Former Greats Dan Issel and Louie Dampier Talk Kentucky Basketball

Former University of Kentucky greats Dan Issel and Louie Dampier talk UK basketball with CN2:

Video: Team Manimal Highlights from Kentucky State AAU Tournament

Here are some highlights of Team Manimal at the Kentucky State AAU Tournament in Lexington:

Anthony Davis Reportedly Invited to Team USA Mini-Camp

ESPN's Marc Stein is hearing that former Kentucky star Anthony Davis has been invited to Team USA mini-camp in late July in Las Vegas.

ESPNSteinLine Also hearing Hornets bigs Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson have likewise been invited to Team USA mini-camp in late July in Las Vegas

Davis was a member of the United States senior national team in 2012. That team won gold medals at the summer Olympics.

Steven Pearl in Funny Calhoun's BBQ Commercial

Check out this Calhoun's BBQ commercial featuring former University of Tennessee player Steven Pearl, the son of former head coach Bruce Pearl (who had some problems with a backyard BBQ a few years back):

* Offer not available to Aaron Craft

John Calipari is Watching Julius Mays at Brooklyn Combine

John Calipari is watching former Kentucky player Julius Mays work out in the Brooklyn Nets NBA Draft Combine today:

Calipari Explains Why UK Freshmen Turned Down USA U19 Invites

Kentucky freshmen Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, Julius Randle, Dakari Johnson and James Young have declined opportunities to play in the FIBA U19 World Championships.

John Calipari spoke to Mike DeCourcy of SportingNews.com about his incoming players skipping out on Team USA.

Calipari said the players made those decisions on their own and he believes it's because they want to get started in Lexington.

Here is an excerpt:

Some of America’s best young basketball talents will play college basketball next season at Kentucky. You’ve probably heard about this by now. Today, you might have learned none of these young men will play for America this summer in the FIBA U19 World Championships.

According to UK coach John Calipari, that is not by his design.

"Most of it is, they didn’t want to play. I’m not forcing kids to do anything,” Calipari told Sporting News. “I think the reason they all turned it down is, they want to get started.”

 

Kentucky’s rich haul of 2013 recruits will bring guards Andrew and Aaron Harrison to Lexington, along with forward James Young, power forward Julius Randle and center Dakari Johnson. All were eligible for the U19 squad. Randle was a star on the U18 team that qualified for this summer’s world championship. The Harrisons were cut in training camp. Johnson was a member of the U17 squad that won the world title at that age group last summer.

Complete Article

Peyton Siva Interview at the NBA Draft Combine

Here is a recent interview with former Louisville star Peyton Siva at the NBA Draft Combine:

Steffphon Pettigrew Signs with Frayles de Guasave in Mexico

Former Western Kentucky University star Steffphon Pettigrew has signed with Frayles de Guasave in Mexico's CIBACOPA league.

Pettigrew played briefly for Marinos in Venezuela before being released in April.

Earlier this season, he starred for Abejas in Mexico's LNBP league. In 44 games with Abejas, Pettigrew averaged 20.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

Here is an excerpt from LatinBasket.com:

Frayles de Guasave (CIBACOPA) strengthened their roster with addition of 24-year old American forward Steffphon Pettigrew (195-100kg-89, college: W.Kentucky). He was tested at Marinos in Venezuelan LPB league, but was released by the team in April. In only one LPB game he had 3 points, 2 rebounds and 1 block this season. This season Pettigrew played at Abejas (LNBP). In 44 games he recorded very impressive stats: 20.9ppg, 6.3rpg, 2.2apg and 1.0spg. Great season indeed as he was voted to Latinbasket.com All-Mexican LNBP Honorable Mention. The last season he played at Atletico Aguada (LUB) in Uruguayan league. In 44 games he averaged remarkable 19.2ppg, 7.6rpg and 1.8apg last season. He helped them to make it to the semifinals. A very good season in his career as he was voted to Latinbasket.com Uruguay LUB All-Imports Team. Among other achievements Pettigrew's college team won Sun Belt Tournament for two years in a row (2008 and 2009).

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Jodie Meeks is Back in School at Kentucky

Former Kentucky star Jodie Meeks is back in school at UK this summer:



Meeks was at the KBA for the Kentucky State AAU Tournament over the weekend (and he had on his Lakers' socks):

Enes Kanter Out Until August, Will Miss Summer League

Former Kentucky big man Enes Kanter is likely out of action until at least August, meaning he'll miss the Orlando Pro Summer League in July.

Kanter had shoulder surgery in April to repair a tear in his left shoulder. 

Here is more from Sltrib.com:

Enes Kanter's recovery from April shoulder surgery is ahead of schedule, his agent said Wednesday, but the Utah Jazz center may not be cleared to play until August.

That means Kanter will not participate in the Orlando Summer League July 7 through 12, although Kanter's agent, Max Ergul, said it was unlikely the Turkish big man would have played that week even if healthy.

The second-year center underwent surgery on April 10 to repair a tear resulting from a dislocated left shoulder suffered against Phoenix two weeks earlier. Kanter, who turned 21 on Monday, is in his native Turkey this week visiting family, Ergul said.

The Jazz have not released a timeline on Kanter's recovery, but have monitored Kanter closely as he rehabs in Chicago. Ergul said head trainer Gary Briggs has made three trips to Chicago, and that Kanter met with team doctors and GM Dennis Lindsey last week when the contingent was in the Windy City for the NBA's predraft combine.

Complete Article

John Calipari Wants the Cavaliers to Draft Nerlens Noel

Kentucky head coach John Calipari wants the Cleveland Cavaliers to draft former UK star Nerlens Noel in the NBA Draft.

Calipari talked to the The Plain Dealer in Cleveland about Noel and the Cavaliers:

The reason Calipari wants Noel to wind up in Cleveland has more to do with his respect for Cavs General Manager Chris Grant and his staff when it comes to their draft history.

"They haven't made mistakes,'' Calipari said in a telephone interview on Wednesday, one day after the Cavs won the lottery to earn the No. 1 pick for the second time in three years. "If they pick him, in all likelihood, history tells you something: It's not a mistake, which means it's good for my kid.

"Chris Grant has been in our building more than any other GM. That's no disrespect to any other GM. That's just a fact. He and his staff are very thorough in what they've done. That's why I say I hope he gets drafted by them.''

Complete Article

2014 Star Theo Pinson Picks North Carolina

Theo Pinson, a 6-foot-6 small forward from Wesleyan Christian Academy (NC),  has committed to North Carolina.

Pinson, a 5-star recruit in the class of 2014, said on Twitter, "I'm a Tarheel!!!"

He chose North Carolina over Louisville, Indiana, Georgetown and Duke.

Montrezl Harrell, Jahlil Okafor Accept Invites to Team USA U19 Training Camp

Louisville's Montrezl Harrell and Kentucky recruit Jahlil Okafor are among 24 plays who have accepted invitations to the 2013 USA Basketball Men's U19 World Championship Team Training Camp.

 

Here's a look from USABasketball.com:

 

2013 USA Basketball Men's U19 World Championship Team Training Camp Roster

NO NAME POS HGT WGT DOB YOG SCHOOL HOMETOWN

Ryan Arcidiacono G 6-3 190 03/26/94 2016 Villanova Langhorne, PA
Bryce Alford G 6-3 175 01/18/94 2013 La Cueva H.S./*UCLA Albuquerque, NM
Brandon Ashley F 6-8 190 07/15/94 2016 Arizona San Francisco, CA
Robert Carter C 6-8 250 04/04/94 2016 Georgia Tech Thomasville, GA
Damyean Dotson G 6-5 200 05/06/94 2016 Oregon Houston, TX
Kris Dunn G 6-3 185 03/18/94 2016 Providence Oakdale, CT
Javan Felix G 6-0 180 07/28/94 2016 Texas New Orleans, LA
Michael Frazier G 6-4 185 03/08/94 2016 Florida Tampa, FL
Marcus Georges-Hunt F 6-6 215 03/28/94 2016 Georgia Tech College Park, GA
Shaq Goodwin F 6-8 245 09/01/94 2016 Memphis Atlanta, GA
Aaron Gordon F 6-6 210 09/16/95 2013 Archbishop Mitty H.S./*Arizona San Jose, CA
Jerami Grant F 6-6 210 03/12/94 2016 Syracuse Bowie, MD
Montrezl Harrell F 6-7 215 2016 Louisville Tarboro, NC
Rondae' Hollis-Jefferson F 6-6 205 01/03/95 2013 Chester, PA/*Arizona Chester, PA
Jahlil Okafor C 6-10 253 12/15/95 2014 Whitney Young H.S. Chicago, IL
Rodney Purvis G 6-4 190 02/14/94 2016 ^Connecticut Raleigh, NC
James Robinson G 6-3 200 03/04/94 2016 Pittsburgh Mitchellville, MD
Marcus Smart G 6-4 200 03/06/94 2016 Oklahoma State Flower Mound, TX
Jarnell Stokes F 6-8 250 01/07/94 2015 Tennessee Memphis, TN
Rasheed Sulaimon G 6-3 180 03/09/94 2016 Duke Houston, TX
Devin Thomas F/C 6-9 240 05/17/94 2016 Wake Forest Harrisburg, PA
Mike Tobey F/C 6-11 227 10/10/94 2016 Virginia Monroe, NY
Nigel Williams-Goss G/F 6-3 180 09/16/94 2013 Findlay Prep/*Washington Happy Valley, OR Justise Winslow F 6-6 210 03/26/96 2014 St. John's H.S. Houston, TX

*Indicates the college or university where the player has signed a National Letter of Intent.
^Indicates the college or university the player has transferred to.

Head Coach: Billy Donovan, University of Florida
Assistant Coach: Tony Bennett, University of Virginia
Assistant Coach: Shaka Smart, Virginia Commonwealth University
Athletic Trainer: Dave Werner, University of Florida
Team Physician: John Hefferon, Chicago, Illinois

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Cavaliers will Likely Take Nerlens Noel with the No. 1 Pick

ESPN's Andy Katz says the Cleveland Cavaliers will likely select former Kentucky star Nerlens  Noels with the No. 1 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft:



Noel talks about possibly teaming up with Kyrie Irving:

WKU Signs Payton Hulsey for 2013-14

Western Kentucky University has signed 6-foot-4 guard Payton Hulsey from Southwind (Tenn.) High School fro the 2013-14 season.

Here is a release from WKU:

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU head men's basketball coach Ray Harper announced Friday the Hilltoppers have signed high school senior Payton Hulsey, who will join the Hilltoppers for the 2013-14 season and have four years of eligibility at WKU.

A 6-4, 200-pound guard from Memphis, Tenn., Hulsey played high school basketball at Southwind High School, where he helped the Jaguars to a Tennessee Class AAA State Championship in March. Hulsey finished the title game with 14 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, and the Jaguars ended the 2012-13 season with a 34-6 record.

"Payton has a very high basketball IQ, and he is a proven winner," Harper said. "He played on a state championship team last season, and he was one rebound away from a triple-double in the championship game. He is the consummate team player, and he helps every team he is on win games."

During his time at Southwind, Hulsey also helped the Jaguars to national high school rankings of 9th and 15th at various points. He was named to the "Best of Preps" Class AAA boys team by the Commercial Appeal after his junior season of 2011-12.

Hulsey joins Aaron Adeoye (6-7, forward, Marion, Ill.), Chris Harrison-Docks (6-0, guard, Okemos, Mich.), Trency Jackson (6-2, guard, Jackson, Miss.), Alassane Kah (6-9, forward, Senegal) and Daouda Soumaoro (6-10, center, Mali) as newcomers to the Hilltopper roster in 2013-14.

DeAndre Liggins, Thunder Teammates Visit Child Tornado Victims

Former Kentucky star DeAndre Liggins and several of his Oklahoma City Thunder teammates visited child tornado victims at OU Children's Hospital on Tuesday.

Here is more from Newon6.com:

Oklahoma City Thunder players Russell Westbrook, Jeremy Lamb, Hasheem Thabeet and DeAndre Liggins joined coach Scott Brooks Tuesday to bring much-needed smiles to the patients and staff at OU Children's Hospital.

The Thunder stars visited with tornado victims, hoping to bring a smile to the faces of the affected children.

Complete Article

KWC Head Coach Happy Osborne Serves Food at Daniel Pitino Shelter

New Kentucky Wesleyan College head coach Happy Osborne spent some time Monday serving lunch at the Daniel Pitino Shelter.

Here is more from KWC:

  Kentucky Wesleyan College's new men's basketball coach, Happy Osborne, took a short breather from recruiting players Monday and helped serve lunch at the Daniel Pitino Shelter.

While serving homemade vegetable soup, sandwiches and applesauce, Osborne may have recruited a few new fans along the way.

As clients came through the line "they told me they're excited about the team, and they're going to come to the games at the Sportscenter," the affable Osborne said. Cromwell Radio's "Steve Baker comes out here to work every day, and he gives them tickets. I hope they can make every game. We'd love to have them."

Osborne said volunteering at the Pitino Shelter is "the right thing to do."

"The City of Owensboro has been really good to me and my family, and it's a way to give back," Osborne said. "This is a tremendous cause. I met (Pitino Shelter Executive Director) Fr. (Ed) Bradley the other day, and I think a lot of him. And everyone knows about (Louisville) Coach Rick Pitino's son, Daniel.

"Sometimes things get tough for people, and they need a break. It's great we have something like this in Owensboro, and, hopefully, things will get a little easier for people real soon."

Complete Article

Kings Assistant Says DeMarcus Cousins Needs to Mature

Sacramento Kings assistant coach Alex English said in an interview Tuesday that former Kentucky star DeMarcus Cousins should focus on maturing and learning more about the game this summer.

Last season, Cousins was given 17 technical fouls, ejected 4 times and suspended 3 times.

Here is an excerpt from Talkinhoopz.com:

“He’s still a very young player, he’s still got a lot to learn,” English said. “I feel that should be his goal this summer, maturing, (and) learning more about the game.”


Cousins, who will be entering his fourth season in the league, has always had on and off the court drama between teammates and other athletes.

This past season, Cousins was ejected for hitting Mike Dunleavy in the head with an elbow, and for smacking Vince Carter in the face with his forearm.

Cousins is easily one of the most talented players in the league, but all the extra antics that come along with his play has seriously dampened his public image.

“He wants to do well, I think he’s got a ways to go as far as maturing into that type of player that’s going to be a leader every night,” English added.

Complete Article

Mays, Daniel and Siva to Attend Brooklyn Nets NBA Draft Combine

 
The Brooklyn Nets have announced the 44 players who will attend their NBA Draft combine tomorrow and Thursday.

Julius Mays (Kentucky), Ed Daniel (Murray State) and Peyton Siva (Louisville) will attend the combine.

Here's a look at the schedule and the list of players:

SESSION #1: WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 9:30 a.m.
PLAYER	POSITION	HEIGHT/WEIGHT	COLLEGE
JAKE COHEN	Forward	6-10/235	Davidson
JAMES ENNIS	Guard/Forward	6-7/210	Long Beach State
DURAND SCOTT	Guard	6-5/203	Miami
JAMELLE HAGINS	Forward	6-9/235	Delaware
ROMERO OSBY	Forward	6-8/238	Oklahoma
PHIL PRESSEY	Guard	5-11/175	Missouri
ANGELO SHARPLESS	Guard	6-4/190	Elizabeth
MICHAEL SNAER	Guard	6-5/202	Florida State
DJ STEPHENS	Guard/Forward	6-5/187	Memphis
JASON WASHBURN	Center	6-10/242	Utah
CHRISTIAN WATFORD	Forward	6-9/232	Indiana
SESSION #2: WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 11:15 a.m.
PLAYER	POSITION	HEIGHT/WEIGHT	COLLEGE
VANDER BLUE	Guard	6-4/200	Marquette
JACK COOLEY	Forward	6-9/246	Notre Dame
DEWAYNE DEDMON	Center	7-0/255	USC
MATT DELLAVEDOVA	Guard	6-4/190	St. Mary's
CARRICK FELIX	Guard/Forward	6-6/197	Arizona State
ELIAS HARRIS	Forward	6-8/239	Gonzaga
SOLOMON HILL	Forward	6-7/226	Arizona
VINCENT COUNCIL	Guard	6-2/180	Providence
TREVOR MBAKWE	Forward	6-8/245	Minnesota
AMATH M'BAYE	Forward	6-9/215	Oklahoma
NORVEL PELLE	Forward	6-11/207	L.A. County College
SESSION #3: THURSDAY, MAY 23, 9:30 a.m
PLAYER	POSITION	HEIGHT/WEIGHT	COLLEGE
C.J. AIKEN	Forward	6-9/201	St. Joseph's
JARED BERGGREN	Forward/Center	6-10/235	Wisconsin
LAURENCE BOWERS	Forward	6-8/227	Missouri
DEMITRIUS CONGER	Guard/Forward	6-6/205	St. Bonaventure
ED DANIEL	Forward	6-7/238	Murray State
ARSALAN KAZEMI	Forward	6-7/220	Oregon
AJ MATTHEWS	Forward/Center	7-0/215	Farmingdale State
PEYTON SIVA	Guard	6-0/180	Louisville
BRANDON TRICHE	Guard	6-4/210	Syracuse
JOSIAH TURNER	Guard	6-3/190	Arizona
KHALIF WYATT	Guard	6-4/210	Temple
SESSION #4: THURSDAY, MAY 23, 11:15 a.m
PLAYER	POSITION	HEIGHT/WEIGHT	COLLEGE
TROY DANIELS	Guard	6-4/200	VCU
PIERRE JACKSON	Guard	5-10/180	Baylor
KENNY KADJI	Forward/Center	6-11/251	Miami
MARCOS KNIGHT	Guard	6-2/210	Middle Tennessee State
JULIUS MAYS	Guard	6-2/192	Kentucky
ALEX ORIAKHI	Forward	6-9/255	Missouri
BRANDON PAUL	Guard	6-4/200	Illinois
MARSHAWN POWELL	Forward	6-7/240	Arkansas
TRAVIS RELEFORD	Guard	6-6/210	Kansas
MOUPHTAROU YAROU	Forward/Center	6-10/255	Villanova
RODNEY WILLIAMS	Forward	6-7/200	Minnesota