Tag: Kentucky basketball

Kentucky basketball loses another one: 4-star Billy Richmond set to leave

Four-star forward Billy Richmond is now the latest player to de-commit from Kentucky.

Yet another commitment in the class of 2024 is leaving Kentucky with Billy Richmond the latest blue-chip prospect set to leave the program.

In recent days, five-star forward Jayden Quaintance and four-star guard Boogie Fland have asked to be released from their National Letter of Intent (NLI). Both prospects were huge parts of Kentucky’s recruiting class.

The Kentucky class is falling apart in the wake of head coach John Calipari’s departure to Arkansas. It is unclear if the trip of Fland, Quainatance and now Richmond will be joining Calipari at Arkansas.

Richmond is a 6-foot-6 forward from Camden High School (Camden, New Jersey). He is a consensus four-star recruit in the class of 2024.

News of Richmond departing Kentucky was first broken by On3’s Joe Tipton. Richmond has not (yet) made any posts on social media about the decision to re-open his recruitment.

 

Richmond is the No. 39 recruit in the nation according to ESPN, where he is also ranked as the No. 11 small forward in the recruiting class.

Former New Jersey five-star DJ Wagner is in the transfer portal

Former five-star Dj Wagner is set to enter the transfer portal after one season at Kentucky.

DJ Wagner entered the transfer portal on Monday following one season at Kentucky. The loss of Wagner is the latest exodus from Kentucky following John Calipari’s departure from the program.

Calipari, the head coach who recruited Wagner to Kentucky, left last week to become head coach at Arkansas. The legendary Calipari recruited Wagner, a five-star guard from Camden High School (Camden, New Jersey).

He was the sixth-ranked recruit in the nation in the class of 2023 per Rivals.

Wagner was a McDonald’s All-American in high school. He averaged 9.9 points and 3.3 assists per game last year as a freshman at Kentucky.

There is certainly speculation that Wagner could join Calipari at Arkansas, a natural fit it would seem for both parties.

A 6-foot-4 combo guard, Wagner is a good distributor of the ball and an effective shooter. He shot 40.5 percent from the floor as a freshman.

As for Rutgers, it is doubtful there would be much interest. With a five-star guard coming in and Rutgers boasting a deep backcourt that includes Jeremiah Williams and Eastern Michigan transfer Tyson Acuff (21.7 points per game last year, which ranks eighth in the nation).

Dylan Harper, a five-star guard fresh off being Co-MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game, is expected to start for Rutgers this season.

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And there is also Jamichael Davis, who flashed plenty of times as a true freshman, scoring 5.6 points per game in 31 appearances.

Wagner was not offered by Rutgers coming out of high school.

Kentucky commit, 5-star Boogie Fland, has asked to be released from his NLI

Boogie Fland has asked Kentucky to let him out of his NLI.

Boogie Fland is no longer committed to Kentucky, part of the fall-out from John Calipari leaving the Wildcats last week. One of the top recruits in the nation, Fland is the latest Kentucky recruit to re-open his commitment the past week.

A class of 2024 recruit, Fland is a five-star in the 247Sports Composite where he is the No. 18 player in the nation. A McDonald’s All-American, Fland is coming off a strong season for Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, New York).

On Monday morning, Joe Tipton of On3 is reporting that Fland wants out of his NLI (National Letter of Intent).

Last week Jayden Quaintance asked out of his commitment from Kentucky. A five-star forward, Quaintance is the No. 14 player in the nation in the ESPN 300.

As for Fland, he has not confirmed the reports of his request on social media. But with Calipari’s departure last week to Arkansas, it is certainly understandable why Fland along with the likes of Quaintance are re-opening their college commitment.

 

Whoever lands Fland is going to get an impact player who is dynamic offensively.

At the McDonald’s All-American Game a week ago, Fland scored 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting. He was one of the most impressive players at the event.

Fland is a versatile scorer, with a strong outside game but the handle to drive and get to the rim.

Kentucky’s reported men’s basketball coaching candidate list unsurprisingly features big names like Dan Hurley

Kentucky’s reported list of men’s basketball coaching candidates is not a surprise.

Kentucky’s reported list of possible men’s basketball coaching candidates to replace John Calipari is about what you’d expect it to be.

Kentucky Sports Radio’s Matt Jones shared on Tuesday night a ranked list of candidates for the school, which understandably had UConn’s Dan Hurley at the top.

Hurley downplayed the idea of him joining the Wildcats after winning his second national title with the Huskies on Monday night, but he didn’t say no outright. It’s very possible that Kentucky could make a Godfather-style offer that Hurley couldn’t refuse, but so could UConn, hypothetically.

Baylor’s Scott Drew was second on the list as a primary backup to Hurley, and Jones added he’d be “very surprised” if that list got past the second option.

Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan was third, as he’d make a leap back to the college ranks after nearly a decade in the NBA if he decided to take the Kentucky job.

Hurley leaving UConn feels like a shaky proposition after the massive success he’s found at the school, making Drew the most likely option for the job at this juncture to Jones.

Drew won a championship with Baylor in 2021 and has spent more than two decades with the school. However, he’s only 53 and has plenty of coaching ahead of him. Hurley is the slam dunk in this situation, but Drew offers a ton of experience and would be very smart for its own reasons.

We’ll see how this all shakes out, but it’s not surprising to see these three major names linked to one of the biggest college jobs in the country.

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Nate Oats responds to the Kentucky head coaching job rumors

Alabama Crimson Tide basketball coach Nate Oats takes to social media to respond to rumors that he would be a candidate to replace John Calipari at Kentucky.

Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball head coach Nate Oats was the center of rumors regarding the Kentucky Wildcats head coaching vacancy. With long-time coach John Calipari leaving for the Arkansas Razorbacks, there’s a need for a new head coach in Lexington, Kentucky.

Oats has spent five seasons in Tuscaloosa and has improved the program on the court, on the recruiting trail and in March each season. Just a few days ago, he led the Crimson Tide to its first-ever Final Four appearance.

Fans were conflicted online, with Alabama fans concerned that he’d jump at the opportunity, some Kentucky fans calling for Oats to be the primary candidate, and others considering him a legitimate option for the job.

Nate Oats is not leaving. In a post shared to social media, Oats addresses the Crimson Tide faithful,

“I am fully committed to this team and to this university. We have already accomplished some great things here, and there is nothing I want more than for The University of Alabama to win its first national championship in men’s basketball. Despite any rumors to the contrary, rest assured that I will continue that pursuit as your head coach.”

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama basketball news as it becomes available.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Kentucky center Aaron Bradshaw should be a UNC target

Former Kentucky center Aaron Bradshaw immediately becomes a hot name on the transfer portal – the first after John Calipari was hired by Arkansas. Would it make sense for UNC to pursue the former 5-star center?

If you were up late on Monday, April 7 and had your mind on the sports world, chances are you came across some shocking news.

John Calipari, the legendary coach who spend the past 15 seasons leading the Kentucky Wildcats back to prominence, is getting set to leave Kentucky and become the head coach at the University or Arkansas. This announcement came not too long after Eric Mussleman left to become head coach at USC.

When a well-respected head coach leaves one program for another, players tend to leave because of close relationships and recruiting ties. I understand trying to stick it out for a new coach, but it can be challenging playing for someone new.

One player who left Kentucky, shortly after Calipari was hired away, was former 5-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American Aaron Bradshaw. He’s a big, 7-foot-1 center who can not only dominate the paint, but also shoot the occasional 3-pointer.

Enter the North Carolina Tar Heels, who will be inexperienced at a spot where they like to run their offense through. Armando Bacot held down center the past five seasons (and started 168 games), but he has now exhausted his eligibility.

UNC has Jalen Washington primed to take over the center spot. I really like his chances to shine – despite only averaging 8.4 minutes per game last season, he showcased he can be special with his combination of paint presence and jump-shooting ability.

If incoming 4-star James Brown will also see minutes at center, why does North Carolina need Bradshaw?

He has tremendous height, something the Tar Heels tend to lack behind their starting lineup. Bringing in Bradshaw would almost certainly improve the play of Washington and Brown, who will already be competing for a starting spot.

Bradshaw has a game similar to Washington, in that he can bully opponents down low or shoot a jumper when needed. I love Bacot – there’s no doubting he’s an all-time great – but he did most of damage in the paint.

Bradshaw also came from a reputable, Power 5 program that’s amongst the SEC’s best. I’m all about the best players transferring in from wherever, but bringing in a player who plays against 5-star competition certainly helps.

Will Bradshaw choose UNC or follow his former head coach to Kentucky?

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Paul Finebaum believes Nate Oats to Kentucky is a real possibility

Could Alabama basketball head coach Nate Oats be on the move to Kentucky? Paul Finebaum believes it’s a possibility.

Just days after leading the Alabama Crimson Tide basketball program to its first-ever Final Four appearance, there are rumors that he could be on his way out of Tuscaloosa. With John Calipari leaving the Kentucky Wildcats for the Arkansas Razorbacks job, there is an intriguing job opening in Lexington.

This coaching carousel is still in the early stages and began when the first domino fell of Eric Musselman left Arkansas for the head coaching position for the USC Trojans.

Alabama and Oats recently reached an agreement on a long-term contract extension that features a buyout of over $18 million, but that steep price may not be an issue for Kentucky.

ESPN SEC commentator Paul Finebaum recently stated that the Wildcats saved a lot of money by not firing Calipari, and that they may be willing to dig into their pockets to bring in a coach that can change the program for the better.

The athletics department would not have to look very far, as Oats is in the SEC and is undoubtedly one of the hottest names in college basketball at the moment.

“The one you have to keep your eye on, we just saw SEC to SEC, Keep your eye on Nate Oats. He just took Alabama – yes, Alabama – to the Final Four for the first time in history. The only issue, he just got a new contract from Greg Byrne, the athletic director, and Greg Byrne put in a $20 million buyout.”

With the news of Calipari’s departure still fresh, there has yet to be any official word on the possibility of Oats being contacted by the Kentucky athletic department. For now, it’s all speculation, but it’s hard to believe that Oats wouldn’t be on a short list of possible targets for the Wildcats.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Nate Oats and the possibility of losing him to Kentucky as more news and reports become available.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Rutgers basketball: What new schools reached out to Cliff Omoruyi this weekend?

Three new schools are involved with Cliff Omoruyi’s recruitment on Sunday.

There are three new programs involved with Cliff Omoruyi on Sunday, with two of the new programs being traditional powerhouses in college basketball. Not surprisingly, the former Rutgers center is generating some serious transfer portal interest.

A source close to the situation tells Rutgers Wire that the former Rutgers center saw Baylor, Kansas and Kentucky get involved in his recruitment on Sunday. Omoruyi entered the transfer portal last week after spending the last four seasons at Rutgers.

A three-year starter at Rutgers, he has one year of eligibility left.

At Rutgers, Omoruyi was an All-Big Ten selection on multiple occasions. This past season was a bit of down year as Omoruyi averaged 10.4 points per game this season while also averaging 8.3 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game.

On Saturday, a source told Rutgers Wire that the following schools have reached out to Omoruyi:

This past season, Cliff Omoruyi earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. Scroll down and check out the best photos from his season!

ESPN college basketball analysts defended John Calipari with his Kentucky job in jeopardy

Well, there are at least a few people who think John Calipari should keep his job.

With the heat on Kentucky’s John Calipari after his team’s stunning first-round men’s NCAA tournament loss to Oakland on Thursday, some of ESPN’s college basketball analysts are defending the longtime coach.

To varying degrees, Seth Greenberg, Jay Bilas, Jay Williams and Rece Davis all dismissed the idea of Calipari actually being fired, with Davis going so far as to suggest that only two people in the world are qualified at the school: Calipari and Rick Pitino.

However, Williams did note the eroding relationship between Calipari and Kentucky fans as why it might be something people want to happen.

Despite the passion behind some of their arguments, this probably won’t dissuade the angry Wildcats fans who want the coach gone after yet another surprising early tournament exit.

College hoops analyst Jay Wright laid out a compelling case this week about why Kentucky has been faltering as of late under Calipari, and the angst in Lexington might not fully subside until a new coach is in place.

With Calipari’s astronomical buyout in place, it’s no lock that Kentucky will choose to move on from one of the best coaches in the school’s history.

However, it sure doesn’t sound like Calipari will get back into the good graces of Wildcats fans until he’s able to prove his mettle after a series of March Madness disasters.

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Reed Sheppard’s clunker in March Madness shouldn’t impact his NBA draft stock at all

Reed Sheppard is the exact same player right now that he was last week.

There is no other way to put it: Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard simply did not perform well when his team was upset by Oakland in March Madness.

Even though fans perhaps shouldn’t have been so surprised by the win, the poor performance from Sheppard was a bit more shocking. He ended with just 3 points (1-of-5 FG) and a couple turnovers in 26 minutes. It was likely his worst game played in college.

Kentucky head coach John Calipari had no match for the zone defense that Oakland played against his backcourt. It stopped Sheppard and his teammate Rob Dillingham from ever getting much momentum.

Obviously, that was a pretty lousy showing in an elimination game from a prospect who was recently projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. But even if that prediction was a bit ambitious and aggressive, this was hardly a game that should make teams reconsider their evaluation of Sheppard.

 

The reality is that evaluators have far more data points to look at than just one match when it comes to the standout Kentucky freshman.  While that was perhaps the first time that many fans caught of glimpse his game, he is someone that NBA teams have studied for a much larger sample size.

Sheppard averaged 15.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 3.1 steals per 36 minutes as a freshman. He shot 53.6 percent from the field, 52.1 percent on 3-pointers and 83.1 percent from the free-throw line. His versatility and productivity are undeniable.

Among all freshmen listed at 6-foot-5 or shorter since 2008, per Bart Torik, here are the only players to perform better in the catch-all metric box plus-minus: James Harden and D’Angelo Russell.

When playing in a set offense, Sheppard was still one of the most efficient players in all of college basketball. His catch-and-shoot jumper makes him an elite threat when playing off the ball and he also manages ways to fill the stat sheet in other meaningful ways as well.

Sheppard probably doesn’t have the size or the athletic burst to make a real case as one of the first few names called in the 2024 NBA Draft. But he can shoot from NBA distance as well as any prospect in the nation.

Perhaps a team is more weary about selecting Sheppard with one of the first few picks in this class. But especially in a draft full of uncertainty, virtually every prospect will have some negative traits in their scouting report.

If he decides to declare for the 2024 NBA Draft and remain in, which he likely will and should, the trajectory looks about the same for Sheppard as it did before the dud against Oakland. Remember: This is the same player who was torching Tennessee for 27 points earlier this month.

He generally fared well against top opponents and while March Madness didn’t go well, his resumé is still strong enough to earn lottery consideration.

So long as he does well in the pre-draft process and impresses during interviews and workouts and measurements, Sheppard’s draft stock should look exactly the same as it did last week. Now, he has added motivation and a chip on his shoulder.

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