This is a good week to be a Kentucky fan.
First off, Scout.com put out its updated Class of 2012 rankings and John Calipari and Company are involved with the Top 4 players — Shabazz Muhammad, Andre Drummond, Mitch McGary and Brandon Ashley, as well as No. 9 Kaleb Tarczewski and No. 10 Anthony Bennett.
Oh, and they also have a shot at No. 12 DaJuan Coleman, No. 14 Archie Goodwin, No. 17 Alex Poythress and No. 19 Robert Parker.
The Wildcats don’t have a single commit for the Class of 2012 yet, a tough break for fans who’ve grown accustomed to landing the No. 1 class in the nation across each of the last three years.
But if Kentucky can land three or four of these guys — which is entirely possible — Calipari will keep his incredible streak going.
In the 2013 class, stud forward Chris Walker, a likely future pro, told SNY.tv this weekend that he plans to visit Kentucky sometime soon and listed Ohio State, Kentucky and Florida as his favorites.
On the court, Calipari will coach the Dominican National Team tonight and tomorrow in two exhibitions against a group of Kentucky pros that includes John Wall, Rajon Rondo and DeMarcus Cousins.
“It’s going to be a circus,” Atlanta Hawks forward Al Horford, a former Florida Gator and one of the starters for a Dominican team that will soon begin its quest to qualify for the 2012 Olympics, told the Louisville Courier Journal. “It’s going to be a big road game for us. Big Blue is going to show out. It’s going to be a good test. We’re going to be playing against Argentina at home over there. This is good preparation. I don’t think there’s any arena in in South America that sits 25,000 like here.”
Here are the starting lineups courtesy the Courier Journal:
Dominican Republic National Team
Probable starters
C Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks), 6-10
F Charlie Villanueva (Detroit Pistons), 6-11
F Francisco Garcia (UofL alum, Sacramento Kings), 6-7
F Jack Michael Martinez, 6-8
G Edgar Sosa (UofL alum), 6-1
Others
F Juan Pablo Montas, 6-6
G Luis Flores, 6-2
F Eulis Baez, 6-7
G Kelvin Pena, 6-3
G Ricardo Soliver, 6-2
F Eloy Vargas (University of Kentucky), 6-11
F Manuel Guzman, 6-9
G Manuel Fortuna, 6-1
G Ronald Ramon, 6-2
F Orlando Sanches, 6-10
Coaches: John Calipari, Orlando Antigua, Billy Bayno, Del Harris, Felipe Lopez, Rod Strickland
THE PROS (Former UK stars)
Probable starters
G Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics), 6-1
G John Wall (Washington Wizards), 6-4
G Jodie Meeks (Philadelphia 76ers), 6-4
G Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons), 6-9
F DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings), 6-11
Others
G Eric Bledsoe (Los Angeles Clippers), 6-1
G Keith Bogans (Chicago Bulls), 6-5
F Nazr Mohammed (Oklahoma City Thunder), 6-10
Coaches: Denny Crum, Joe B. Hall
stoney12 / August 15, 2011
big fan adam, but i’ve got to say i follow recruiting pretty closely and it would be a miracle if kentucky landed muhammad, mcgary, ashley, tarczewski, coleman, or poythress.
muhammad is UCLA bound unless something amazing happens, mcgary probably goes somewhere like michigan or maryland, who he has said have been recruiting him the hardest, ashley is probably staying on the west coast, tarczewski is down to kansas and arizona, coleman’s favorite is syracuse, and poythress is said to have love for duke. i don’t know about the other recruits, but i think kentucky’s #1 recruiting class streak ends this year.
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SiJessieWildcat / August 15, 2011
Kensucky is stinking it up, this year.
Funny how the NBA LockOut has left Cali with zero creditability. No recruits are buying the Cali “used car” pitch.
Shabazz will stay in the West ;but, he does want to win a national championship.
Kaleb Tarc story should come out today. And John Carroll comments will be remembered for a long time. New England Playaz rep on the line.
Brandon Ashley is Arizona bound.
Colemen is SU.
note–
The West is clowning on kentucky, alot.
Who will be the first to commit to Kensucky, in the fall? No one.
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UK ALL DAY / August 16, 2011
Do u me KENTUCKY’S clowning on da west were have u been da last three years smhing.
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fearthephog25 / August 16, 2011
HUH?????
That didn’t even make sense. And point proven the education is not a priority at uk. Does the last 3 years make up for the prior decade plus of MIA?
And in no way standing up for jessie, just making a statement about education at uk. With new NCAA Standards, will uk now lose scholarships and face post season suspension? Or do they still offer courses in coal mining and baskt weaving? LOL
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fearthephog25 / August 16, 2011
that*
basket*
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BostonCat / August 16, 2011
i don’t know why a KU fan would be making any kind of statement to a UK fan regarding education.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2623000
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fearthephog25 / August 16, 2011
haha still crying son?? get over yourself
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fearthephog25 / August 16, 2011
By the way, I saw Sosas and Garcia and Dominicans man handle uk pros in rupp last night. LOL LOL LOL
And cousins still can’t shoot free throws, and how come they couldn’t stop Sosa?? Sosas is the real deal and took it to john wall and bledsoe. haha I know you were watching.
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BostonCat / August 16, 2011
thanks for tuning in, just further proof how big uk is. i dont think i would ever tune in to see a KU exhibition game in the middle of the summer. hope you enjoyed it.
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fearthephog25 / August 16, 2011
SOSA!!
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blasphemy / August 17, 2011
ALI FAROKHMANESH! 😉 Bwhahahaha
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fearthephog25 / August 17, 2011
I do recall one lil Devan Downey who scored 21 points and South Carolina set a school record with 16 blocked shots as the Gamecocks beat Kentucky 77-59. By an unranked and the sec is not even a basketball conference. LOL =)
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UK ALL DAY / August 18, 2011
Made a mistake ass-hat but u defend Arizona,try taking up for that dump of a school in Lawrence try making it past the 1st round clown who cares about either school Arizona or the place were the PHOG is LOL
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UK ALL DAY / August 18, 2011
By the way featherhead do they still offer courses in cattle steering ,an barn building ha ha ha
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BigBlueRise / August 19, 2011
Ah yes, the typical “all Kentucky fans must be illiterate.” Because in today’s day and age, one person on a blog represents an entire fanbase.
If you want to talk present, then we are better than you. Ask me how the final four and elite eight were. If you want to talk past, then we can talk about why we have more national championships than you. In reality, you’re running away from the fact that you clicked on a headline clearly labeled, “Good Week to be a Kentucky Fan.” It’s quite flattering that you care enough to read anyway. Or was the headline too complicated for you? Did you imagine a hidden meaning?
Yes, we lost TWO games to the Dominican Republic National team. Our group of guys practiced one time together the day of the second game and had zero coaching. Talent is overmatched by cohesiveness and a strong gameplan. The Dominican team aren’t a bunch of slouches either; having three NBA players on their roster.
Now, to the point of the thread. We won’t get Tarczewski. I would be surprised if DaJuan Coleman goes anywhere but Cuse. I think we get Alex Poythress, Archie Goodwin and Shabazz Muhammad. Andre Drummond will go pro. Brandon Ashley will be a Wildcat and Anthony Bennett will go elsewhere. I am not worried. It’s Coach Cal. He’s a better coach than Self or Roy Williams anyway. Coach K on the other hand…
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fearthephog25 / August 19, 2011
Bill Self 1 – calipari 0. LOL
How many National Championships does calipari have? All that talent year after year and ZERO Championships. haha
1989 – Kansas vs Kentucky (150-95)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJzqehSdb6U
Didn’t Kansas beat uk in rupp in 2005 too, and isn’t KU 4-1 Over uk in last 5 meetings? LOL Better?
Saw WWW and calipari together when Dominicans whup’d up on former uk players too. WWW + calipari = Cor “RUPP” tion. And you are crying about having 1 practice with a bunch of NBA Pros? LOL Better come up with a better excuse than that son. And you must admit, SOSA Torched you guys and loved it. Goodnight
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blasphemy / August 27, 2011
Since UK has gone further than KU in the past two tourneys…. I do believe that you need to pay up on a bet we made a while ago ftp. Not an honorable man are you?
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