USC to Visit 2012 Star Shabazz Muhammad

USC head coach Kevin O'Neill and an assistant will make an in-home visit to 2012 Kentucky recruit Shabazz Muhammad on Friday.

Here is more from ESPN.com:

USC will visit the Las Vegas home of top Class of 2012 recruit Shabazz Muhammad on Friday, the first day of the next NCAA-allowed contact period, a source said Wednesday.

Head coach Kevin O'Neill and associate head coach Bob Cantu will make the in-home visit with Muhammad and his family Friday morning as the first set of coaches to make a visit. Expected to be present at the meeting are Muhammad's father, former USC basketball player Ron Holmes, and his mother, former Long Beach State basketball player Faye Muhammad.

Complete Article

Photo: Rivals.com

NKU Nets Commitment from 2012 Forward John Staley

Northern Kentucky University has landed a verbal commitment from 2012 forward John Staley from Chaminade-Julienne (OH) High School.

Here is an excerpt from Cincinnati.com:

Chaminade-Julienne senior forward John Staley has verbally committed to play basketball at NKU, according to his father, longtime Chaminade-Julienne coach Joe Staley.

John Staley averaged 17.6 points and 7.4 rebounds last season for Chaminade-Julienne. He also had offers from Vermont, Tennessee Tech and Hillsdale College (Mich.).

“He really liked the closeness to home and he really liked coach (NKU coach Dave) Bezold,” Joe Staley said.

Complete Article

New Highlights of 2013 Star Nerlens Noel

Here are some new highlights of 2013 Kentucky recruit Nerlens Noel, who is widely considered one of the top 3 players in the class (video by CityLeagueHoopsTV on YouTube):

Dominican Republic Will Advance to FIBA Americas Semifinals

The Dominican Republic has secured a spot in the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship semifinals.

The final seeding is still in question as all teams still have two games remaining on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Dominicans will face Puerto Rico tomorrow and Argentina on Thursday. The goal at this point would seemingly be to avoid Argentina in the semifinal round as the host nation is undefeated and playing at an extremely high level in the tournament.

Regardless of the outcomes of the final two games:

- The Dominicans will finish no worse than fourth place, which is the highest the team has ever finished

- Even with a loss in the semifinals, the team has already qualified for a last-chance Olympic qualifier in the summer of 2012.

The bottom line, if the Dominican Republic wins Saturday's semifinal game, they earn a spot in the 2012 Olympics.

Current Standings:

Group X

1. Argentina 5/0 10
2. Brazil 4/1 9
3. Puerto Rico 4/1 9
4. Dominican Republic 4/1 9
5. Venezuela 1/4 6
6. Canada 1/4 6
7. Uruguay 1/4 6
8. Panama 0/5 5

Here is the remaining second round schedule:

9/7/2011

11:30 Canada vs. Uruguay
14:00 Venezuela vs. Panama
18:00 Brazil vs. Argentina
20:30 Dominican Republic vs. Puerto Rico

9/8/2011

11:30 Panama vs. Canada
14:00 Uruguay vs. Venezuela
18:00 Argentina vs. Dominican Republic
20:30 Puerto Rico vs. Brazil

Bellarmine Gets Commitment from PRP's Max Clemons

Jody Demling of the Courier-Journal reported on Twitter tonight that Bellarmine University has picked up a commitment from Max Clemons of Pleasure Ridge Park.

jdemling Defending Division II national champion Bellarmine with a huge local pickup: PRP star Max Clemons makes commitment to Knights. Story soon.

Clemons is a 6-4 wing who is coming off a sensational summer.

Dominican Republic Holds Off Feisty Uruguay

Dominican Republic 84
Uruguay 76

Final from 2011 FIBA Americas Championship Second Round

The Dominican Republic overcame a sluggish start and held off Uruguay 84-76 in second round action at the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship.

With the win, the Dominican Republic improved to 2-0 and are closing in on a semifinal berth, which would give them an opportunity to earn a spot in the 2012 Olympics with a win.

Al Horford led the Dominicans with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 5 assists. Francisco Garcia added 12 points and Charlie Villanueva chipped in 11. Jack Michael Martinez finished with 8 points and 13 rebounds.

Martin Osimani led Uruguay with 22 points and 6 assists.

The Dominicans struggled early, trailing 25-19 after the first period. They fell behind by as many as 11 points in the second quarter before closing out the half on a big run. The run was capped off by a 35-foot bomb by Elpidio Fortuna at the buzzer to give John Calipari's team a 44-42 halftime advantage.

The teams battled back-and-forth in the third quarter and the Dominicans were finally able to pull away late in the final period to earn their fifth win of the tournament.

The Dominican Republic is in a good position to advance to the semifinal round already, but likely need at least one more win to avoid tournament-favorite Argentina in the semis.

Current Standings:

Group X

1. Argentina 5/0 10
2. Puerto Rico 4/1 9
3. Dominican Republic 4/1 9
4. Brazil 3/1 7
5. Venezuela 1/4 6
6. Canada 1/4 6
7. Uruguay 1/4 6
8. Panama 0/4 4

UPIKE Introduces New Floor, Kelly Wells Truck

The University of Pikeville has introduced a new floor at the East Kentucky Expo Center and a Kelly Wells signature edition truck.

The new UPIKE, Paul E. Patton floor at the East KY Expo Center:



The Walters Ford F150 Kelly Wells signature edition truck:

Peyton Siva is One of College Basketball's Hardest Workers

Jason King of Yahoo! Sports has named his list of college basketball's hardest workers.

Louisville's Peyton Siva is on the list:

Peyton Siva, Louisville, junior – The pesky Cardinals guard averaged two steals a game as a sophomore in 2010-11. That makes him in the league returning leader in that category. Siva’s defensive intensity helps make him the tone-setter for one of the conference’s top teams.

Complete Article

Wall, Durant Committed to Goodman vs. Indy Pro-Am Game

Former University of Kentucky star John Wall and Kevin Durant have both confirmed that they will play for the Goodman League team in an upcoming exhibition game against the Indy Pro Am team.

The Indy team is expected to have Eric Gordon, George Hill, Gordon Hayward, Lance Stephenson and Mario Chalmers.

The game will be played at Butler University on September 24.

Source

In related news, Wall also celebrated his 21st birthday over the weekend. Happy birthday @jimmywa11!

Stacey Poole Admits Frustration, Hopes for Big Season

University of Kentucky sophomore Stacey Poole admits that he spent much of last season in frustration as he played only limited minutes. Despite the frustration, he feels that Kentucky is the "best of the best" and he looks forward to the upcoming season.

Here is an excerpt from CoachCal.com:

“Anybody would be (frustrated) when you’re not getting playing time,” Poole said. “I talked about it with my parents and I talked with coach and I felt like if I was going to work hard at any place, why not do it here? You get more benefits out of doing it here. This place is the best of the best.”

Poole credits his father, Stacey Poole Sr., with helping him through the process. The younger Poole said he talked to his dad nearly every day during and after the season. The elder Poole was a standout at Florida – he’s the No. 4 scorer in program history – and was able to give his son guidance through his own experiences.

“I love that dude,” Poole said. “He just stayed with me the whole time. It was difficult for me and him. He just stayed positive with me. He’s a realist. He was honest with me and he’s on my team. He was really like a mentor throughout the entire season, someone I could lean on.”

But after an individually difficult freshman year, Poole said he had to look at himself in the mirror and ask himself what he needed to do to get on the court and help his team. An offseason talk with Calipari revealed the answer: he needs to work harder.

Complete Article

Goodman: Providence Should Hope Ricardo Ledo Never Arrives

Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com says the best-case scenario for Providence College would be that 2012 recruit Ricardo Ledo "never, ever steps foot on campus."

Ledo committed to Providence over the weekend for the second time.

Here is an excerpt from Goodman's article:

But, in essence, the ideal scenario for Cooley may be the following:

Ledo never, ever steps foot on campus.

``It's absolutely the best thing for Cooley," said one source extremely close to the situation.

It sounds nuts, but hear me out.

Ledo is at his fourth school - which is a major academic red flag for not only the NCAA, but also for those who track the success rate of those who have established a clear track record of instability in high school. This is his second pledge to the local school, the first coming when Keno Davis was at the helm.

Many of those who have suited up alongside Ledo aren't enamored with him because of his unwillingness to be a quality teammate - and the attitude he often displays. His pledge could wind up hurting Providence with some local targets.

Complete Article

Photo: Rivals.com

U of L Target Jake Layman Commits to Maryland

University of Louisville target Jake Layman has committed to Maryland.

Layman, who ranks No. 110 on the Rivals.com list for 2012, is a 6-8 forward from King Philip Regional (Mass.).

Louisville was hoping to get a visit from Layman, but he took a trip to Maryland and feel in love with the school.

Here is an excerpt from CBSSports.com:

Only two weeks after getting a commitment from top-25 big man Shaq Cleare, the Terrapins nabbed a pledge on Monday night from Jake Layman.

A source confirmed the news to CBSSports.com.

Layman, a 6-foot-8 forward from King Philip Regional (Mass.), was one of the biggest rising stars on the spring and summer AAU circuit. He is a versatile frontcourt player who runs the floor well and shoots it well from 3-point range. Defensively, his length and lateral movement make him perfect to put at the top of a zone or press. Layman checked in at No. 57 in CBSSports.com’s Top 100.

Complete Article

Photo: Rivals.com

John Wall, Other Stars Show Stuff at Luda Day Weekend

Here is a video of former University of Kentucky guard John Wall and several other stars showing their stuff at Luda Day Weekend:

Nestor Colmenares, Renaldo Balkman Suspended One Game

Former Campbellsville University star Nestor Colmenares and Renaldo Balkman have been suspended one game by FIBA Americas following an altercation in today's Puerto Rico vs. Venezuela game.

Here is more from FIBAAmericas.com:

Mar del Plata, Argentina - In the game today, in which Puerto Rico beat Venezuela, an altercation happened between the players. As a result, FIBA Americas has decided the following:

We have decided to suspend number 5, Mr. Nestor Colmenares and, number 13, Mr. Renaldo Balkman, for the next game as stipulated in Article 1 Section C of the FIBA Americas Discipline Code.

Article 1:

The players that:

c) Are disqualified from a game due to an aggression to another player will be sanction with one (1) game of suspension. For repeat offenders, a two (2) game suspension will be imposed, duplicating the sanction each time.

Here is the altercation:

Charleston Prep Academy Closed, Under Investigation

An investigation has been launched into the curious case of The Charleston Prep Academy.

The new prep academy was scheduled to open on Tuesday but those plans have been shut down after 16 to 18 teenagers were found sleeping on the floor of a three-bedroom apartment.

Here is an excerpt from WSAZ.com:

The Charleston Prep Academy was set to open Tuesday, but now all those who were planning to attend are going home. Some are even having to travel all the way back to another country.

Meanwhile, an investigation is underway surrounding the man who started the school.

“I thought this was gonna be something good for the community,” Daniel Hicks of South Charleston said.

Hicks' plan was to start a prep academy at a community center on Charleston’s West Side where students could learn and play basketball.

“He just kind of disappeared and left this one coach from Oklahoma here with all these kids and no means of support,” South Charleston Mayor Frank Mullens said.

After getting a call from a suspicious parent, officials in South Charleston found 16 to 18 teenagers sleeping on the floor of a three-bedroom apartment.

Complete Article

Continue to Pray for Former Louisville Player Edgar Sosa

I just want to remind everyone to continue to send prayers up for former University of Louisville point guard Edgar Sosa.

Sosa suffered a complete break of both major bones in his lower leg this morning while playing for the Dominican Republic. He is currently in the hospital in Argentina, where he will undergo surgery to repair the open break.

Initial reports say that Sosa will likely be out of action for at least six months.

Photo from Twitter:

SeleccionRDB Edgar, en buen estado de animo. Agradecido por sus oraciones. Solo nos pidio que quiere ir a Londres. http://lockerz.com/s/136184602

Bittersweet Win as Dominican Republic Dominates Panama

Dominican Republic 92
Panama 68

Final from 2011 FIBA Americas Championship - Second Round

The Dominican Republic defeated Panama 92-68 in brilliant fashion on Monday morning in the second round of the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship.

The win was overshadowed late, however, when former Louisville point guard Edgar Sosa went down with a gruesome injury in the final minute. Sosa suffered a broken shinbone and fibula. He will have surgery today and will have a six month recovery period.

The Dominicans were impressive in picking up the win, outscoring Panama 54-32 in the middle two periods.

Luis Flores led a balanced scoring attack with a team-high 17 points. Francisco Garcia added 15 and Charlie Villanueva contributed 13.

Sosa had a tremendous performance prior to the injury. He scored 13 points and dished out a game-high 8 assists.

Jack Michael Martinez continued his double-double streak with 13 points and 14 rebounds.

The Dominican Republic returns to action on Tuesday against Uruguay. A win on Tuesday would be a major step in making the tournament's semifinals, where the two winners will earn a spot in the 2012 Olympics.

Current Standings:

Group X # Team W/L Pts
1. Puerto Rico 3/1 7
2. Dominican Republic 3/1 7
3. Argentina 3/0 6
4. Brazil 2/1 5
5. Venezuela 1/3 5
6. Canada 1/2 4
7. Uruguay 1/2 4
8. Panama 0/4 4

Breaking: Edgar Sosa Suffers Gruesome Broken Leg

Former University of Louisville point guard Edgar Sosa suffered a gruesome injury in the final moments of the Dominican Republic's win over Panama this morning.

The injury appeared to be a completely broken bone in his leg. It was so severe that players from both teams were visibly crying on the court.

Sosa obviously is a big part of the Dominican Republic team and this is a terrible loss as they work towards Olympic qualification at the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship.

Our prayers go out to Edgar this morning.

The update is that it appears to be a complete break. Here is a picture (don't scroll down unless you're ready to see a bad injury):
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Brandon Shingles Signs with Guildford Heat

Former Morehead State University point guard Brandon Shingles has signed with the Guildford Heat in Great Britain's top-level British Basketball League.

Here is an excerpt from BBC:

The 24-year-old, who captained Morehead State University, played in Germany for Aschersleben Tigers last year.

He said: "I am dedicated to achieving success and will commit my skills, hard work and passion to the team.

"I look forward to creating bonds with my teammates, coaches, the management and fans, and hope to create a positive foundation this season."

Complete Article

No Rematch Between Goodman League and Drew League

The anticipated rematch between the Drew League and the Goodman League has been called off.

Here is more from ESPN.com:

Unfortunately, those hoping for a rematch are going to be disappointed. A proposed second game, by some reports set for Sept. 10th at an undetermined venue in Los Angeles, is off as officials between the two leagues were unable to solve the logistical problems required to stage a sequel.

"It's disappointing," said Drew League commissioner Dino Smiley, "because the original plan was to do the game out in D.C., then for the Goodman team to return to L.A. for the second one."

One complication appeared to be securing player commitments as different pro-am games continue springing up around the country, including a matchup last week in Baltimore between Goodman League All-Stars and a team organized by New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony, which included Miami's LeBron James and Chris Paul of New Orleans.

Smiley said he was unable to secure something "concrete" from Goodman officials.

"The longer it went without the game taking place and the date being set up, we decided it wouldn't happen," he said.

Complete Article

Kevin Harrington Joins Union College Coaching Staff

Union College has announced that Kevin Harrington has been hired as a men's basketball assistant coach.

Here is the release from UC:

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. -- Union College men's basketball coach Sean Gillespie has announced that Kevin Harrington has been hired as an assistant coach in the Bulldog program. Harrington replaces Jerrod Stanford, who left earlier in the summer to take a position at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas.

"I am pleased that Coach Harrington has joined the men's basketball staff," said Gillespie. "He brings a wealth of basketball experience from his playing days in college and overseas, and I expect he will be a great asset for us both on and off the court. I am looking forward to working with him as we continue to move the program forward."

Harrington comes to Barbourville from Peachtree High School in Atlanta, where he served as an assistant boys basketball coach for the last two seasons. Before that, Harrington spent one season as the head coach of the American Basketball Association's Atlanta Vision.

Before entering the coaching ranks, Harrington played professionally in China and Mexico for two years, and also played a season for the ABA's Vermont Frost Heaves.

Harrington played collegiately at USC Upstate in Spartanburg, S.C. for four years, earning a degree in criminal justice from the university in 2004. In his senior season, Harrington started and played in all 28 games the Spartans took part in on the year, averaging 14.5 points per game.

In his time in the Atlanta area, Harrington was the master trainer for basketball at the Suwanee Sports Academy in Suwanee, Ga. for four years as well.

John Calipari Thanks UK Fans, Talks About FIBA Experience

University of Kentucky head coach John Calipari sent a video message via YouTube tonight.

He thanked Kentucky's Big Blue Nation for their support of the Dominican Republic national team.

Calipari also talked about the positive experience it has been to coach the Dominican team:

Shaqquan Aaron Says Kentucky is Recruiting Him

Shaqquan Aaron, a 6-5 small forward in the 2014 class, says Kentucky is recruiting him.

Aaron plays for Taft (Cal.) High School and is rated a four-star recruit by Rivals.com.

Here is an excerpt:

"Arizona and UCLA are coming at me hardest right now, pretty much the whole Pac-12 actually," Aaron said. "Kentucky's picking it up though too."

"I'm probably taking a visit to Arizona next month sometime," Aaron added. "I talked to Coach Miller and Coach Richardson there, they really want to talk to me about the future. I like that Arizona runs, and they just made it to the Elite 8 so that's a really good sign. They've got the most players in the NBA so they know how to get players to the league."

He also added:

"Kentucky is another great school that gets guys to the league," he added. "They're a powerhouse and I really like Kentucky. I've been looking at them a lot more lately."

Complete Article

Photo: Rivals.com

Chris Walker Enjoyed Weekend Trip to Florida

Kentucky recruit Chris Walker spent the weekend on a visit to Florida. He told ZagsBlog.com that he enjoyed the visit and also confirmed that he will be at UK's Big Blue Madness in October.

Here is an excerpt:

The Florida native spent Saturday on the campus of the University of Florida, one of several schools he’s considering.

“It was nice,” the 6-foot-9 Walker, the No. 2 small forward in the Class of 2013, said by text. “I watched Florida work out and scrimmage and got to have a one-one-one talk with Billy D [Donovan].

“He told me they are recruiting me the hardest and I could get it done in my own state and I could come in and be an impact player.”

Complete Article

Photo: Rivals.com

Terrence Jones on the Cover of Sporting News Magazine

The Sporting News College Basketball Yearbook features University of Kentucky sophomore Terrence Jones on the cover.

The magazine names UK freshman Anthony Davis first-team all-American. He is joined by Harrison Barnes (North Carolina), Jared Sullinger (Ohio State), Perry Jones (Baylor) and Jeremy Lamb (UConn).

Jones is on the second team with Jordan Taylor (Wisconsin), John Shurna (Northwestern), Thomas Robinson (Kansas) and Tyler Zeller (North Carolina).

Source

Enes Kanter Scores 19 But Poland Stuns Turkey at EuroBasket

Former University of Kentucky big man Enes Kanter had his best offensive performance at EuroBasket 2011, but Poland upset Turkey 84-83 on Sunday.

Turkey has lost two-consecutive games and fallen to 2-2 overall in the tournament's first round.

Kanter led his team with 19 points on 5-8 field goal shooting. He was also 9-10 from the free throw line.

Through 4 games, Kanter is averaging 12.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

Turkey will play Group A winners Spain on Monday in the final set of first round games.

Group A Standings:

Team P W/L F/A Pts

1. Spain 4 4/0 8
2. Lithuania 4 3/1 7
3. Turkey 4 2/2 6
4. Poland 4 2/2 6
5. Great Britain 4 1/3 5
6. Portugal 4 0/4 4

Remaining First Round Games:

September 5

15:15 Great Britain vs. Poland
17:45 Spain vs. Turkey
21:00 Portugal vs. Lithuania

Interview with 2013 UK Recruit Julius Randle

Here is 2013 Kentucky recruit Julius Randle talking with Coast2Coast Hoops recently:

Former UK Recruit L.J. Rose Commits to Baylor

Former Kentucky recruit L.J. Rose has announced on his Facebook page that he has committed to Baylor.

Rose also had offers from Texas, Arizona, Memphis, Virginia and Houston.

Here is an excerpt from SportingNews.com:

Scott Drew has been on a recruiting hot streak. (AP Photo)“We decided after long deliberation that Baylor is the best fit for L.J. right now,” his father, Lynden Rose, told KRIV-TV. “I’ve know Scott Drew for 10 years. We’re comfortable (with Baylor) based on the Christian education and values.

“We're not leery about what Baylor University has to offer. If L.J. doesn’t have basketball, Baylor offers more than enough for his spiritual growth as person.”

Complete Article

Photo: Rivals.com

Dominican Republic Wins Group A, Historic Achievment

The Dominican Republic finished the first round of the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship with a 3-1 record and the top seed in Group A.

It was the first time in Dominican Republic national team history that the team won its group in the first round of an Olympics qualifier. John Calipari posted about the historic achievement on Twitter:

UKCoachCalipari Just found out we clinched the top seed in our group at the FIBA Americas Championship.

UKCoachCalipari I'm told it's the 1st time the DR has clinched a top seed in group play in an Olympics qualifier. Time to figure out how to get to the semis

The top eight teams now advance to the second round with Cuba (0-4) and Paraguay (0-4) suffering elimination.

The eight remaining teams will form "Group X" and will play a four-game round robin beginning on Monday. The four teams that score the most total points in Group X will advance to the semifinal round and have a shot to automatically qualify for the Olympics.

The mission for Calipari and company at this stage is simple: find a way into that semifinal round.

The Dominicans will play Panama, Uruguay, Puerto Rico and Argentina (in order) beginning on Monday.

Round 1, Final Results:

Group A

1. Dominican Republic 3/1 7
2. Brazil 3/1 7
3. Venezuela 2/2 6
4. Canada 2/2 6
5. Cuba 0/4 4

Group B

1. Argentina 4/0 8
2. Puerto Rico 3/1 7
3. Uruguay 2/2 6
4. Panama 1/3 5
5. Paraguay 0/4 4

Second Round

9/5/2011

11:30 Dominican Republic vs. Panama
14:00 Venezuela vs. Puerto Rico
18:00 Canada vs. Argentina
20:30 Brazil vs. Uruguay

9/6/2011

11:30 Puerto Rico vs. Canada
14:00 Uruguay vs. Dominican Republic
18:00 Argentina vs. Venezuela
20:30 Panama vs. Brazil

9/7/2011

11:30 Canada vs. Uruguay
14:00 Venezuela vs. Panama
18:00 Brazil vs. Argentina
20:30 Dominican Republic vs. Puerto Rico

9/8/2011

11:30 Panama vs. Canada
14:00 Uruguay vs. Venezuela
18:00 Argentina vs. Dominican Republic
20:30 Puerto Rico vs. Brazil

Semifinal Round

9/10/2011

00:00 Team X/2 Team X/3
00:00 Team X/1 Team X/4

Final Round

9/11/2011

00:00 Loser of (37) Loser of (38)
00:00 Winner of (37) Winner of (38)

Coach Cal Coaching His Team:

More Former UK Stars Confirmed for Impact Basketball League

There are several former University of Kentucky stars who are now committed to play in the upcoming Impact Basketball League in Las Vegas.

Here is more about the league from NYTimes.com:

A swarm of Knicks, Clippers and Rockets players will soon descend on Las Vegas for two weeks of intense competition — only without coaches, contracts or the imprimatur of the N.B.A.

The jerseys will be unfamiliar, and the games fairly meaningless. But for the first time since June, N.B.A. players will be competing against N.B.A. players in something resembling an N.B.A.-caliber league.

The site will be the Impact Basketball gymnasium, about two miles from the Strip. The unofficial commissioner will be Joe Abunassar, a longtime trainer of N.B.A. players. More than 40 players, locked out of N.B.A. facilities because of a labor standoff, have committed to play. Chauncey Billups, John Wall, Zach Randolph and Stephen Jackson will be among the headliners.

Former Wildcats who have confirmed or are highly likely to play in the league include John Wall, Chuck Hayes, Eric Bledsoe and Nazr Mohammed. DeMarcus Cousins, Rajon Rondo and Tayshaun Prince have also been mentioned in various rumors.

Video: Kentucky Recruits Andrew and Aaron Harrison

Here are some new highlights of Kentucky recruits Andrew and Aaron Harrison, aka the Harrison Twins (Video by KUTheShiver on YouTube):

NBA Teams: Give Jack Michael Martinez a Chance

I have been following the Dominican Republic national team closely for much of the summer leading up to the ongoing 2011 FIBA Americas Tournament.

One thing that stands out to me (and many others) is the talent of Ben Wallace "clone" Jack Michael Martinez.

Martinez is a slightly under-sized power forward in a pro wrestler's body (sound familiar?) who overwhelms the opposition with basketball I.Q. and toughness.

In fact, for my money, Martinez and former Florida star Al Horford have separated themselves as the Dominican team's top two performers. That is on a roster that also features current NBA stars Francisco Garcia and Charlie Villanueva.

It's true that Martinez is often listed in the 6-7 to 6-9 range, even though he is likely closer to 6-6. Sometimes, however, height isn't everything. Martinez more than makes up for a lack of height with a well-honed array of intangibles.

Martinez reminds me of a mixture of Wallace and former Morehead State star Kenneth Faried - both are players supposedly lack prototypical statures (according to the self-proclaimed "experts"), but somehow manage to put in a hard day's work and get the job done.

Take a look at Martinez's numbers this summer:

2011 Jenaro "Tuto" Marchand Continental Cup

- 3 games, 18.0 PPG, 11.7 REB
- Led tournament in points and rebounds
- Was 5th in assists at 2.3 APG

2011 FIBA Americas Tournament (In progress)

- 4 games, 16.3 PPG, 12.5 REB
- 4 consecutive double-doubles

vs. Cuba: 16 points, 10 rebounds
vs. Venezuela: 18 points, 14 rebounds
vs. Canada: 21 points, 16 rebounds
vs. Brazil: 10 points, 10 rebounds

I won't say that NBA teams should automatically sign Martinez to a three-year contract based on his performance in international play, but I will say this: give Jack Michael Martinez a shot. Bring him in for training camp and see what he can do - he's at least earned a chance.

Photo: FIBAAmericas.com

Shabazz Muhammad Destroys the Summer Competition

University of Kentucky recruit Shabazz Muhammad, the top-rated player in the 2012 class, destroyed the competition this summer.

Here is a look at some of Muhammad's top plays:



Muhammad has scheduled four in-home visits, including one with Kentucky on September 13:

- September 9 UCLA
- September 12 Duke
- September 13 Kentucky
- September 14 Kansas

Those missing the home visit cut but still in the running: Arizona, Texas, Texas A&M, UNLV and USC.

A Look at 2013 UK Recruit Solomon Poole

Here is a new look at potential 2013 Kentucky recruit Solomon Poole (Video by KUTheShiver on YouTube):



Poole, a 6-1 point guard who ranks No. 9 on the Rivals.com list, is the younger brother of Kentucky's Stacey Poole.

Tennessee Tech Lands Commitment from Shaquille Calhoun

According to ESPN's Dave Telep, Tennessee Tech has landed 2012 shooting guard Shaquille Calhoun from Rome, Georgia.

Calhoun has an ESPN scout grade of 87.

DaveTelep Shaquille Calhoun to Tennessee Tech. Done.

George Goode Lands at Fairleigh Dickinson

A good source has confirmed that Louisville transfer George Goode will play his final season at Fairleigh Dickinson.

Goode originally chose Missouri as his destination, then failed to arrive on campus.

He then surfaced at FDU.

Rajon Rondo is One Heck of a Cornhole Player

Former University of Kentucky star Rajon Rondo is apparently one heck of a cornhole player.

Rondo posted on Twitter last night that he and Alhaji Mohammed teamed up to go 29-1:

RajonRondo Just Went 29-1 in Cornhole with @AlhajiMohammed. @MindOfMac and @DontaSmith= SWEET!!!! http://yfrog.com/gywfjyxdj

New Footage of 2012 Star Jarnell Stokes

Here is a new video of 2012 Kentucky recruit Jarnell Stokes (video by CityLeagueHoopsTV on YouTube):

Description: Jarnell Stokes is a 6'6 Power Forward from Memphis. Stokes is ranked #11 in the class of 2012 by Rivals. Jarnell has offers from UCLA, Kentucky and Missouri. Connecticut, Arkansas, Memphis, Tennessee and Florida. These highlights are from the 2011 LeBron James Skills Academy in Akron, Ohio.

Dominican Republic Stuns Brazil, Takes Group A Lead

Dominican Republic 79
Brazil 74

Final from FIBA Americas Tournament

John Calipari's Dominican Republic team proved they can play with anyone in the 2011 FIBA Americas Tournament this evening when they took down favored Brazil 79-74.

Brazil defeated the Dominicans twice recently, first in a scrimmage and again in the Marchand Cup.

The Dominican Republic seemingly beat Brazil at its own game as they used hot outside shooting to get the win. Calipari's team was 8-13 (62%) from three-point range while the Brazilians were only 5-22 (23%).

Al Horford led the Dominican attack with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Francisco Garcia added 14 points and nailed 4-5 from long range. Jack Michael Martinez chipped in a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Marcus Vieira led Brazil with 18 points. Tiago Splitter contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds.

With the win, the Dominican Republic finished opening round pool play with a 3-1 record and 7 total points.

Group A

1. Dominican Republic 3/1 7
2. Brazil 2/1 5
3. Canada 2/1 5
4. Venezuela 1/2 4
5. Cuba 0/3 3

Group B

1. Puerto Rico 3/1 7
2. Argentina 3/0 6
3. Uruguay 1/2 4
4. Panama 1/2 4
5. Paraguay 0/3 3

Terrence Williams: "Poor Hungry Driven" Part 1

Here is episode 1 of Terrence Williams' new video series titled "Poor Hungry Driven":

Lithuania Slices Turkey, Enes Kanter Struggles

Lithuania closed the game on a 6-1 run and handed Turkey a 75-68 loss at EuroBasket 2011.

With Lithuania leading 69-67 with 1:18 to go, Turkey split two free-throws and missed a layup. Lithuania then hit two free throws and forced to turnover to seal the win.

Darius Songaila led the Lithuanians with 12 points and 5 rebounds.

Ersan Ilyasova scored a game-high 20 points for Turkey. Former Kentucky big man Enes Kanter had an off-day with just 5 points and 3 rebounds.

Group A Standings:

1. Lithuania 3 3/0 252/214 6
2. Spain 3 3/0 256/220 6
3. Turkey 3 2/1 237/192 5
4. Poland 3 1/2 236/253 4
5. Portugal 3 0/3 202/247 3
6. Great Britain 3 0/3 199/256 3

New Highlights of 2012 Star Ricardo Ledo

Here are some new highlights of 2012 Kentucky recruit Ricardo Ledo (via CityLeagueHoopsTV on YouTube):

Canada Survives Late Rally, Holds Off Dominican Republic

Canada 73
Dominican Republic 72

Final from FIBA Americas Tournament

Canada held off a fierce fourth-quarter rally to defeat the Dominican Republic 73-72 at the 2011 FIBA Americas Tournament.

The Dominican Republic overcame a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, but the Canadians nailed critical free throws to escape.

Former Louisville star Francisco nailed two 3-pointers in the final 10 seconds to make things interesting.

Andy Rautins led Canada with 15 points on 5-8 shooting from long range. Carl English added 12.

Jack Michael Martinez continued his double-double streak with 21 points and 16 rebounds for the Dominican Republic. Al Horford chipped in 17 points and 11 rebounds. Garcia scored 12, but only 6 during the first 39 minutes of action.

For the time being, the Dominican Republic sits alone on top of Group A with 5 points. They'll play Brazil tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Group A

1. Dominican Republic 2/1 5
2. Brazil 2/0 4
3. Venezuela 1/2 4
4. Canada 1/1 3
5. Cuba 0/2 2

Group B

1. Puerto Rico 3/0 6
2. Argentina 2/0 4
3. Panama 1/1 3
4. Paraguay 0/3 3
5. Uruguay 0/2 2

Morehead State Collects OVC Championship Rings

The Morehead State Eagles collected their Ohio Valley Conference championship rings during tonight's MSU football game.

Here is head coach Donnie Tyndall picking up his ring (photo via fletchmsu on Twitter):

Kenneth Faried Wants To Win NBA Rookie of the Year

Former Morehead State star Kenneth Faried says he will only call his first season in the NBA a success if he wins Rookie of the Year.

Here is an excerpt of a Faried interview from Slamonline.com:

SLAM: Of all the guys you have been training with, who has really shown you the most support and encouragement?

KF: Russell Westbrook. He’s really taken me under his wing. He wants me to succeed and really likes the way I play. And I absolutely love how he plays—he’s so aggressive. He can get up and he attacks. I respect him for that.

SLAM: Why do you think there’s such a connection?

KF: It helps that we signed with the same agency. That helped working out wise. He talks to me and encourages me. And when I’m not doing good he will get on me.

SLAM: If we do have an NBA season, what will you have to do as a rookie to consider the year a success?

KF: Rookie of the Year.

SLAM: You think that’s really possible?

KF: I wouldn’t be surprised at all. I’m really a hard worker and I’m ambitious. I always have tried to reach my dreams. People told me that I wouldn’t make the NBA and now I’m a first round pick of the Denver Nuggets so they can’t say too much. I love the negativity more than the attention because it drives me to want to be better every day.

Complete Interview

John Calipari is the Corniest Coach in College Basketball

Kelley Farms in Lexington has mapped out a giant corn maze to look like Kentucky head coach John Calipari.

The farm will open its maze and pumpkin patch to customers Sept. 23 through Oct. 29.

According to the farm's website:

General admission is $9 for adults and children 3 and up. Children 2 and under are free, the farm's Web site says. The farm is located at 6483 Old Richmond Road in Lexington.

Here is an excerpt from the Lexington Herald-Leader:

"We think a lot of Coach Calipari," said farm owner John Kelley in the written release. "We just want to let Coach Cal know how much he means to Kentucky and how much Kentucky appreciates having him lead our basketball team."

Calipari picked up on the news and immediately went to Twitter with questions about the size of his nose:

UKCoachCalipari Is my nose really that big? RT @kyforward: Calipari is officially the corniest coach in the country! http://gobigblue.co/142

Dick Vitale Gives His Super Seven for the 2011-12 Season

ESPN's Dick Vitale has announced his "super spectacular splendiferous seven" teams for 2011-12.

Like most everyone around the country, Vitale has North Carolina and Kentucky in the top two spots. One notable change is that UConn is now sitting at No. 3 following the addition of Andre Drummond.

Here's a look at Vitale's top seven:

1. North Carolina: Roy Williams still has the team to beat with an NBA frontcourt of Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller and John Henson.

2. Kentucky: John Calipari has Terrence Jones returning, plus the top recruiting class in the nation. Anthony Davis, Michael Gilchrist and Marquis Teague will make the fans in Big Blue nation very happy.

3. Connecticut: See above!

4. Ohio State: Jared Sullinger is the best big man in America and William Buford can score from the perimeter. Thad Matta will have a legit contender.

5. Syracuse: Jim Boeheim welcomes back the likes of Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine plus several newcomers to keep an eye on.

6. Vanderbilt: John Jenkins, Festus Ezeli and Jeffery Taylor all return as the Commodores challenge the Wildcats in a tough SEC race.

7. Duke: The Blue Devils looked good on a recent tour of China and UAE. Austin Rivers will be a PTP'er right away.

Complete Article

The Ford F-150 is Now the Official Truck of UK Athletics

The Ford F-150 is now the Official Truck of UK Athletics. UK announced the partnership moments ago via the following release:

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tradition, toughness, and success come to mind when thinking of University of Kentucky Athletics. Those terms also describe the Ford F-150 Truck, America’s best selling truck for 34 consecutive years.

Ford has brought these two together as they are proud to announce their sponsorship of UK Athletics making the F-150 the Official Truck of UK Athletics. “Ford is proud to add more blue behind the Big Blue, as the official truck of UK Athletics,” said Rob Reynolds with Ford. “Ford dealers throughout the Commonwealth are excited that Kentucky Football Saturdays are now built Ford Tough.”

The new sponsorship agreement, brokered by IMG College, includes: new graphics on the Commonwealth Stadium ribbon boards, game sponsorships, marks and logo rights usage, TV, radio, print and online advertising as well as the Official Truck designation for the F-150.

“We’re thrilled that the F-150 is the official Truck of UK Athletics,” said J.P. Miller Jr, president of Paul Miller Ford in Lexington. “With 34 years of truck leadership, we’re proud to carry such outstanding inventory from Ford Motor Company.”

“UK Athletics is proud of its long-standing relationship with Ford and is pleased that the Ford F-150 is now the official truck of UK Athletics,” said Mitch Barnhart, University of Kentucky director of athletics. “Both Ford and Kentucky Athletics are best-in-class brands working hard every day to get even better. The Kentucky Wildcats and the Ford F-150 are natural partners.”

Fans will get their first look at the new partnership between Ford and UK Athletics at the Wildcats’ first home football game of the 2011 season on September 10th.

For more on the Official Truck of UK Athletics, go to http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/

Photo: (R to L): J.P. Miller Jr., Mitch Barnhart, Rob Reynolds

Video: A Tour of Rajon Rondo's House

Here's a look at former University of Kentucky star Rajon Rondo's house (filmed by Red Bull):

Enes Kanter Impressive in EuroBasket 2011 Debut

Former University of Kentucky big man Enes Kanter played well in his EuroBasket 2011 debut against Portugal.

In Turkey's 79-56 win, Kanter tied Hidayet Turkoglu for game-high honors with 14 points. He was 7-9 from the field and also pulled down 7 rebounds.

Here is more from Sportingnews.com:

In Turkey’s EuroBasket opener -- a 79-56 blowout over Portugal -- Kanter was a force in the middle, scoring 14 points on 7-for-9 shooting, with seven rebounds. He played 22 minutes, and all his points came in the paint. That may be reflective, in part, of Portugal’s lack of inside talent. Still, it was a good beginning for Kanter.

That performance came just days after Kanter was, again, ripped by one of his coaches with the Turkish national team. Many in the country feel that Kanter should not have left Turkey to play in the NCAA, a sentiment expressed by Turkish assistant Nihat Izic, who recently told Heinnews.com that Kanter is not ready to play in the NBA.

“Now he pays the price,” Izic said. “It’s not very easy when you do not play for two years. And now he is crying. He understood that it would be much better if he had played all year. He would be a better player and we would have more chance to use him. But still he is a young guy, a clever guy.”

Complete Article

IUPUI Releases 2011-12 Men's Basketball Schedule

IUPUI has announced its men's basketball schedule for the 2011-12 season.

The Jaguars have five players on the roster from the state of Kentucky:

- Lyonell Gaines, Fr., Louisville Eastern
- Ian Chiles, So., Louisville Ballard and Wabash Valley JC
- Jordan Shanklin, Fr., Warren Central
- Marcellus Barksdale, Fr., Tates Creek
- Donovan Gibbs, So., Louisville Iroquois

IUPUI 2011-12 Men's Basketball Schedule:

Date Opponent Site Tickets Time/Result Details
10/26/2011 # Red-White Scrimmage The Jungle 7:00 p.m. Details
11/1/2011 # IU East The Jungle 7:00 p.m. Details
11/7/2011 # Marian The Jungle 7:00 p.m. Details
11/11/2011 Anderson The Jungle 7:00 p.m. Details
11/15/2011 Arkansas-Little Rock Little Rock, Ark. 7:00 p.m. Details
11/18/2011 Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisc. tba Details
11/20/2011 Eastern Michigan The Jungle 7:00 p.m. Details
11/23/2011 Ball State Muncie, Ind. 7:00 p.m. Details
11/26/2011 Texas Southern The Jungle 7:00 p.m. Details
11/28/2011 Georgetown Washington, D.C. tba Details
12/1/2011 * South Dakota State The Jungle 7:00 p.m. Details
12/3/2011 * North Dakota State The Jungle 7:00 p.m. Details
12/7/2011 Louisville Louisville, Ky. tba Details
12/10/2011 Western Kentucky The Jungle 7:00 p.m. Details
12/16/2011 St. Joseph's (Ind.) The Jungle 7:00 p.m. Details
12/19/2011 Ball State Conseco Fieldhouse 7:00 p.m. Details
12/23/2011 Valparaiso Conseco Fieldhouse 1:00 p.m. Details
12/30/2011 * Western Illinois The Jungle 7:00 p.m. Details
1/3/2012 * UMKC The Jungle 7:00 p.m. Details
1/5/2012 * IPFW Fort Wayne, Ind. 7:00 p.m. Details
1/7/2012 * Oakland Rochester, Mich. tba Details
1/12/2012 * Southern Utah The Jungle 7:00 p.m. Details
1/14/2012 * Oral Roberts The Jungle 7:00 p.m. Details
1/19/2012 * South Dakota Vermillion, S.D. tba Details
1/21/2012 * UMKC Kansas City, Mo. 8:05 p.m. Details
1/28/2012 * Western Illinois Macomb, Ill. tba Details
2/1/2012 * Oakland The Jungle 7:00 p.m. Details
2/4/2012 * IPFW The Jungle 7:00 p.m. Details
2/9/2012 * Oral Roberts Tulsa, Okla. tba Details
2/11/2012 * Southern Utah Cedar City, Utah 9:30 p.m. Details
2/15/2012 * South Dakota The Jungle 7:00 p.m. Details
2/18/2012 ESPN BracketBuster tba tba Details
2/23/2012 * North Dakota State Fargo, N.D. tba Details
2/25/2012 * South Dakota State Brookings, S.D. tba Details

Summit League Tournament
3/3-4/2012 Summit League Quarterfinals Sioux Falls, S.D. tba Details
3/5/2012 Summit League Semifinals Sioux Falls, S.D. tba Details
3/6/2012 Summit League Championship Sioux Falls, S.D. tba Details

Release from IUPUI