Memphis and UK 09 recruits

[downtown85]

Not sure how it will work out but there can't be enough space at UK for all of these guys. 

UK 09 commits according to scout
5 star Center, Daniel Orton
4 star SF, Jon Hood
3 star PG, G.J. Vilarino
JC PG, Konner Tucker

Memphis 09 commits also according to scout
5 star SG Xavier Henry
5 star C, DeMarcus Cousins
4 star SG, Nolan Dennis (from Richland, Texas)
JC C, Will Coleman, (Miami Dade (isn't that Trevor Mbakwe's school?)
JC SF, Darnell Dodson, (also Miami Dade)

Anyone have any idea as to UK's scholarship situation?

I wonder if Buzz and/or his staff knows any of these guys.  Getting someone like Nolan Dennis would be sweet. While I am wishing, how about Daniel Orton? I am not sure I would want DeMarcus Cousins. There is a lot of talent coming into Memphis that would be wasted in Conf USA. 

[GGGG]

I heard this AM that UK has already overawarded scholarship by two (??)  That means they were already expecting attrition. 

[jfmu]

yea dade is mbakwe's juco. they had to be pretty good this year

[bma725]

UK only loses one scholarship player, and they have four commits.  They could easily get away with not giving one to Konner Tucker, since he just committed and hasn't signed an LOI yet.  But Cousins will likely follow Calipari to UK, which means they need to clear more space.

MU was involved in the recruitment of Nolan Dennis under Crean, and Buzz was the point man on that.  But he eliminated MU well before he picked Memphis.  

[jfmu]

But Cousins will likely follow Calipari to UK, which means they need to clear more space.

wont henry follow calipari too? i heard on espn that if cal leaves he is free to go where he wants

[bma725]

wont henry follow calipari too? i heard on espn that if cal leaves he is free to go where he wants

He may be free to go, but Henry hasn't said he'll automatically follow Calipari to Kentucky.  Unlike most recruits, Henry's decision had to do with more than just the coach.  His older brother CJ was a freshman on the Memphis team this year, and depending upon who they get to replace him they may convince him to stay.

The more likely commit to go to UK seems to be Nolan Dennis, who was saying yesterday that he would follow Calipari wherever he went. 

[MUhoops12]

After Nick Williams' commitment to Crean, I remember hearing rumors that Cousins and Williams were a package, meaning Cousins would commit to MU the following year. Could someone clear this up?

[bma725]

After Nick Williams' commitment to Crean, I remember hearing rumors that Cousins and Williams were a package, meaning Cousins would commit to MU the following year. Could someone clear this up?

There were all sorts of rumors that Williams was going to be a package deal, first with JaMychal Green, then with Cousins.  The reality is that while he tried to get both of them to come here, he couldn't.  Green chose Bama, and Cousins wanted to play at UAB before choosing Memphis despite the fact that Crean and Williams tried to get him to Indiana.

[nyg]

ESPN also stated that besides the Memphis recruits, who already have release(get out of jail free) letters, but also there are current players set to leave. 

[nyg]

Can't imagine Daniel Orton and Demarcus Cousins, two 5 star centers coming in together as freshman.  Playing time and ego issues abound.  But if they do and put Xavier Henry in as a 5 star PG, and one or two of the other 4 stars, it would be the most outstanding recruiting class in NCAA history. Fab 5, how about Fab 8?

Now, IF Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson stay and do not enter draft, what a start for Calapari, what a team. 

[Brewtown Andy]

I would imagine it's unlikely that guys would ask out of Kentucky, unless they REALLY liked BCG.  Tradition, blah blah, etc.

[strobl2]

I don't know what would happen with John Wall either. Rumor was that Memphis was the leader. He is the best PG in the class according to a few recruiting services.

[bma725]

I would imagine it's unlikely that guys would ask out of Kentucky, unless they REALLY liked BCG.  Tradition, blah blah, etc.

The university would likely force a release if Calipari doesn't want them. 

[nyg]

John Wall forgot about him, what a collection of recruits, can't wait to see the net result of this.  Tyreke Evans just left Memphis for draft, but Memphis should not be in Wall's picture now.  Watch him go to Duke.

[SERocks]

The university would likely force a release if Calipari doesn't want them. 

That does not seem fair to the athletes.

I know I know, this is big business, fairness is not an attribute.

[wermarquette]

how does memphis land so many 5 and 4 star guys when marquette hardly ever does? are they really that much better of a program or is it all the coach's recruiting skill?

[nyg]

http://proxy.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/mens/columns/story?columnist=williams_antonio&id=4030422

A must read for this thread, explains almost everything.  This will be interesting.

[MUCam]

how does memphis land so many 5 and 4 star guys when marquette hardly ever does? are they really that much better of a program or is it all the coach's recruiting skill?

There is so much that goes into answering your questions, that it would take all night to write out. That said, let me introduce you to a man by the name of William Wesley, otherwise known as World Wide Wes.

Crean may have been a lot of things, but he was not crooked (that I know of) and did not run a crooked program. I don't think the same can be said of Calipari and Memphis.

Calipari is a great recruiter - who can sell prior NBA ties - with a lot of "extra resources" that most other programs don't enjoy. That great recruiting background coupled with his "extra resources," including but not limited to World Wide Wes's influence, allows Memphis to get "so many 5 and 4 star guys."

EDIT: Hope you enjoy: http://men.style.com/gq/features/full?id=content_5735

[kmwtrucks]

Konner Tucker has already accepted he is not going to UK now.  He mentions MU was looking before.  If I would have to guess I would say OKST is the one to beat.  The one nice thing about him is he is a good shooter and would be a SOPH next year so we would get a guard in that class.  I'm not sure if he has Big East Athlete?

[ecompt]

how does Memphis gets players MU can't? By buying them Cadillacs. In 2001 Memphis not only hired DuJuan' Wagners father as an assistant coach, but bought him a brand new Cadillac to give to his son. I knew Calipari when he coached the Nets; his picture is in the dictionary under the word "sleaze."

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

There is so much that goes into answering your questions, that it would take all night to write out. That said, let me introduce you to a man by the name of William Wesley, otherwise known as World Wide Wes.

Crean may have been a lot of things, but he was not crooked (that I know of) and did not run a crooked program. I don't think the same can be said of Calipari and Memphis.

Calipari is a great recruiter - who can sell prior NBA ties - with a lot of "extra resources" that most other programs don't enjoy. That great recruiting background coupled with his "extra resources," including but not limited to World Wide Wes's influence, allows Memphis to get "so many 5 and 4 star guys."

EDIT: Hope you enjoy: http://men.style.com/gq/features/full?id=content_5735

A couple of other things to consider:

1)  FedEx throws $$$ around the University of Memphis like Pac-Man Jones would at Rickey's On State.
2)  Memphis' academically isn't remotely in the same ballpark as Marquette (Tier 4 US News and World Report Ranking vs. Tier 1 for MU).

[StillWarriors]

Tucker is interested in MU per the article cited in the banner at the top of the page:

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090401/SPORTS03/90401017/-1/rss

[TJ]

Konner Tucker has already accepted he is not going to UK now.  He mentions MU was looking before.  If I would have to guess I would say OKST is the one to beat.  The one nice thing about him is he is a good shooter and would be a SOPH next year so we would get a guard in that class.  I'm not sure if he has Big East Athlete?

The crappiest part of this whole situation might just be the poor UK players that are going to be forced out as a result of all of this.  Presumably they didn't do a damn thing wrong and worked hard to UK and now their going to find themselves being essentially kicked out, forced to transfer and sit out a year somewhere that might be willing to take them.  UK was already 2-3 scholarships over the limit for next year and now Calipari might bring some recruits with him to UK, meaning that potentially 3-6 kids who are planning to attend UK next semester won't be.

Is there any exemption available from the redshirt rule for players that were essentially released?

[warrior_rugby15]

Is Tucker the only recruit who is now considering Marquette after this whole Calipari coaching Kentucky fiasco?