.

Daniel Orton is down to six schools- Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Kansas, Ohio State and Kentucky, which is his favorite.

"I'm really interested in Kentucky and their program," said Orton. "I've known the coaches for a long time. Coach Gillispie recruited my brother, and (Assistant) Coach Cyprien coached him at Oklahoma State." - Article

Here is the summary of Daniel Orton's teams game from yesterday.

The most anticipated game of the Nike Global Challenge opening day ended up exceeding expectations. USA-3 has arguably the strongest roster in the field, featuring John Wall and Jeremy Tyler, considered by many to be the #1 players, respectively, in the ‘09 and 2010 classes, plus 2011 sensation Michael Gilchrist and ‘09 stud center Daniel Orton. Not to mention USA-3 was supposed to have ‘09 two-guard Xavier Henry, a Top-10 talent who isn’t playing this weekend due to injury.
Meanwhile, the Serbians came to Oregon toting a roster of mostly 19-year-old pros, led by a handful of players who could conceivably be taken in the NBA Draft over the next few years.

In another hotly-contested battle, Serbia found itself down by nine points with under three minutes to go, but stuck back-to-back threes and got a Tayshaun Prince-like running lefty hook from 6-8 Milojko Vasilic to pull within one point in what seemed like no time. They finally took the lead with 43 seconds left on a tip-in by 6-9 Nikola Markovic, which led to one of the Serbian coaches leaping in the air for a chest-bump with Markovic (17 pts, 13 rebs, 5 stls) on the ensuing timeout.

Serbia had a chance to extend the lead, but Orton made a spectacular block at the rim to give the U.S. the ball back and a chance to win. Inbounding under their own basket with nine seconds left, the U.S. got the ball to DeShaun Thomas, but the 6-6 forward from Bishop Luers (Ind.) who’d scored a team-high 22 points had his driving layup blocked by Vasilic. John Wall chased down the loose ball and fired a three from the corner that looked good, but rattled in and out, giving Serbia the win.

Wall put up 18 points and four steals, and for stretches showed why he might be the best player in the country. When he wanted to, he directed the offense like a coach diagramming plays, literally telling everyone on the floor where to go while he worked his magic. Wall constantly beat his man off the dribble and seemed to score at will, and had way more amazing passes than his two-assist stat line implied. He also wowed the crowd with a blocked shot that he pinned on the glass near the top of the backboard square, and dove for loose balls more than a couple of times. - Article

Harrison Barnes is playing for a loaded USA Team 1. That includes one time UK target Demarcus Cousins. Today Barnes and his talented squad enjoyed a victory over Senegal 81-68. Tomorrow they will go up against Team Canada.

Head Coach: Otis Hughley, LeFlore HS, Mobile, AL

Assistant Coach: Jeffrey Pope, LeFlore HS, Mobile, AL

Phil Pressy
G-5'10-160-2010
Episcopal School
Dallas, TX

Tommy Mason-Griffin
G -5'10-206 -2009
Oak Hill Academy
Mouth of Wilson, VA

Harrison Barnes
W-6'5''-1962010
Ames
Ames, IA

Rodney Williams, Jr.
W-6'5-180-2009
Robbinsdale Cooper
New Hope, MN

Royce White
F-6'7''-213-2009
De La Salle
Minneapolis, MN

Jamil Wilson
W-6'5''-203-2009
Horlick HS
Racine, WI

Roger Franklin
W-6'4''-203-2009
Duncanville HS
Duncanville, TX

Mason Plumlee
F-6'11''-210-2009
Christ School
Arden, NC

Alex Oriakhi
C-6'9''-224-2009
Titon School
Titon, NH

Demarcus Cousins
C-6'11''-269-2009
Le Flore HS
Mobile, AL

Daniel Orton will also be participating in the games. Orton is playing for an equally talented USA Team 3. Orton is teamed up with Jon Wall. Xavier Henry was also supposed to be on the team however is unable to participate due to an injury. Today Orton's team squared off against FMP-Serbia and as of now the results have not been posted.

Head Coach: Dwayne Bryant, Georgetown Prep, Kensington, MD

Assistant Coach: Renard Phillips, Georgetown Prep, Kensington, MD

Gary Franklin, Jr.
G-6'4-203-2010
Mater Dei
Santa Ana, CA

Aaron Dotson
W-6'3-194-2009
Rainier Beach
Seattle, WA

John Wall
G-6'3-188-2009
Word of God Christian
Raleigh, NC

Michael Gilchrist
W-6'6-199
2011
St. Patrick
Elizabeth, NJ

Dion Walters
W-6'3-214-2010
Roman Catholic
Philadelphia, PA

Jereme Richmond
W-6'7-191-2010
Waukegan HS
Waukegan, IL

Mike Moser
W-6'7-179-2009
Grant HS
Portland, OR

Milton Jennings
F-6'9-205-2009
Pinewood Prep
Summerville, SC

DeShaun Thomas
W-6'6-208-2010
Bishop Luers
Ft. Wayne, IN

Jeremy Tyler
C-6'9-240-2010
San Diego HS
San Diego, CA

Daniel Orton
C-6'9-258-2009
Bishop McGuinness
Oklahoma City, OK

Xavier Henry
W-6'6-214-2009
Putnam City HS
Oklahoma City, OK

The annual event is held in the prestigious Rucker Park in New York City on August 22. The event is host to 24 of the nations most talented basketball players. 2010 Center Josh Smith and 09' point guard John Wall will both play in the event. The event also is host to New York's native son Lance Stephenson. One time Oho State verbal and UK target Trae Golden will also participate in the event. The rest of the roster are as follows.

Name, High School, Pos., Class

• Abdul Gaddy, Tacoma, PG 2009
  Brandon Knight, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., PG, 2010
  Derrick Favors, Atlanta, Ga., PF, 2009
  Dexter Strickland, Elizabeth, N.J., PG, 2009
  Dominic Cheek, Jersey City, N.J., SG, 2009
  Doron Lamb, Mouth of Wilson, Va., PG, 2010
  Durand Scott, New York, N.Y., SG, 2009
  Erik Murphy, Southborough, Mass., PF, 2009
  Jared Sullinger, Columbus, Ohio, PF, 2010
  Jereme Richmond, Waukegan, Ill., SF, 2010
  Jeremy Tyler, San Diego, Calif., PF, 2010
  John Wall, Raleigh, N.C., PG, 2009
  Jordan Hamilton, Compton, Calif., SF, 2009
  Josh Smith, Covington, C, 2010
  Karron Johnson, Durham, N.C., PF, 2009
  Kenny Boynton Jr., Plantation, Fla., SG, 2009
  Lance Stephenson, Brooklyn, N.Y., SG, 2009
  LaQuinton Ross, Raleigh, N.C., SG, 2011
  Maalik Wayns, Philadelphia, Pa., PG, 2009
  Michael Gilchrist, Elizabeth, N.J., SF, 2011
  Ryan Kelly, Raleigh, N.C., PF, 2009
  Tony Wroten Jr., Seattle, SG, 2011
  Trae Golden, Powder Springs, Ga., PG, 2010
  Tristan Thompson, Newark, N.J., SF, 2010

Chase Tapley may be somewhat of an unknown commodity in this neck of the woods, but he is a rising name out west. His father Tommy played his high school ball with Sidney Moncrief at Little Rock Hall High. Tommy went on to play college ball for Arkansas State and Moncrief for Arkansas. Tapley didn't play much as a freshman and unfortunately broke his leg early in his sophomore campaign and was forced to missed the teams final 20 games. The folks around him have had faith in the kid all along. The rest of the nation is starting to see why. Is the kid from Sacramento High that good?

Last season Tapley burst back onto the scene. The athletic youngster was awarded the Division III player of the year. Delivering when the lights are their brightest was the kids forte, he tailed 35 points and 9 rebounds and 4 steals in the state final and averaged 22.2 points, 4.8 assists and 4.6 steals per contest. The 6'3 180 pound combo guard has a knack for getting to the rim and a sweet stroke. His well rounded game was on display throughout the run to the State Championship game. Tapley is rated just inside the rivals.com 150 for 09' at 149. Tapley just might be better than the ranking suggests.

Though Orange County Register columnist Adam Maya has only seen the kid play once, he recently told us that the hype being pumped out of Sacramento about this kid, is real.

"He was one of the 3 or 4 best high school players I saw all year." Maya told us.

Simply stated the kid is superior to his competition on most nights, he has the strength, agility and smarts to out whit the majority of them as well. After all, Tapley does sport a 3.0 GPA. Maya was quick to point out the best qualities in the young man's game:

"Tapley found a way to get whatever shot he wanted. He rarely settled for jumpers but instead looked to exploit defenses that could not cover him in man defense. There probably aren't many kids that can stay in front of him. He is great at drawing contact and also giving himself a chance to finish after being fouled. He is good enough to make an impact as a freshman at a major Division-I program. The kid is an athlete and a scorer. He also worked hard on the boards and was an aggressive defender."

This kid is a solid overall player but he does have some rough edges to his game. Maya went on to complete his analysis by summing up the areas that may need some improvement:

"My only question is how he would fare in a more disciplined offense. It looked like he had to do too much the night I saw him in the state title game against Santa Margarita. Also, having just seen him once I'm not sure whether he is a streaky shooter. He certainly looked like a true scorer who needs to take a lot of shots to be effective."

According to Rivals and Scout Tapley does list Kentucky, however in his most recent interview that was done by Bill Patterson of the Sacramento Bee today, there was no mention of the Cat's. Stanford seems to be the school that the academically oriented student is most intrigued with at this time.

"Tapley plans to make his first official college visit this weekend to the University of San Diego. He said Sacramento State, Baylor, San Diego State, Wyoming, Pacific, UC Davis and Saint Mary's also have offered scholarships.

He admits the Stanford offer is enticing. Tapley, who has a 3.0 grade-point average, went on an unofficial visit to Palo Alto earlier this summer. He said he spent 3 1/2 hours talking with Dawkins, a U.S. Olympic men's basketball team assistant to head coach Mike Krzyzewski.

"I felt really comfortable around him," Tapley said of the former Duke star and longtime Blue Devils assistant. "He's someone who has done what I'd liked to try – been an All-American and played in the NBA. I think I could learn a lot from him."

Patterson has covered a lot of Dragon games and is constantly raving about Sacramento's hometown hero. Patterson recently updated Tapley's progress while on the AAU summer circuit.

Tapley was a key player on the star-studded Pump 'N Run Elite team that won several major Amateur Athletic Union tournaments and lost in the semifinals of the talent-filled adidas Super 64 tourney in late July in Las Vegas.

During that event, Tapley fared well against some of the nation's top recruits – he hit a three-pointer with under a minute left to help beat the pre-tournament favorite and defending champion Atlanta Celtics 72-68.

Tapley said having played on Pump 'N Run the summer before with UCLA freshman Jrue Holiday and other potential NBA players was a huge benefit.

"Jrue was a great role model because of the way he plays the game," Tapley said. "He wants to win, has the killer instinct and ... he always wanted to guard the best player."

Tapley may have his sights set on some of fellow Sacramento High School alum Kevin Johnson's records this coming season. In the end even though the chances of him attending a school in this area are seemingly an Olson twin away from disappearing, kind of slim, Tapley may be a name that you hear for the next four years. Most of all the kid is coachable and truly enjoys the game. His coach holds him in high regard and has a lot of respect for him. In turn he embraces the lessons offered by his coach.

"He is unselfish almost to a fault," said Sac High coach Derek Swafford. "I've been fortunate to have a kid like him. He's so talented. But what's even better is that he sets a good example and is a good student. He's a jewel."

"We have the best relationship," Chase Tapley said. "We talk about everything, basketball and life. Without him, I don't know where I'd be." - Tapley on Coach Swafford

A special thanks to Adam Maya of the Orange County Register for contributing information for this article. Photo and other quotes courtesy of Bill Patterson of the Sacramento Bee.

This is an update from Jim Calhoun's Elite Camp day 1. It goes in detail about some background information on the kid. A really nice read. His father said that he would like his son to end his recruitment this fall, however Orton said that it would likely be spring before a decision is made.

Jim Calhoun and the UConn men's basketball team's coaching staff welcomed 25 local and national recruits to Gampel Pavilion Sunday for the first day of Calhoun's elite camp. Here are a few notes and observations, in addition to those in today's story:(1) Daniel Orton, the top-10 prospect out of Oklahoma City, is a beast. At 17 years old (he'll turned 18 on Aug. 6), he looks 25, and his 6-foot-10, 267-pound frame proves as much. Why 267? At least, that's what he weighed at Sunday."It depends on what day it is," Orton said, drawing a chuckle from the ground of reporters around him. "I can be 265, 270."

Some key things to know about the Scout.com 5-star recruit:a) At the moment, Orton, ranked No. 10 overall in the Class of 2009 by Rivals.com as well as the No. 2 center, has been praised for his defensive skill set, and says he draws parts of his game from past UConn defensive stalwarts such as Emeka Okafor and Hilton Armstrong, as well as Charlie Villanueva. That said, his offensive game has room to grow, though there certainly is loads of upside. In the few hours I got to see him Sunday, he showed off a number of powerful dunks in drills as well as good instincts around the rim during a scrimmage, including some pretty interior passing.

Orton said he's working primarily on refining his jump hook this summer "because I figure in high school, I can get those down over the small 6-4, 6-5 guys.""I have to say so right now, yes (my defense) is (the best part of my game), but I'm improving everything," Orton added. "I'm trying to become an all-around player. My offensive game has come a long way and it's developing really well. I like it."b)

Orton has his list of schools down to seven: UCLA, Kansas, Texas, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, UConn and Kentucky. He's not sure which ones he'll make an official visit to, though he said he plans to wait until the spring to declare."That's something new," his father, Larry said. "I would like him to get it over with in the fall (during the early signing period). I thought he wanted to get it over with in the fall. But you know kids, they change every day."So far, Orton said he's yet to visit Ohio State, Texas and Kansas unofficially."I know he went to Kentucky and really liked it," Larry Orton said. "The fans were great. (Oklahoma State), he grew up as the ball boy at OSU because my son (Terrence Crawford) played there (between 2000 and 2005)."Orton said playing time is a significant factor for him as a freshman, as he is looking to stay one, maybe two years, in college. With Hasheem Thabeet seemingly a lock to leave following this season (barring injury) and Jeff Adrien guaranteed to leave (graduation), there would be immediate opportunity for Orton in Storrs. It's notable, too, that UConn has never had a one-and-done.

"But I look for a college that I can see myself at for four years because you never know what can happen," he said. "You can get hurt, you never know what can happen."c)

Why has UConn caught his eye? For one, the Huskies put players in the pros, and "the development of the big men, I really like that," Orton said.Larry Orton, who said his family plans on moving to wherever Daniel goes to school, has also taken a liking to UConn, he said."I think it's excellent," he said. "It's what we thought it was, one of the top three programs in the country. ... (The campus) kind of reminds me a little of OSU because it's kind of sitting in the back when you get of the highway. The campus is really nice. And I grew up on the East coast. I was telling the young lady that picked me up that it reminded me a lot of home and where I grew up in (Virginia)."d)

Some background on Orton: He didn't start playing basketball seriously until the seventh grade, roughly about the time he grew 15 inches in a single year, his father said."Me and my older son, we used to laugh at Daniel," Larry Orton said. "We didn't think Daniel was going to be a basketball player because he didn't really get into it until his seventh grade year. He was just a short, chubby, fat kid. I have pictures I can show you. And then he grew 15 inches — and I knew it was coming, I just didn't know when. Then between 14 and 15 (years old), he grew 15 inches."The first game he played he scored 16 points, never played in an organized game (before)," he added. "He was just doing things that were unbelievable. The guy didn't believe he was seven years old."e) Just a very well-spoken kid, and is seemingly very aware of the recruiting process and how things go. He also has a rather hectic summer planned. From UConn, he heads to Kentucky for its elite camp, to Portland for the Nike Global Challenge, to San Francisco to work out — “But I don’t think my mom’s going to let me,” he said — and finally Brazil for another Nike competition. -Article

Curtis Pulley has seen his last snap as quarterback and receiver for the University of Kentucky. Coach Brooks made the announcement today during the schools media day. Coach Brooks was asked about the dismissal and stated that Pulley's recent troubles coupled with other factors was the reasoning behind the decision. Ken Taylor told Rick Bozich this afternoon on Louisville's ESPN affiliate 93.9 the Ticket that Brooks would not elaborate on the "other reasons" that paired with the known factors in this situation.

Though Pulley had only started 1 career game the team and fan base always had high hopes for the once heralded youngster. After all, Pulley was Kentucky's Mr. Football in 2004. Pulley was also the recipient of the Paul Hornung award as Kentucky's Player of the Year. Pulley had an illustrious career while playing in talent laden Christian County at Hopkinsville High. Pulley was a four year letter man while playing quarterback and safety. He accumulated over 6,000 passing yards and 62 touchdowns. On the ground Pulley delivered more punishment to the opposition adding another 3,000+ yards and over 50+ touchdowns. Pulley was also a proven winner. Leading his squad to a 31-8 record in three seasons as the starter under center.

Pulley's career numbers at UK will fall short of the expectations finishing 39 of 64 for 280 yards no touchdowns and three interceptions. Pulley's rushing and receiving statistics also fell way short of his potential. 72 career rushing attempts for 273 yards and three touchdowns. 23 receptions for 220 yards and one touchdown.

If I had to sum up my feelings about Pulley in one word it would be, disappointment. This kid had so much talent, a great staff ready to develop it and a bright future ahead of him. I don't think that the young man realized how much stock the citizens of the Commonwealth had wrapped up in him. Kentuckians take pride in their homegrown athletes and talented people who actually make it. It is almost like folks see some of themselves in kids and in turn expect the kids to embrace the opportunity to represent our state the way that they felt like they would have if given half the chance.

Overall the Wildcat's have taken a bit of an early season blow these past couple of days losing 3 projected starters.. The news that cornerback Paul Warford would not be eligible for the upcoming season. Warford is a Junior from Richmond, Ky who started 11 games last season. Warford does plan to re-enroll this spring and redshirt this season. David Jones who has spent his time bouncing back and forth from receiver to cornerback is expected to take Warford's spot in the lineup. In addition, news that offensive lineman Christian Johnson would likely miss the season due to a back injury or could be ruled academically ineligible for the upcoming season has surfaced. Johnson is a senior from Fort Campbell Kentucky and has not used his redshirt.

The Cat's can ill-afford to lose many more players from the depth chart. Depth is what separates the Cat's from being a consistent top 25 program. I do believe that the staff has done a great job adding talent to a once barren roster. However the team is still a couple of seasons away from having injuries and defections not playing as critical of a role on the win/loss column.

Nov. 3 (Mon) MISSOURI - ST. LOUIS [Exh.] 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 7 (Fri) TBA [Exh.] 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 14 (Fri) VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 18 (Tue) at North Carolina 9:00 p.m. ESPN
Nov. 22 (Sat) DELAWARE STATE Noon
Nov. 24 (Mon) LONGWOOD 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 28 (Fri) vs. Kansas State 11:59 p.m. ESPN U
Nov. 29 (Sat) vs. West Virginia/Iowa TBA 7:30/10:30 p.m. ESPN U
Dec. 3 (Wed) LAMAR 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 6 (Sat) MIAMI (FL) 5:30 p.m. ESPN
Dec. 7 (Sun) MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE 3:00 p.m.
Dec. 13 (Sat) INDIANA 4:00 p.m. CBS
Dec. 20 (Sat) vs. Appalachian State (at Louisville) Noon
Dec. 22 (Mon) TENNESSEE STATE 7:00 p.m.
Dec. 27 (Sat) FLORIDA ATLANTIC 3:00 p.m.
Dec. 29 (Mon) CENTRAL MICHIGAN 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 4 (Sun) at Louisville 1:30/4:30 p.m. CBS
Jan. 10 (Sat) • VANDERBILT 2:00 p.m. Raycom
Jan. 13 (Tue) • at Tennessee 9:00 p.m. ESPN
Jan. 18 (Sun) • at Georgia Noon Raycom
Jan. 21 (Wed) • AUBURN 9:00 p.m. Raycom
Jan. 24 (Sat) • at Alabama 3:00 p.m. Raycom
Jan. 27 (Tue) • at Ole Miss 7:00 p.m. ESPN
Jan. 31 (Sat) • SOUTH CAROLINA 3:00 p.m. Raycom
Feb. 3 (Tue) • MISSISSIPPI STATE 7:00 p.m. Raycom
Feb. 10 (Tue) • FLORIDA 9:00 p.m. ESPN
Feb. 14 (Sat) • at Arkansas 1:00 p.m. CBS
Feb. 17 (Tue) • at Vanderbilt 9:00 p.m. ESPN
Feb. 21 (Sat) • TENNESSEE 1:00 p.m. CBS
Feb. 25 (Wed) • at South Carolina 7:00 p.m. Raycom
Feb. 28 (Sat) • LSU 2:00 p.m. CBS
Mar. 4 (Wed) • GEORGIA 8:00 p.m. Raycom
Mar. 7 (Sat) • at Florida 2:00 p.m. CBS
Mar.12-15(Th-Su) 3 SEC Tournament [Tampa] / TBA

Check local listings
• All times Eastern
• SEC Game

It seems like it has been quite sometime since the state of Kentucky has been among the top in the nation in producing talent. The 80's and early 90's saw a boom of players from the bluegrass state making a huge impact on division 1 games around the country. There were those Kentucky teams that were loaded with homegrown players. Then there were the Louisville teams that hosted names like Griffith, Morton, Wheat and Osborne. For the last 10 years the state has been seemingly in a slump. Sure there were solid players like Carrier, Stockton and Lofton and Rondo but not like before?

Now the state looks poised to solidify itself as a top 15 producer of talent again. There are the names we have all heard of: Darius Miller, Scotty Hopson, Jon Hood, Jacob Jenkins, Aaron Cosby, Dakotah Euton and Chad Jackson. However the state has talent that goes deeper than the household names for the first time in a long time.

Some of the top players in the state are also young. D'carlo Hayes (left) helped to lead his Male Bulldogs to a 23-7 record last season. Hayes was also named the MVP of the Derrick Smith shootout at Hoops. Thomas Blakmore (center) averaged 15 points a game last and helped to lead Butler to a respectable 19-12 record. Ian Chiles (right) is possibly better than his older brother Adam. Ian's Ballard squad finished 21-10 last season.

Darnell Davis plays out one of the top producers of talent per capita in the nation, Hopkinsville. Davis is a solid prospect. Davis is 6'5 has a wide frame and is a solid post player.

Shaquille Wilson has been on Xavier's radar for sometime and is a long smooth athlete also out of Hopkinsville. Wilson is a terrific shooter and should flourish during the remainder of his high school career.

The state is also host Clint Stepp who attends June Buchannan. Stepp burst onto the national scene at the Adidas Super 64 in Vegas. Stepp had games with 26 and 33 points respectively. His family is associated with high scoring production so this doesn't come as a shock locally, however nationally Stepp is now on the radar.

Richie Phares out of Scott County is a 6'7 power forward that can shoot as well. Phares has been contacted by all of the local mid majors and will be a solid player at that level.

In the end the best way to sum things up in this agricultural state is that the drought just may be over.

Article by Brad King

I sometimes wonder if Kentucky basketball fans are the most fierce and organized fan base on the planet. If our state's mind was focused, who knows what we could accomplish. So it seems after the UK fans completely annihilate a CBS poll by Gary Parish that matched the top programs over the past 100 years with the best players from their national championship teams. The results were outstanding. Kentucky did not just win, but destroyed the likes of IU, UNC, and UCLA...and it wasn't even close. So here is to you, UK fans... here is to taking over the Presidential elections in the fall as well. Link to Article: http://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/10913833.

The 15 and under division was won by Playaz Basketball Club White as they beat M33M CIA Bounce 75-63. The MVP was awarded to Myles Mack .

The 16 and under division was won by the DC Assault. The Assault defeated New Heights NYC 72-55. Tyler Thornton of the Assault was awarded the MVP.

The 17 and under gold division was won by Net Gain Sports. They defeated the Student Athletes Broncos 76-56. The MVP was awarded to Cole Stephan.

The 17 and under division was won by Grassroots Canada Elite. The Elite defeated Pump N Run Elite 79-55. Texas commit Tristan Thompson was awarded the MVP.

Numbers of interest from the tourney

• Derrick Favors had 18 points, his Atlanta Celtics defeated The Ohio Basketball Club 84-75


• Derrick Favors had 24 points as his Celtics defeated Playaz Basketball Club Gold 63-52.


• Derrick Favors had 28 points in a Celtics win over Texas D-1 Ambassadors 99-80.


• Jon Hood had 20 in a 96-66 win for the Nashville Celtics over Oakland Rebels 17S .


• Jon Hood had 24 points as his Nashville Celtics defeated Houston Select Black 80-65.


• Jon Hood had 15 points in an 83-42 win over Arizona Premier Blue.


• Rakeem Buckles had 21 in a 98-76 win for his Florida Rams team over the AZ Warriors.


• Trae Golden had 21 points in a 66-64 win as the Atlanta Celtics beat the Playaz Basketball Club.

According to Evan Daniels of Scout.com Leonard has chosen the Illini over Louisville and Purdue. Kentucky had been turning up the heat lately on the big fella. Leonard is widely considered to be among the top centers in the 10' class. His performance in Vegas last week might have catapulted him into the 5 star echelon.

Robinson (center) is a 6'8 forward from Washington D.C. Despite posting respectable numbers as a junior (17 points 14 rebounds and 5 blocks per game) Robinson's recruitment was surprisingly quiet. Well not anymore. This summer Robinson has become that player that seemingly every coach in the nation is pursuing. Robinson averaged 17 points and 12 rebounds per game on the summer circuit. The talented forward has offers from no less than 17 schools including Kentucky and Louisville. Robinson's most recent list does have Pitt and Virgina at the top however he has stated that he will not make a decision for a few months.

"A Washington, DC native, Robinson continued to show why he’s become so highly regarded; Thomas dominated, particularly on Sunday, where he displayed his total package in both drills and games, including paint play, defending, and the occasional long jumper. Robinson, a 6’8” long armed, rising senior frontcourt player, has worked on his outside game, and will continue to do so, along with open floor ball handling." - link

Josh Langford who is considered to be a solid top 100 prospect in the class of 2010 has verbally committed to play for the University of Louisville. Langford plays his AAU ball for the Alabama Lasers and was recently in town for the Hoopfest.

Also here is a video of a 10 year old kid scoring 41 points. His name is Cory Barrios Jr. out of Castro Valley, Ca. Found it on You Tube just thought that I would pass it along.

Dicky Lyons Jr. does not shy away from attention. If you haven't heard about his run in at media day then take a moment to read what happened. I think that Mr. Dawson over at the Courier site has the full article.

When Lyon's first approached the podium he swallowed a fly, and had to cough and gag for a couple of minutes before regaining his composure. Lyon's then went on to tell a story about how he has been having some weird dreams about his fiance leaving him. In the end of the dream Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford punches Lyon's in the face.

Needless to say Lyons had the entire media cracking up as he told his story.

Article by Brad King

I have this theory when it comes to recruiting. Certain players have certain names that fit certain schools. For example, Abdul Gaddy, completely an Arizona name. I don't know why but it sounds like it. Kenny Boynton. Duke name. Liggins really seemed like a Kansas name to me to go with Chalmers, Rush, and Collins. However, if a player commits, then by this theory, his name automatically becomes a name of the school he committed to... and now, Liggins is a Kentucky name.

Orton - Kentucky name. It just fits
Barnes - Richie Farmer, Sean Woods, Jeff Sheppard, Harrison Barnes - Kentucky name
Brandon Knight - Florida name
John Wall - An NC State name
Samardo Samuels - Due to the several nicknames his name could provide, A UL name lock. Though, since he committed, of course it's a UL name.
Jon Henson - Brandan Wright name like name in feel, UNC name
Olek Czyz - White guy with eastern European name = Duke name lock
Glen Rice Jr - A name associated with big city basketball in Glen Rice Sr., GT name lock
Renardo Sidney - UCLA name
Dominic Cheek - a Big East name
Karron Johnson - Cincinnati Name
Farrakohn Hall - Images of Louis Farrakohn, stays in south, Alabama name.
Shawn Kemp? - A Kentucky name
Kenny Boynton - A Duke name

This system is foolproof, I tell you.

Article by Brad King

Much has been made in the off season about Kentucky's lack of depth in the backcourt. After losing Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford, and Derrick Jasper; Kentucky is left with having to fill the void left by the loss of UK's 2 most prolific guards and perhaps the most reliable ball handler on the team in Jasper. However, it's not all bad for the UK guards. Assuming they will both become eligible (which as reported by AlleyOopScoop.com's David Money is probable), Kevin Galloway and DeAndre Liggins are a step in the right direction.

The Kentucky backcourt consists of three point guards and a shooting guard. . Liggins at 6'6 and Galloway at 6'7 will inevitably create a barrage of mismatches for just about any opponent the team will see next season. Both are highly athletic players and good defenders due to their quickness and size. Michael Porter returns for his 3rd season at Kentucky, and while he might be a role player, it's very possible he could receive a good amount of playing time at shooting guard filling in for Jodie Meeks.

The biggest probalem this team faces is rooted in the backcourt. Kentucky has one reliable outside shooter in Jodie Meeks, who could very well face more injuries in the future. After Meeks, Kentucky's perimeter shooting is on the shoulders of players such as Liggins and Galloway (who are not good outside shooters by any stretch of the imagination), Darius Miller, Ramon Harris, and Michael Porter. The shooting contribution of the new comers, in this light, could very well mean the difference in 20 wins or 25 wins.

In short concerning the backcourt,

the good:

Size
Athleticism
Ballhandling
Defense
Rebounding

The Bad:

Untested freshman and JUCO transfers
Lack of shooting prowess

In the modern day recruiting game, in an age where the Internet is king, perhaps the site most frequently referenced list by any recruiting, is that of the Rivals' recruiting rankings. It is in these rankings that fans and media determine the whose who of the high school ranks. These same rankings donned the coming of Lebron James, the elite talent of Michal Beasley, and surely enough, the incoming talent of players such as Samuardo Samuels* (Louisville) and Tyreke Evans (Memphis) for the upcoming season.

Yet, while fans glimpse at these rankings, more often than not, little thought is placed into exactly how are they contrived, and as Rivals.com Senior Analyst Justin Young would attest, it is not an easy process. There are ten's of thousands of high school prospects in the country. It is the work of two people at Rivals.com to weed the best from the best, and in the end, produce what is the most accurate list of the top basketball players in America. “Jerry Meyer [Rivals.com Senior Analyst] and myself watch as much basketball as humanly possible, mesh our brains together and come up with a list of players that we believe is the correct order of players.” Young said in a recent interview.

No area is left neglected. Year in and year out, Young and Meyer attend high school games across America. In the off season of the high school leagues, the AAU circuit winds into full motion, stocked full of America's top talent. At events such as Bob Gibbons' Tournament of Champions (Durham, NC), Tyson's The Real Deal on the Hill (Fayetteville, Arkansas), Nike Peach Jam (North Augusta, GA), and the Las Vegas Summer Jam; it is not unusual to see Billy Gillispie sitting next to Rick Pitino, Jim Boeheim sitting next to Billy Donovan, or Tom Crean sitting next to Ben Howland. Of course, included in this crowd is either of the Rivals.com senior analysts, Justin Young or Jerry Meyer.

While the AAU tournaments often, by nature, gather the best talent in the country all in one gym, the high school games are also an integral part of the process. The AAU teams, often consisting of players thrown together temporarily or guided by lower-quality coaches, generally play with much less passion for their team. “There seems to be much more pride on the line [in high school games]. The games have much more meaning. I believe you really find out about the great ones in high school due to that.”

Yet, the AAU tournaments and high school games are not the only way talent is picked up by Rivals, and for the elite of the elite that are lucky enough to be ranked and noticed by Rivals, there are many more who wish they could be ranked. “I get more calls and emails from players' parents and coaches than anything else. I'd say I receive roughly 20 a day about a player. More times than not, the player is a non Division I player.”

So what are the criteria which separates the good from the great? As Young observes players, three main qualities are looked for in determining their skill level. “I'm an athleticism guy. I'm a size guy. Those are the two things that I look for first... Then, of course, skill set.” Yet, Justin Young also cautions that talent is not the end all of scouting and ranking prospects. “The biggest thing that turns me off about a player is his attitude. If you are a problem on the court or with your coach, I can promise you that will be one of the first things that comes out of my mouth to a college coach if I'm asked about that player.”

It is by these observations, that Young and Meyer slowly, but surely, order and rank the prospects scouted. As the final list is placed and published, there are always those fans ready to disagree and take arms with the rankings. Generally, and with out fail, fans always believe their players should be ranked higher. “Fan is short for fanatic. I realize that.” Said Young regarding to fan opposition to the rankings. “For the most part, they don't watch the games. They speak out of ignorance and a lot of times that is dangerous. They raise the bar way too high and in turn a lot of the kids read the message boards and believe to be as fact. In turn, when I'm giving my professional opinion and it doesn't match the thoughts of the fan base, I'm perceived to be the villain. I don't mind that. That same player usually sits instead of plays (or transfers) and the fans have already moved onto the next great star. It's a continual cycle of overzealous expectations.”

While disgruntled fans knock the lack of high rankings for their own players, it does not detract from the confidence of the Rivals gurus. “I think what we do is on point. That's why we do them. We put in more time than people realize trying to get them right. We don't always get it right but more times than not, we do. But at the end of the day, a ranking has never signed a scholarship paper. Never has, never will.”

A special thanks to Rivals.com analyst Justin Young for contributing information in this article.
Article by Brad King

Article by Brad King

365 days ago, the number one problem facing the Kentucky basketball roster was painfully evident. With All-World Freshman Patrick Patterson anchoring the frontline along side a raw and young Perry Stevenson, true freshman AJ Stewart, an unheralded project in Mike Williams, an injury-proned bean pole named Jared Carter, and walk-on Marc 'Flurry' Coury; Kentucky's front court was overmatched in just about every match up verse a worthy opponent.

That very front line was used, abused, and mutilated for a great deal of the season. Marc Coury and his 2 points and 1.7 rebounds became the starter in the middle. Mike Williams got playing time in five games all season. Jared Carter was both unprepared and injured. And AJ Stewart tended to be lost defensively.

However, by halfway through the SEC season, things began to change most largely due to the fact that Perry Stevenson had become a player. Not just a player, but a very good player. In the last 15 games of the season, Stevenson averaged 8 points and 7 boards per game; including a 14 point performance verse Tennessee and an 18 point performance verse Florida. The Patterson/Stevenson duo became a formidable one in the high-low set, and often the front court became the most reliable facet of the Kentucky team.

Going into the 2008-2009 season, UK definitely does have holes to fill on the roster, yet the frontcourt is the strongest it has been since the 02-03 season. For 5 years, UK fans have been clamoring for a respectable front court. Finally, that problem has been eased. The addition of 6'9 270 lbs Josh Harrellson, a player known for his soft hands and physical prowess finds himself in a role which he can instantly contribute and thrive.

Jared Carter, now healthy, is the lone senior on this team. After a successful summer tenure in Africa with the Athletes in Action (where he became the leading scorer for that team), there is reason to believe that his 4th season will be much improved from the past. While many UK fans have always doubted the big guy, he always has one thing going for him. You cannot teach 7'1 height. Expect Carter to be a crucial part of Kentucky's success from here forward.

AJ Stewart might be the most athletic player on the Kentucky roster. With this arsenal of gravity defying dunks displayed in several showcases prior to his college career, there is no doubt that Stewart has some real potential to be something special at Kentucky. It is a popular notion that the biggest improvement a player makes in college is between his freshman and sophomore year. Judging by Gillispie's comments at his most recent press conference, the theory seemingly holds true for AJ Stewart, who could find himself as one of the first players off the bench.

While Marc Coury remains on the roster, Gillispie has alluded to the fact that the junior walk-on is fishing around for a scholarship offer. Yet, if Coury remains around, it is a good thing. Marc Coury is now one of the most experienced walk-on players in the NCAA due to UK's lack of front court talent from last season.

Lakeem Jackson has committed to South Carolina. Coach Horn seems to be doing a good job early on. Here are some things passed along to us via e-mail as well


John Wall, the No. 1 Rivals recruit in the Class of 2009, says he plans to be one-and-done or two-and-done for college in order to help support his family, including his mom and two sisters.

“My dad (John Sr.) passed when I was 10,” Wall told SI.com.

“After he passed, I was the man of the house. I realized I wanted to go somewhere and get my family in a better situation.”

“If I go one-and-done or two-and-done,” Wall added, “I’m going back to school and finish regardless. I promised it to my mom.”

Memphis, Kansas, Oregon, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor and N.C. State are listed as Wall’s leaders at the moment.

Xavier Henry, the No. 2 prospect in ‘09, will visit Kansas, Memphis, UCLA and Texas but we hear it will come down to Kansas and Memphis.

Word is the 6-6, 214-pound Henry favors Memphis even though both his parents attended Kansas.

Kentucky is the favorite for Daniel Orton, a 6-10, 260-pound center from Oklahoma City (OK) Bishop McGuinness listed as the No. 2 center in the class.

Villanova and Georgetown are still recruiting 6-5 Montrose Christian small forward Terrell Vinson, but Duke is not.

Despite one recent newspaper report, Lance Stephenson is not considering Indiana and North Carolina is not recruiting him.

6-7 Birmingham (Ala.) forward Christian Watford likes Memphis and Louisville, but Kentucky, Indiana and Alabama are also in his Top 5, according to Jody Demling.

**Onetime Rutgers target Ricardo Ratliffe, a 6-8 power forward from Hampton (VA) Kecoughtan, is headed to prep school.http://www.zagsblog.net/

New Heights director Kimani Young checked in today to give an updated list of schools recruiting his top juniors.

JayVaughn Pinkston, Bishop Loughlin – Villanova, Rutgers, St. John’s, Fordham and Xavier have all offered.

QUOTE: “I feel like St. John’s and Villanova are doing the best job right now,” Young said.

Devon Collier, St. Anthony — Rutgers, St. John’s, Villanova, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Fordham

Ashton Pankey, St. Anthony — Rutgers, St. John’s, DePaul, Virginia, Fordham

QUOTE: “They’ll wait until next summer before deciding. They’re all continuing to improve. We’re going to be patient with this.”

USA DISMANTLES PUERTO RICO KEMBA SCORES 15

The 2008 USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team (3-0) rolled over Puerto Rico, 106-64, Wednesday night at the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship in Formosa, Argentina.Five players scored in double digits, including University of Oregon freshman-to-be Matt Humphrey (Hales Franciscian H.S / Chicago, Ill.), UCLA freshman-to-be Malcom Lee (John W. North H.S. / Riverside, Calif.) and University of Connecticut freshman-to-be Kemba Walker (Rice H.S. / New York, N.Y.), who each scored 15; Travis Wear (Mater Dei H.S. / Santa Ana, Calif.) notched his third double-digit game with 13; while University of Alabama freshman-to-be JaMychal Green (St. Jude H.S. / Montgomery, Ala.) finished with 12 points.

The USA advances to the medal semifinals and will play Canada (2-1) today at 6 p.m., while Argentina (3-0) will play Puerto Rico for the right to advance to Friday’s gold medal game. All four of the medal semifinalists have qualified to compete in the 2008 FIBA U19 World Championship, slated to be played in New Zealand.In the day’s other games host Argentina defeated Canada 74-64, Venezuela (1-2) captured an 85-64 victory over the Bahamas (0-3), and Uruguay (1-2) earned a 63-51 win over Mexico (0-3).

“What really pleases me is that so many guys contributed to this,” said USA and Davidson College head coach Bob McKillop.

“Every guy on this roster played a role, had a part and was very instrumental to our success. It was a 40-minute effort. Our guys went from the opening tap to the end once again. For a coaching staff, we could want nothing more.”

TEAM USA ROUTS BAHAMAS ECHENIQUE POSTS 25 & 15

Team USA beat the Bahamas, 115-51, to win its second straight game at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship in Formosa, Argentina. 6-foot-10 Duke commit Mason Plumlee had a double-double of 14 points and 14 boards and North Carolina-bound forward Travis Wear was the leading scorer for the second straight game, scoring 15 points. Alabama freshman big man JaMychal Green tallied 13 points, Kansas freshman guard Travis Releford 11 and Villanova commit Maalik Wayns and UCLA frosh Malcolm Lee had 10 apiece. St. Anthony senior wing Dominic Cheek had 6 points on 3 of 7 shooting to go with 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 turnovers.

“Our teamwork and our toughness was there from start to finish,” said USA and Davidson College head coach Bob McKillop.

“We distributed the ball very well, we defended very well and the guys have really accepted the concept that defense wins championships.”

Next up for the USA is a date with Puerto Rico on Wednesday.Meantime, 6-9 Rutgers freshman Greg Echenique put up 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting to go with 15 rebounds and six blocks in a 94-76 loss to Puerto Rico.

Think head coach Fred Hill isn’t excited about putting the St. Benedict’s big man on the floor with McDonald’s All-American Mike Rosario of St. Anthony?
http://emekanadavandcorny.blogspot.com/

Summer Roundup UConn incoming freshman Kemba Walker and hotly-recruited Class of '09 shooting guard Dominic Cheek have both made the cut and will play on the USA National Team that will compete in the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship tourney in Argentina later this month.Walker, the point guard from New York's Rice High, has developed a good rapport with Cheek, a 6-foot-5 shooter out of St. Anthony's High in New Jersey who's the No. 3-ranked shooting guard in his class, according to scout.com. The two know each other pretty well and have been teamed up quite a bit together during the U-18 trials.UConn is hot on the trail of Cheek, who has made an unofficial visit to North Carolina. Wake Forest and Villanova are thought to be high on Cheek's list, as well. Meanwhile, out at the LeBron James Skills Camp in Akron, Ohio, UConn commit Alex Oriakhi has raised some eyebrows with his intensity.

"His slide into the scout.com Top 25 was no accident, and he's bound and determined to remain there," wrote the website's national recruiting director, Dave Telep.

I Really Like Harrison Barnes...

The sensation of the AAU summer circuit this year has been none other than Harrison Barnes. With Kentucky, Indiana, and Iowa State leading the pack, and rumors that Duke, Kansas, and others are sure to follow, his recruitment is definitely one to keep an eye on.

Last week at the Kentucky Hoopfest, Barnes had some interesting words for Jodie Demling (as reported on his blog) that has instantly placed Barnes near the top of my most likeable recruits of all-time.

When asked about Indiana, Barnes responded:"With Indiana , I talk to coach (Tom) Crean a lot. We talk about Dwayne Wade and about how personally I stopped liking him. But he wants me to become a big fan."

Strong words, indeed! Any player that can tell a coach to his face that he stopped liking his franchise player, gets high marks in my book.Oh yeah, and by the way, Barnes also told Jody Demling, "I communicate with Kentucky frequently because I like talking to their coaches," Barnes said. "Coach (Tracey) Webster, he's a real good guy.Check the rest out on the Jodie Demling blog.

Thanks to contributing writer Brad King for some of the updates!

After a hard fought 61-66 loss by Indiana Elite 15AU team. I still thought they looked good. The roster is currently host to a who's who of the sophomore to be class.

6'3 Spencer Turner who finished with 24 is a heck of a player and should continue to develop over the next couple of seasons. All three local schools have watched Turner play. Marshall Plumlee, Cody Zeller and Jeffersonville High School's Evan Maschmeyer also grace the roster.



















The 6'7 Zeller (above) had 16 points and 8 boards and looked pretty mobile. Zeller is very coordinated and makes the game easier for his teammates. If he draws a double team he kicks it out and if he doesn't then it usually ends in 2. Should be a high four star player by the time his senior season rolls around. UK has watched the kid play.

After the game we caught up with the kid from Washington High school

Could you tell folks a little bit about your game?

"I just work hard every game to help my team win. Depending on what the team needs I can drive if I got a big guy on me and if I got a smaller guy on me I can post up. I just do whatever the team needs."

What do you think about the facilities here at Hoops?

"Their really nice. This is a really nice facility and hopefully we can get one close to home."

Have you even started to think about college?

"no not really, just filled out some questionnaire's."



















Plumlee (45) looks like a great defender at this point, but his offensive skills do leave something to be desired, but the kid is going into his sophomore season so he has time. I am sure that his older brothers will help the kid quickly develop.



















Evan Maschmeyer of Jeffersonville High School is expected to make a lot of noise this season. Maschmeyer is considered one of the top 2011 prospects in the state of Indiana.

What about you, what have you been working on this summer?

"I have mostly played as a post player so far in my career, but I have been working on my moves and being able to step out onto the wing and handle the ball a little bit. I have also been working on post moves and rebounding."

Have you even started to think about college?

"Evansville right now there sorta talking to me but that is pretty much it."

Hill is a 6'7 smooth prospect he spends most of his time in the post for his C-BIZ AAU team but is capable of playing the wing as well. Hill is considered one of the top 2010 prospects in the state of Ohio and he has been contacted by a slew of schools including Bowling Green, Akron, Ohio, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue, Iowa, Virginia, Xavier.

Last season as a sophomore at Westerville North High, Hill averaged over 18 points and around 8 rebounds a game.
























Hill had 22 points and 9 rebounds while Tubby Smith was on hand to watch C-BIZ play personally. C-BIZ cruised to a 10+ point win.

I heard a couple of things from very good sources today.

DeAndre Liggins- will most likely be ruled eligible. Barring something crazy from the NCAA.

Jon Wall- I heard that Oklahoma St. is the most likely destination. This, like everything is subject to change, but please be prepared as this is a good possibility.

I am not the kind of person to post that this kid is going here or there, so please don't think that this is being posted for publicity. I was told this by multiple people that are connected throughout the recruiting world and I just thought that I would pass it along.

Some good action took place out at the Hoopfest today.

Harrison Barnes- had another big game today scoring over 30 points in a loss, Barnes was able to will the game to overtime but the Attack fell short. Coach Webster was on hand for the game.

We have a ton of stuff from the Hoopfest. I should have all day Monday to get some more stuff together. Cody Zeller is going to be a nice player. The whole Indiana Elite 15 and under team looks solid.

I have been attending the Hoopfest and working my other job all week, but I will get everything together as soon as I can. Thanks for stopping by it is really appreciated. If you ever need anything at all please e-mail us at alleyoopscoop@yahoo.com