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Kentucky's Gillispie reeling in young prospects

By CHUCK HAMILTON Sports Writer

Friday, May 9, 2008 2:35 PM EDT

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Many University of Kentucky basketball fans were less than thrilled with former head coach Orlando "Tubby" Smith.

One of the prime criticisms directed toward Smith was a perceived inability or interest in landing top-flight prospects.

In his last few years as the leader of the UK program, Smith and his staff missed out on several highly touted players, including Tyler Hansbrough and Brendan Wright, who both chose North Carolina over the 'Cats.

Of course, the one who really got away from Smith (as well as other Division I schools) was a certain Kentucky Mr. Basketball from Mason County High School. When Chris Lofton decided to attend the University of Tennessee, few so-called recruiting experts and close observers would have predicted the success he would enjoy in Knoxville.

However, when Lofton began lighting up scoreboards with his three-point shooting and all-out effort, UK fans had another reason to grumble and complain about Smith. Not signing Lofton may have been the final straw for Smith's popularity with UK administrators as well, including athletic director Mitch Barnhart.

No, technically, Smith wasn't fired by Barnhart, but when he bolted for Minnesota, the UK AD and others in the administration breathed a collective sigh of relief. They were not forced to make a decision regarding the direction of the program and could proceed with naming a replacement, preferably a coach with a reputation for being a superb and tireless recruiter.

With what has transpired in the past eight days, it appears Barnhart brought in the right coach for luring talented basketball players to Lexington.

Billy Clyde Gillispie has been a busy man in recent days, receiving oral commitments from five players in a little more than a week.

The commitments are non-binding and a lot can change in a short amount of time, meaning that getting an eighth-grader to say he will be attending Kentucky when he graduates from high school in 2012 is far from a done deal. High school players cannot officially sign a letter of intent until November of their senior year.

But Gillispie offered, and Michael Avery, a 6-foot-4 sharpshooting guard from Lake Sherwood, Calif., said yes, he will become a Wildcat in four years.

On Tuesday, word came that a top contender for Kentucky's Mr. Basketball in 2009 will also don the blue and white upon graduation. Madisonville's Jon Hood, highly rated nationally as a 6-6 shooting guard, said he will join 5-9 point guard G.J. Vilarino of McKinney, Texas, as members of next year's recruiting class.

The class of 2008 includes reigning Mr. Basketball Darius Miller of Mason County, 6-6 guard DeAndre Liggins of Chicago by way of Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev., and a pair of junior college signees, 6-6 Kevin Galloway from Southern Idaho Junior College and 6-9, 260-pound Josh Harrellson, who attended Southwestern Illinois Junior College. Galloway originally committed to Southern Cal while attending Sacramento (Calif.) High School and will have two seasons of eligibility at Kentucky. Harrellson played only one year in junior college, so he will enter UK as a sophomore in the fall.

Looking into the future, Gillispie also has secured commitments from three members of the class of 2010. The most touted player is 6-9 Dominique Ferguson from Lawrence North in Indianapolis. He is reportedly one of the top 10 prospects in the nation among players who will be entering their junior year of high school in the fall. Dakotah Euton, a 6-8 forward, who is headed for Scott County after playing at Rose Hill Christian in Ashland, announced his intentions about a year ago. Another early commitment headed for UK is 6-1 point guard K.C. Miller from God's Academy in Dallas, Texas.

A few days ago, 6-8 Vinny Zollo of Greenfield, Ohio, who is just wrapping up his freshman year at McClain High School, jumped on the Gillispie bandwagon. Rumors are already flying that Zollo is shopping for a new high school to attend before becoming a Wildcat. One school being mentioned as a possible destination is Scott County, which has already brought in transfers Euton and 6-3 Chad Jackson, another outstanding player from Rose Hill.

What does all this mean?

Well, it means only that Gillispie is taking an active role in attempting to rebuild the UK program, and he is not wasting any time.

It can be debated whether some of these players will ever really pan out, especially Avery and Zollo, being as young as they are. But it isn't debatable that Gillispie and his staff aren't working hard and planning for the future.

Contact Chuck Hamilton at chuck.hamilton@lee.net.

Reader Comments

Comments are limited to 200 words or less.

RobG wrote on May 25, 2008 9:25 AM:

" Yes, nice article. Mr. Cheeks makes a very good point!

I wonder, how in the world can being on the forefront of basketball recruiting be nuts? "

RobG wrote on May 25, 2008 9:24 AM:

" Yes, nice article. Mr. Cheeks makes a very good point!

I wonder, how in the world can being on the forefront of basketball recruiting be nuts? Especially for the winningest program in college basketball history? True fans should be proud of what is happening now and the outlook for the future, but mindful of the past lest it happens again. "

Larry wrote on May 25, 2008 9:22 AM:

" Perhaps I'm beating a dead horse, but any other horses who happen to be watching should take notice. I run a small manufactoring business. If I make a mistake and order the wrong thing, to much of it, not enough of it, or even forget to order it, my mistake costs me. It should be the same with a basketball coach. He reaps what he sews. "

gakat wrote on May 13, 2008 10:12 PM:

" Having followed the Cats for over 50 years, it is a true breath of fresh air after the stagnant, vile smelling air we had for the previous 8 years. Billy G will bring us back to the top after sinking out of the power echelon in Basketball. Mediocrity was the game for eight years and now recruiting is back on top, another Banner can't be far behind. "

KD wrote on May 13, 2008 6:07 AM:

" Recruiting 9th graders is like picking out a bride when she's 14 years old.
The whole thing is NUTS
Besides, Billy G probably won't be the coach 4 years from now "

D wrote on May 12, 2008 12:51 PM:

" Still beating a dead horse with the Tubby Smith criticism...people forget his name will be going in the rafters of Rupp in years to come. His player's names will too. Tayshaun Prince, for sure, and possibly Bogans. If Gillispie hadn't taken Miller he'd be in the same boat. It always: "what have you done for me lately?" True fans...you should be proud. "

Frank Cattalonotto wrote on May 12, 2008 3:45 AM:

" Vinny Zollo... He's like Joey Votto, but different! "

Richard Cheeks wrote on May 10, 2008 9:41 AM:

" Very nice article, and it is curious that many articles over the last year have cited, and been written around the need to rebuild the UK Basketball program. However, very few members of the press prior to March 22, 2007 were willing to even acknowedge that the UK program had declined to unacceptable levels under Tubby Smith.

Curious, to say the least. "

J wrote on May 9, 2008 7:55 PM:

" Nice write up. "

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