When you grow up in the Bluegrass State you're brought up on church-going morals, good home cooking, and Kentucky Basketball. (Excluding U of L fans, so try not to get to offended). I can remember as a child watching the 1991-92 Kentucky Wildcats. This team would come to be known as "The Unforgettables", why you might ask? Because this was just after the dark days of UK basketball, grade tampering, and recruiting violations came about. Needless to say, most UK fans weren't in the best of spirits during basketball season.Then this group of upstarts came along and won't be forgotten by UK fans because of their hustle, passion, and never say die attitude. Plus, three "home grown" boys started: Richie Farmer (Clay Co.), Deron Feldhaus (Mason Co.), and John Pelphrey (Paintsville). They finished 29-7 and played one of the more memorable games ever, in the East Regional Final against Duke, and were beat 104-103 in overtime. Christian Laettner, blah, blah, blah, it's ancient history.
Now that you have read this, besides this team how many "home grown" UK players can you remember that made a major statement with the Cats? Probably not many. Of Course, Darius Miller came along nicely this year and Jon Hood could make significant strides this off season, but some of the more talented players from the Bluegrass that have seemed to "slip threw the cracks" and get away from the Cats in recent years. Here are a couple I think the Cats let slip away in the past.
- Chris Lofton, this sharp shooter from Mason Co. ended up at Tennessee. He had a fantastic career for the Vols, and would have looked good in blue. I know the class coming in of Rondo, Morris, Crawford, and Bradley were supposed to be the second coming, but it didn't work out that way, Lofton would've been a great fit and maybe Tubby regrets that now. I think he would have been a nice fit after Patrick Sparks graduated. He put up better numbers than Crawford and Bradley in the SEC, and should have been a Wildcat.
- Scotty Hopson, Billy Gillispie should have paid more attention to this kid, and next year you find out why. He is great athlete, whose shot will get better, and will be a first or second team all-SEC preformer at Tennessee, by his senior year. Heck, he could be an all-american by this time as well. I guess people who didn't meet Billy Clyde's defintion of "work", need not get a look. I guess Dakotah Euton could work though. HAHA
These two both got away to Tennessee! This can't happen! I implore Coach Cal if he does see potential in a Kentucky boy, don't shy away. I know McDonald's All Americans have all the accolades, but how many of them have been busts? I know Lofton had a great career, and the only player we got in the 04' class that could have "held a candle" to him was Rondo his freshman and sophomore year, and we all know what he is doing in the NBA.
I know there have been the Brandon Stockton's and the J.P. Blevins's, however, Kentucky still has a pedigree of great basketball talent. Maybe in this year's class, there aren't any players capable in the state that can play at UK, but maybe next year there will. I just hate to see UK pass up on great players from state. I always heard recruit within, and I believe in that.
Heart, loyalty, passion, will to do anything it takes to win: Kentucky "home grown" talent! The quote "if you build it, they will come." should tell high school basketball coaches in the state to coach hard, instill good work ethic in players, and maybe, just maybe......Coach Cal will come! I hope to see Kentucky High School basketball players step up, work hard, and play at Rupp, not only for the state tournament, but as a Wildcat!
Don't forget Shelvin Mack of Bryan Station, who averaged 14ppg for Butler this year and will be playing in the Final Four this weekend!
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking about this earlier when I saw that we might pursue Elisha Justice. How many Kentucky natives have we actually signed that turned out to be impact players? Patrick Sparks is the only one that comes to mind and he transferred in rather than us signing him right out of high school.
It's rare that a kid comes from this state that is actually good enough to contribute at UK. But we're missing out on more than we're actually signing. Billy Clyde might actually still be our coach today if he had went out and got Hopson and Mack.
So you finally agree with one of my post's....I'm so perplexed lol
ReplyDeleteAs bad as I hate to, and as difficult as it is, I must agree with B-Nap on this one. And in the era of one-and-done, it carries much more meaning. You cannot come from North Carolina, Missouri, California, or any other state and develop a passion for UK basketball in a few months. A KY-born and raised player will produce more for his life-long team than a more talented player who is a Wildcat just to apss time until NBA eligibility and dollars come along...Alton Huff
ReplyDeleteWow, I am in total shock.....I didn't ever think I could get the ayatollah of sports to agree with me! haha
ReplyDeleteSeriously, the passion is there from birth in this state!
Your post is spot on, Brandon. No out-of-state player can spend a few months at UK and develop a passion for Big Blue Nation. Kentucky born and raised players will produce more than more talented players who attend UK just to pass the time away waiting on NBA eligibility and major bucks. Unfortunitely, the one-and-done guys are a must in order to remain competitive. This state hasn't produces much big-time college talents of late. And no, my friend, Elisha Justice cannot produce at the level UK needs. He would be a connection to our part of the state, and a gool ol' mountain boy, but he will never perform at the major college level. If Little Ricky wants him as a Louisville walk-on then there is where he should go.
ReplyDeletePatterson and Chuck Hayes were two of the most passionate players towards this program that I remember in my time watching this team.
ReplyDeleteWhen you're at UK and you spend 3-4 years here you are just taken in and become one of us (especially when you're good). I don't think Chuck Hayes could have loved this program any more if he had been born and raised here.
Kentucky born players would rather ride the pine in a UK uniform than to thrive and contribute at another school. Look at Todd Tackett and Landon Slone for example. You really can't fault them for it even knowing that they won't sniff the floor for longer than 5 minutes in a blowout. As bad as I hate to say it, John Hood really doesn't have much business being here, and Elisha Justice wouldn't either. Hood is more suited at a place like WKU and Justice should have considered a place like Pikeville.
With all due respect in regards to Hood, he was a top 50 consensus recruit, who was offered scholarships to Duke, Tennessee among many others. Hood can play, he just needs to improve on the defensive end, he will contribute next season.
ReplyDeleteI don't know who's seen enough of him to know how good he is, but I hope you're right. I just think that with the level of talent Cal will bring on a consistent basis, he'll never get enough playing time to be worth it for him.
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