Vigilance. I didn't see any of the UK or UofL coaches in attendance at this one although there were assistants from LSU, Nevada, Georgia, Miami of Ohio, and Tulane. Travis Ford was personally on hand for the game. On the surface the Gator team looked outgunned, but they proved to be a game foe and almost held on to the game.

Early on the Gators led behind strong play by sophomore Chris Richard and his sweet stroke. Senior Jacob Jenkins ability to wreak havoc in all areas of the game was obvious from the tip.

At one point early on Jenkins missed a contested layup, but hustled and helped to trap on defense slapping the ball away and causing a ten second violation. With just under 6 minutes remaining in the first half Jenkins forced a carry. On the next possession after drawing the double team he kicked the ball out to a wide open Richard for a three.

Jenkins finished the game with 16 hard fought points however he is averaging over 27 per game this summer.

In the second half the Gators legs just gave out and they let the lead slip away. With just under a minute left the Gators trailed 56-49 coach Durham told his team.

Coach Durham was intent on net letting this one slip away. However in the end his team came up a little short 60-54.

We first asked Jacob to sum up his game and what he has been working on this summer?

When your shot is not falling you seem to stay involved in the game in all other aspects, your on the floor, your in the passing lanes.

What was coach telling you today during those last few timeouts down the stretch?

What about the three local schools. Kentucky, Louisville and Indiana?

How was the camp?

Who was the best player you saw at the Elite camp?

What is the list right now?

(Coach Durham left, assistant Jeremy Buckman right)

Coach Durham then was nice enough to answer a few question for us

How have you guys fared this summer coach?

You guys almost pulled one out and were in control most of the game.

Even when Jacob's shots weren't falling, I noticed that he is always scrapping, in the lanes and on the floor.

How is it coaching this group of kids?

Jenkins had 24 points with 18 of them came on three point field goals, against Siva's team, with Siva shadowing Jenkins the whole game in Cincinnati at the take 5.

Hall played his sophomore season for the Memphis University School in Memphis (TN), Where he and guard Elliot Cole led the MUS Owls to a state title. In the title game they defeated St. George’s at David Lipscomb University in Nashville 65-54.

Hall chose to switch schools for his junior* campaign and now attends White Station High. J.P. Prince is an alum of White Station and was the Tenn. 2005 Gatorade and Mr. Basketball award winner. Prince originally attended Arizona before opting to return to his home state.

Hall has a solid all around game, but has been labled as a bit passive at times. Hall can score facing up or posting up. Hall has the luxury of having great court vision. Hall has very soft hands along with a decent handle on the ball, often driving to the hoop, drawing the double team and dishing the ball off for the easy two. This kid has the potential to be an all conference performer early in his college career. Hall did play U.S.A. basketball in 07′ and averaged 3.0 points per game for a loaded U.S.A. white team that finished 3-2. At one time early in 07′ it was rumored among Georgia Tech fans that they had a Verbal form Hall which never materialized.

Hall attended the 08' UK Elite Camp and in early July told govolsextra.com:

So it is seemingly down to 3 schools for the top 100 prospect.

The article went on to talk about the commitment of former 09' UK target Reggie Buckner:

Ranked the No. 91 overall prospect in the class of 2009 by Rivals.com and the No. 19 small forward prospect nationally, Buckner averaged 16 points, 13.7 rebounds, 6.7 blocked shots, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game as a junior last season in leading Manassas to its first state title game appearance since 1985.

Buckner said Kennedy told him he had one scholarship still available for 2008, but planned to hold it for Buckner until 2009.

I was under the impression that college coaches had agreed to stop recruiting and pursuing high school underclassmen? However, I believe that the Florida offer had been on the table before the June 19 NABC statement.

On Wednesday night Austin Rivers the son of Boston Celtics coach Doc. Committed to play for coach Donovan and the Gators. Florida had been among a handful of schools with offers on the table for Rivers according to an interview in this past Monday:

"Florida, [Central Florida], and . . . I’m going to try to go visit Memphis, Kansas, and Texas."

So now that the NABC has asked coaches to stop recruiting underclassmen, I am assuming that the players who were offered before the June 19 statement are still "fair game" to pursue? I would like to see their be some kind of concrete ruling by the NCAA or another governing body of athletics. My point is that if Coach Gillispie has agreed to stop offering underclassmen and (for example) coach Donovan ignores the June 19 request and pursues kids, then the playing field will become a truly slanted one very quickly.


Rivers was Donovan's fourth commitment by a player who has yet to play his sophomore season.

http://www.kentucky.com/276/story/452125.html

Submitted by contributing writer Brad King

Scouring the Kentucky blogs, news sites, message boards today, it's hard to imagine that just 15 months ago those very media outlets were not concerned with the recruitment of 8th grade stand-outs or the eligibility of DeAndre Liggins. In fact, a commitment from Patrick Patterson seemed to be a long shot, Florida point guard Jai Lucas was considered the future of Kentucky's back court, and Joakim Noah was public enemy No. 1 . In the midst of all this, one central question remained at the heart of every Kentucky fan. Should Tubby stay or should he go?

Any UK fan observing this phenomena knows full well the arguments that seemed to go in circles. Tubby can't recruit. Tubby can't win close games. Tubby is lazy. Tubby can't develop talent. Kentucky basketball is slipping. Tubby can't recruit blue chip talent. The list goes on forever.

In his first season, Billy Gillispie was forced to go in to battle with a talent lacking, injury ridden roster that struggled to learn the new coach's system through out the season. However, due to the maniacal recruiting habits of Gillispie, his recruiting philosophy compared to Tubby Smith's is quite evident.

The most glaring difference between the two coach's recruiting approach is that Tubby Smith had a conservative and stringent recruiting policy. Gillispie, on the other hand, leaves no stone unturned. Rest assured, if there is a player out there that is good enough to play for Kentucky and has any interest in Kentucky, Gillispie will find him. And what does age matter? If the kid is good, the kid is good.

Tubby Smith's biggest strength was also his biggest weakness at the University of Kentucky. Loyalty. Where as Gillispie is locking up commitments 4 years in the future, Tubby Smith more often than not was left battling for late spring recruits in an effort to fill the gaps on the roster after holding out on his top prospects. Lukasz Obrzut, Bobby Perry, Shaggari Alleyne, Jared Carter, and Rekalin Sims were all spring pick ups for Kentucky. Uncoincidentally, the players that comprised these teams also contributed to 2 of the worst seasons in Kentucky's illustrious history.

This begs the question is Gillispie a better recruiter?

There is no doubt that Gillispie's wide net strategy to recruiting reaps rewards. Blue chippers such as such as DeAndre Liggins and Dominique Ferguson have committed to Kentucky due to that very philosophy. However, where as Tubby Smith was left with subpar talent due to procrastination, Billy Gillispie has now acquired seemingly subpar talent due to over-anticipation.

Of Kentucky's 7 future commitments from 2009 – 2012, 2 players remained ranked in the Rivals 150. When asked about Dakotah Euton's performance at the Bob Gibbon's Tournament of Champions, Rivals.com Justin Young said, “At this point, I can't see him starting for Western Kentucky.” Needless to say, not a very glowing endorsement from a national recruiting analyst.

KC Ross Miller, a player once thought to be the top point guard in the 2010 class when he committed to Kentucky, remains unranked by Rivals and Scout. KC does have an upside, whether he reaches the potential that the staff believes he has is a different question.

Michael Avery is so young that few have seen him play, and most that have, are skeptical that he will have the talent to play at the D-1 level. Known as a shooter at this point, and not much else.

GJ Vilarino 2009, unranked by Rivals and Scout. Yet, Vilarino is a speedy guard that can dunk the ball, which could be beneficial in his career.

Vinnie Zollo, while standing at 6'7 and having a size 18 shoe, the talent of Zollo is very raw at this point as expected for a freshman in high school. But will Zollo develop past that?

The point in all this is not to downplay the significance of Kentucky's commitments, but it's quite possible that the type of players that has doomed Kentucky in the past with Tubby Smith, could quite possibly doom Kentucky in the future with Billy Gillispie.

At the very worst, Kentucky's future commitments are role players, and there is nothing wrong with role players. Every team needs role players. Yet, a team of role players is nothing but prey for a team of All-Americans. From 2009-2012, it is essential that the staff fills in the gaps with blue chip type players or UK basketball could very well end where it ended as Tubby Smith departed.

While players such as Jon Hood and Dominique Ferguson are surefire impact players at the next level, the verdict is very much still out on Billy Gillispie and his recruiting. To this point, only Patrick Patterson and Alex Legion are the Gillispie recruited players to don blue and white. Legion split and Patterson was an established Kentucky target before Gillispie ever arrived on campus. Hence, Gillispie's talent evaluation is really yet to be seen.

How do you guys feel about this? We would love to hear your thoughts and opinions below.

Vilarino was Coach Gillispie’s first commitment as the WIldcat’s coach. Over the past year Vilarino was supposed to evolve into a more complete player according to Van Coleman and others. Well, the expectations have been tapered for the prodigy’s game. As he still needs to develop physically and improve his inconsistent jump shot. Despite that, Coach Gillispie has remained firm in his belief in Vilarino and McKinney High coach, Lee Watson spoke of Vilarino’s belief in Gillespie:

As a sophomore Vilarino averaged 20 points and 4.5 assists per game. Vilarino is solid. The Wildcat nation should be proud to have the probable 4 year player as a commit.

The national perception seems to be (for obvious reasons) that Kentucky has gradually fallen off over the last decade. The pride of the fan base has not wavered but, players around the country clearly took notice because ( insert any number of reasons here). A comment by Vilarino’s father, Gerry Vilarino, regarding his son’s decision to commit early. Left me feeling good about the Cat’s chances of a quick recovery from recent inconsistent spurts:

According to Scout’s Inc. Vilarino was also being recruited by Kansas, Illinois, Memphis and Baylor before committing to UK. One of the most respected men in the recruiting business Van Coleman had Vilarino ranked as one of the top 30 sophomore’s in the nation at the time of his commitment. Although the expectations have been tapered for the Texas prodigy. I remain confident that he will develop into a consistent SEC caliber player while at Kentucky. Hopefully he will reassert himself while on the Adidas Nations team this summer.

On a side note, Josh Dickinson has reported that there is at least a little interest on both sides, with talented 2009 PG Mfon Udofia, however Udofia will not trim his list until July: click here for more