2009-10 Preaseaon Top 25

Loyal RBP readership (Kyle Murray, Pat McGuire the Sig, and irrational Sacramento Kings fan),

With the start of the 2009-10 college basketball season, our little blog is ending its summer hiatus. Please enjoy my preseason rankings. Feel free to point out my errors, mistakes, and mishaps in the comments section. More analysis to come in future posts -- including preseason All-America teams, conference breakdowns, obscure lists, and topless photos of Tyler Hansbrough.

Yours,

The Admiral

1) Kansas: No surprise here.

2) North Carolina: Sky is the limit for soph Ed Davis and frosh John Henson.

3) Villanova: For some reason, everyone's sleeping on Jay Wright's squad.

4) Texas: John Wall and Derrick Favors get all the press (deservedly so), but I, for one, am an Avery Bradley man.

5) Michigan State: Overachieving Spartans lack go-to scorer but have nation's most underrated player (Kalin Lucas).

6) Connecticut: Trio of Kemba Walker, Jerome Dyson, and Stanley Robinson headline talented Huskies roster.

7) Kentucky: Short on experience but the Cats possess as much talent as anyone in the country.

8) Purdue: Boilermakers have one of the country's best starting lineups, but depth and lack of bulk on the blocks are concerns.

9) Butler: Bulldogs bring everyone back, including talented trio of Matt Howard, Gordon Hayward, and Shelvin Mack.

10) West Virginia: Possibly the deepest team in the country, and Huggins' club is going to defend.

11) California: With Jerome Randle running the show, Patrick Christopher and Theo Robertson on the wings, Jamal Boykin in the post, and Mike Montgomery at the helm, the Golden Bears should take the Pac-10 crown.

12) Dayton: Flyers return almost everyone, including human highlight reel Chris Wright.

13) Washington: All kinds of talent on the perimeter, but the Huskies have questions in the post.

14) Georgetown: Ton of upside for JTIII's Hoya club, but Monroe and company need to shed their softness and play with a mean-streak.

15) Tennessee: The Vols have as much raw athleticism as anyone, but they have to play with some semblance of discipline.

16) Duke: I'm not that high on this latest installment of Dukies, but Kyle Singler and his mates will benefit from a slightly-down ACC.

17) Louisville: Gaping hole at the three spot undermines an otherwise extremely talented lineup.

18) Notre Dame: Addition of transfers Scott Martin (Purdue, former Baby Boiler) and Ben Hansbrough (Mississippi State, younger brother of G.O.A.T.) ensure that Gody's senior year will be a successful one.

19) Oklahoma: Freshman fatty Tiny Gallon teams up with super-soph Willie Warren to form a potent inside-outside duo.

20) Ohio State: You'd be hard-pressed to find a more talented pair of wings than Evan Turner and William Buford.

21) Wake Forest: With the departures of Jeff Teague and James Johnson, I think it will take some time for the Demon Deacons to find themselves, but, when they do, they will have the talent to challenge Duke for the 2 spot in the ACC.

22) Memphis: Coach Cal and Tyreke Evans are gone, but Conference-USA foes remain.

23) Vanderbilt: The Commodores are deep, long, and athletic, which seems weird, since we're talking about Vandy.

24) Xavier: Apparently, Jordan Crawford dunked on Lebron James this past offseason.

25) Gonzaga: Austin Daye, Josh Heytvelt, Jeremy Pargo, and Micah Downs are gone, but Matt Bouldin, Steven Gray, and Demetri Goodson give the Bulldogs perimeter punch.

2009 NBA Mock Draft--Final Mock

1 Clippers: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
2 Grizzlies: Tyreke Evans, Memphis
3 Thunder: James Harden, Arizona State
4 Kings: Ricky Rubio, International
5 Timberwolves: Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut
6 Timberwolves: Ty Lawson, North Carolina
7 Warriors: Jordan Hill, Arizona
8 Knicks: Stephen Curry, Davidson
9 Raptors: Gerald Henderson, Duke
10 Bucks: Jeff Teague, Wake Forest
11 Nets: Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
12 Bobcats: Sam Young, Pittsburgh
13 Pacers: DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh
14 Suns: Jonny Flynn, Syracuse
15 Pistons: Patrick Mills, Saint Mary's
16 Bulls: James Johnson, Wake Forest
17 76ers: Brandon Jennings, International
18 Timberwolves: Terrence Williams, Louisville
19 Hawks: Jrue Holiday, UCLA
20 Jazz: Jodie Meeks, Kentucky
21 Hornets: DeMar DeRozan, USC
22 Trailblazers: Derrick Brown, Xavier
23 Kings: Earl Clark, Louisville
24 Mavericks: B.J. Mullens, Ohio State
25 Thunder: Eric Maynor, VCU
26 Bulls: Toney Douglas, Florida State
27 Grizzlies: DeMarre Carroll, Missouri
28 Timberwolves: Austin Daye, Gonzaga
29 Lakers: DaJuan Summers, Georgetown
30 Cavaliers: Chase Budinger, Arizona

*reminder: mock reflects not who teams will take but, rather, who they should take

2009 NBA Mock Draft -- Post-Lottery

You can check out Roundball Portfolio's earlier mock drafts here, here, here, and here.

1 Clippers: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
Soph 6-10 240 PF
Now that Griffin has been measured as a legitimate 6-9 (6-10 in sneakers), it's hard to believe anyone would pass on the explosive power forward.

2 Grizzlies: Ricky Rubio, International
N/A 6-3 180 PG
I don't think Mike Conley is the answer in Memphis, but I'm also not sure if a Rubio-Mayo backcourt makes sense, as both seem to need the ball in their hands – and then there's the whole Rubio not wanting to play in Memphis thing.

3 Thunder: Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut
Jr 7-3 260 C
James Harden is a definite possibility here, but it's not every day you get a chance to add a 7-3 shot-blocking machine to your roster.

4 Kings: Tyreke Evans, Memphis
Fr 6-6 220 PG
Jordan Hill is an option for Sacramento, but the Kings need some star power (and a point guard).

5 Wizards: Jordan Hill, Arizona
Jr 6-9 235 PF
Hill adds length, athleticism, and toughness to the Wizards' underwhelming post rotation.

6 Timberwolves: James Harden, Arizona State
Soph 6-4 220 OG
Harden would be a steal at six for a Minnesota team that needs to add perimeter scoring.

7 Warriors: Ty Lawson, North Carolina
Jr 6-0 195 PG
I love the idea of the swift-footed Lawson directing Golden State's helter-skelter attack.

8 Knicks: Gerald Henderson, Duke
Jr 6-4 210 OG
A point guard is a real possibility here (and wing DeRozan appears to be a popular pick on a lot of draft boards), but Henderson would provide the Knicks with a heady athlete that can defend.

9 Raptors: DeMar DeRozan, USC
Fr 6-6 210 OG
DeRozan won't contribute immediately, but his athleticism can't be ignored at the nine spot.

10 Bucks: Jeff Teague, Wake Forest
Soph 6-2 175 PG
Teague's ability to score in the paint would aid a Milwaukee squad that lacks frontline firepower.

11 Nets: James Johnson, Wake Forest
Soph 6-8 235 PF
Johnson reminds me of former Michigan Wolverine and Los Angeles Clipper Maurice Taylor.

12 Bobcats: Sam Young, Pittsburgh
Sr 6-6 220 OG
You're not going to find many mocks with Young in the lottery, but he would provide an offensive boost to a club that lacks a true perimeter scoring threat.

13 Pacers: Stephen Curry, Davidson
Jr 6-3 180 PG
Even with the emergence of Danny Granger, Indiana needs a marquee name to rejuvenate a flagging fanbase.

14 Suns: Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
Sr 6-8 245 PF
Psycho T would add production and toughness to the Suns' thin frontcourt.

15 Pistons: Eric Maynor, VCU
Sr 6-3 180 PG
DeJuan Blair is a possibility here, but I'm just not convinced Rodney Stuckey is a point guard.

16 Bulls: DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh
Soph 6-6 280 PF
I like fellow Pitt Panther Sam Young here if he falls this far, but Blair would add some bulk to a frontcourt that features rail-thin Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah.

17 76ers: Jonny Flynn, Syracuse
Soph 6-0 185 PG
With Andre Miller getting on in years, I don't think there's a better fit than Flynn-to-Philadelphia on the whole board.

18 Timberwolves: Patrick Mills, Saint Mary's
Soph 5-11 180 PG
I like Mills, who gets into the lane with ease, playing facilitator to Kevin Love and Al Jefferson.

19 Hawks: Brandon Jennings, International
N/A 6-1 170 PG
Jennings would eventually supplant Mike Bibby in Atlanta.

20 Jazz: Jodie Meeks, Kentucky
Jr 6-4 210 OG
Jerry Sloan has to like the idea of the sharp-shooting Meeks (Jeff Hornacek) playing off of the Deron Williams (John Stockton)-Carlos Boozer (Karl Malone) pick-n-roll.

21 Hornets: Terrence Williams, Louisville
Sr 6-6 220 OG
With Chris Paul, T-Will, and Tyson Chandler in the lineup, no one will notice Peja Stojakovic's defensive inadequacies.

22 Mavericks: Jrue Holiday, UCLA
Fr 6-3 205 PG
There's a lot of buzz surrounding Holiday, and most seem to be willing to forgive his unimpressive freshman campaign.

23 Kings: Earl Clark, Louisville
Jr 6-10 230 SF
Clark will likely go higher, but the Kings would love to add the enticing (but often frustrating) Louisville product to its young frontline rotation.

24 Trailblazers: Austin Daye, Gonzaga
Soph 6-10 200 SF
Daye's a project, but, considering his freakish length and shooting ability, it could very well pay off down the road.

25 Thunder: Chase Budinger, Arizona
Jr 6-7 220 OG
A Westbrook – Budinger – Kid Nut Raven – Green – Thabeet lineup would be pretty tasty.

26 Bulls: Toney Douglas, Florida State
Sr 6-2 195 OG
Considering the speculation surrounding Ben Gordon's rumored departure, the Bulls should pick up Ben Gordon Lite.

27: Grizzlies: Derrick Brown, Xavier
Jr 6-8 225 SF
Brown has all the tools and could be an absolute steal.

28 Timberwolves: B.J. Mullens, Ohio State
Fr 7-0 275 C
Athletic 7-footer will most likely come off the board sooner.

29 Lakers: DaJuan Summers, Georgetown
Jr 6-8 225 SF
Another offensive weapon to take the scoring pressure off Kobe.

30 Cavaliers: Luke Harangody, Notre Dame
Jr 6-7 245 PF
Go ahead and laugh, but, if anything, Gody should be higher.

The Talent Pipeline Flows Into Lexington

John Wall, the number one ranked prep basketball player in the country, committed to the University of Kentucky at 3am in the morning today. I had completely prepared myself to not get that down when Wall decided to attend school at either Miami or Duke. By not allowing myself to get to excited about Wall in Lexington, I had sort of trained my mind to believe he was not going to come to UK. Why was this easy for a normally rabidly absurd fan of Kentucky Basketball? Well, we already had the number one recruiting class in the country and things had turned around so quickly for us that it was hard to think things could keep rolling.

Wall's recruitment had been dragging on for several months with the leaders seeming to be Duke, Miami, and UK. Florida and a few others were possibilities, but never had much of a chance. The length of his recruitment seemed to make most forget how important he could be to a team next year, especially a talented team such as Kentucky. Let me give you a rundown of my take on Wall:

I think he is the most purely talented prep player since LeBron James. This is no knock on Derrick Rose, but I think Wall, as a fifth year senior in high school, is better than Rose as a senior in Chicago. Their athleticism is very similar. But, I think Wall is quicker from end to end. Their jump shot is similar. But, from what I read, Wall can get hotter from behind the arc. They both have great handles, but Wall is ambidextrous. Really, he's equally as good with either his left or right. I think Wall is a better passer and defender at this point. The only area I give an edge to Rose is a stronger upper body.

Wall's commitment makes Kentucky the team to beat next year. They have more first round NBA talent than any other team in the country, maybe twice as much as any other team in the country. Now, just because we are talented doesn't make us a lock for the Final Four. It does make us the most exciting team to watch in college basketball next year.

Finally, here is my poster list for the upcoming season. The poster list is the listing of guys I most want to see John Wall dunk on next year.

Poster List:

1. Edgar Sosa
2. Jarvis Varnado
3. Terrence Jennings
4. Brian Zoubek/Kyle Singler/Mason Plumlee
5. Tyler Zeller/Ed Davis
   

Top 50 NBA Players: 08-09 Edition

I tend to stick to the college game, but, with the Playoffs in full swing, I couldn't help myself. I'd like to make this an annual thing. The post is not simply a list of the top 50 performances of the 08-09 campaign. Rather, it is an attempt to evaluate the top 50 basketball players in the Association at this point in time. Feel free to rip me to shreds in the comments.

50-41



50 Jason Kidd, DAL
Kidd moves like an old man but still has eyes in the back of his head.

49 Antawn Jamison, WAS
The oft-ignored UNC product continues to put up great numbers.

48 Josh Smith, ATL
Do-it-all super-athlete lacks consistency and a reliable jump shot.

47 Michael Redd, MIL
A long-range specialist and not a whole lot more at this point in his career.

46 Tayshaun Prince, DET
The Thin Man possesses one of the most unique skill-sets in the Association.

45 Elton Brand, PHI
Injuries have limited the Rescue Dawn producer to a mere 37 games over the past two seasons.

44 Ben Gordon, CHI
Instant offense personified.

43 Hedo Turkoglu, ORL
Fell off a bit this year and gets lazy with his shot selection.

42 Shaquille O'Neal, PHX
For about fifteen minutes a game, the Big JabbaWockee deserves to be rated much higher.

41 Manu Ginobili, SAS
Ginobili's taken a beating in his career, and it's starting to show.

40-31





















40 Gerald Wallace, CHA
Toiling in obscurity in Carolina.

39 O.J. Mayo, MEM
Orange Juice has a mature offensive game.

38 Ray Allen, BOS
Shuttlesworth still has the prettiest stroke in the land.

37 Ron Artest, HOU
Could be higher, but I'm not going to let one year of relatively good behavior blind me to Ron-Ron's propensity for foolishness.

36 Kevin Martin, SAC
The league's seventh leading scorer may be its most one-dimensional player.

35 Gilbert Arenas, WAS
Agent Zero has appeared in a grand total of fifteen games in the past two seasons.

34 David West, NOH
Needs to extend his range to avoid hitting a development plateau.

33 Rajon Rondo, BOS
If his postseason scoring spree carries over to the regular season, the sky is the limit for this force of nature.

32 Caron Butler, WAS
Really nice all-around talent but hasn't stepped up in Arenas' extended absence.

31 Richard Hamilton, DET
The masked master of the mid-range game is still one of the league's most underrated players.

30-21



30 Josh Howard, DAL
I may not agree with everything Howard has said in the past couple years, but look no further than the media's treatment of the Wake Forest alum for evidence that the NBA and its partners expect the talent to toe the company line.

29 Al Jefferson, MIN
Maybe a little low for the young bruiser.

28 LaMarcus Aldridge, POR
The ideal second fiddle on a Blazers team that could be special.

27 Lamar Odom, LAL
His basketball IQ is off the charts.

26 Carlos Boozer, UTA
One gets the impression that Boozer's best days are behind him.

25 Derrick Rose, CHI
Not sure his play-making skills have quite caught up to the NBA pace, but he has all the markings of a superstar.

24 Andre Iguodala, PHI
Tremendous athlete who is showing signs of becoming a really nice basketball player.

23 Devin Harris, NJN
With Harris at the point and the Forbidden Fruit in the paint, the Nets have the bookends for what could be a really nice team.

22 Joe Johnson, ATL
Disappears a little too often to be rated higher.

21 Amar'e Stoudemire, PHX
For all of his explosiveness and continued development on the offensive end, Stoudemire has absolutely no idea how to play defense.

20-11





















20 Danny Granger, IND
The Force is strong with this one.

19 Paul Pierce, BOS
Pierce's transformation over the course of his career from slashing athlete to skilled assassin is a testament to his work ethic.

18 Chauncey Billups, DEN
Mr. Big Shot at the 18 spot with his team in the Western Conference Finals, while The Answer is nowhere to be found.

17 Chris Bosh, TOR
I think Bosh peaked during the 07-08 campaign.

16 Carmelo Anthony, DEN
La La's better half has made it clear that he is not interested in playing defense.

15 Steve Nash, PHX
Despite his detractors, I stand by my belief that we aren't going to realize how special Steve Nash is until he's gone.

14 Yao Ming, HOU
Eat the head! Eat the head!

13 Tony Parker, SAS
Even after all these years, Mrs. Longoria's ability to score in the paint never ceases to amaze me.

12 Pau Gasol, LAL
The perfect running mate for Kobe is one of the Association's most underrated stars.

11 Deron Williams, UTA
The big-bodied floor general is a one-of-a-kind talent.

10-1



10 Kevin Garnett, BOS
No one cares more about showing everyone how much he cares.

9 Dirk Nowitski, DAL
This scoring savant is an underrated rebounder and horrible defender.

8 Brandon Roy, POR
No one this side of Kobe has a more complex offensive package.

7 Kevin Durant, OKC
As Kobe begins his gradual decline, it's up to Kid Nut Raven to challenge King James for global supremacy.

6 Dwight Howard, ORL
The NBA's biggest goober and most incredible physical specimen has exactly zero post moves and lacks anything remotely resembling a jumper.

5 Tim Duncan, SAS
The Big Fundamental's best years are in his rearview, but he still has the ability to silently take over games.

4 Chris Paul, NOH
I'm not blaming CP3 for what happened (or more appropriately didn't happen) in New Orleans this year.

3 Dwyane Wade, MIA
The NBA's leading scorer would have received my vote for Defensive Player of the Year.

2 Kobe Bryant, LAL
Still a ruthless competitor, but there are a few chinks in the armor of the once invincible Mamba.

1 Lebron James, CLE
If you still think Kobe is the best player on the planet, just imagine what LBJ would do if he had the Lakers' supporting cast.S

The Ridiculous Catspause Post of the Week

From Mashburned:

You all remember the poster that said he buried the jersey under the foundation of the arena? I was just wanting to talk to that guy and tell him "Great Job Man!". It's already working. Didn't you bury it before the got bounced from the tournament? Then Pitino and his extortion business. We got Cal and it absolutely everything is going wrong with poor little Ricky and littlebrothersucksville.

Patrick Patterson to Pull Name Out of NBA Draft

Patrick Patterson, as reported by Brett Dawson, is pulling his name out of the NBA Draft and will return to Kentucky for his junior season. I predict a 90% chance that a poster on Catspause predicts a 100% chance for UK to reach the National Championship next year.

In related news, Jeremy Tyler is still planning to leave high school after his junior year to play professional basketball in Europe.

[Post Edit] THIS JUST IN! - Mike Marra has not had the insane clown posse tattoo removed from his left bicep.

Words Cannot Express

Just thought you should know what Big Blue Nation is talking about over at CatsPause. All threads posted within last 24 hours.

*Posted by jason8jen
Cats against NBA worst
I wish Cats could play the last place NBA team in exhibition game next year. Is their any rules against having such game. I know some teams play Harlem Globe trotters as part of pre season scrimmages. If such a game was played I like our chances,and If they lost would it make the League look bad if they got beat to college team. It would probably never happen but man it would be great

*Posted by Quest4#8
Potential UK backcourt=Bulls backcourt?

Rose Wall
Gordon Meeks
Hinrich Bledsoe

Feel like these 3 are very similar players to the Bulls primary ball handlers.

*Posted by clublive
POLL: Could next year's UK team beat the 1996 Bulls?
-Yes
-No
-Too close to call
-That's a bad question

PG: Wall vs Harper - Advantage Wall
SG: Meeks vs Jordan - Advantage Jordan
SF: Miller vs Pippen - Advantage Pippen
PF: Patterson vs Kukoc - Wash
C: Cousins vs Longley - Advantage Cousins

I give slight edge to the bulls, but I think the Cats can take 3 games in a 7 game series.

*Posted by CatsRuleSEC
Have You Ever Actually Seen a Wildcat in the Wild?
Where did you see the wildcat/bobcat?

The Rich Get Richer

Eric Bledsoe, the third ranked point guard, twenty-third ranked player overall by Rivals in the class of 2009 has chosen the University of Kentucky over Memphis. I imagine it wasn't a hard decision.

Coach Cal continues to impress even the demanding Cats fans with his ability to sell the program despite an already loaded class, limited scholarships, and claiming Lukas Orbzut as an alum. Bledsoe committed despite reports that John Wall, a point guard, and the nations number one prospect by pretty much anyone with a brain, is leaning towards UK. Coach Cal deserves a round of applause. I suggest creating a twitter account and begin following Cal's tweets as being the best round of applause.

Bledsoe has a history with another top recruit headed to Kentucky, DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins is the top ranked Center in the class, and the number two ranked player overall. Bledsoe's high school team defeated Cousins' team in the state championship game in March. Bledsoe and Cousins will begin their Kentucky careers with Daniel Orton, Jon Hood, and Darnell Dodson. Daniel Orton is another five-star recruit, ranked the third best Center in the class, and the twenty-second best player overall. He underwent knee surgery that ended his senior season almost before it began, but looked to have recovered well in the Derby Classic held in Louisville last month. Jon Hood is a four-star recruit, ranked the fortieth best player in the class. If he wasn't from Kentucky he would have been at Duke, no doubt about it. Finally, Dodson is a four star recruit from junior college who had originally committed to play for Pittsburgh out of high school. It will certainly be the top ranked class entering college in 2009, but if Cal somehow finds a way to land Wall it will be considered one of the most talented entering classes in college basketball history.

With a new offense, and hopefully (and most likely) new uniforms, Kentucky is back to being the Fonzie of college basketball.

In related news, Jeremy Tyler is still planning on skipping his senior year of high school to play professionally in Europe before entering the NBA Draft.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

A Considerable Diversion

In light of Adm. Sax's post concerning boxiana, I thought it the perfect opportunity to get my one and only non-college basketball post in the mix. This is not only a diversion from college basketball, but a diversion from anything considered in the same neighborhood of sanity.

Every item in Neverland Ranch (Michael Jackson's ex-home) was put up for auction recently because Michael Jackson is apparently out of money. He is out of money because he owned a place called Neverland Ranch and it didn't generate any income. He also spent his money on these things.

I didn't look through all of the pictures (10 or 12 are almost too much to handle), but the one above is my clear favorite. If it was under $636 (my tax return and bank statement) I'd pick it up. If anyone finds an appropriate item, this post might also get a cryptozoology tag.

A Slight Diversion

RBP is first and foremost a blog about the beautiful game of basketball. Most of our posts address the college game, but we occasionally cover professional and high school roundball as well. (With the addition of Commander Harry Lonestar to our team, we hope to offer more high school content.) That being said, I'd like to take a moment to recommend a sporting blog that has nothing to do with the hardwood -- Boxiana: The Science of Bruising.

I'm not going to sit here and pretend I'm a huge fan of the sweet science. Sure, I like to catch the occasional fight (and by occasional, I mean one every two years or so). Actually, I did follow the sport somewhat closely for about a year. But more recently I've pretty much stopped following boxing altogether. I'm not exactly sure why. Perhaps because it seems inaccessible, with the top fights only available on pay-per-view, or perhaps I just don't find today's characters compelling. But I remain fascinated by the sport. I want to like it. But, at the same time, I think I may have at least a few ethical issues with it. I'd be conflicted if I cared more.



So, how does a guy who doesn't follow boxing and has no intention of following the sport more closely in the future end up recommending a boxing blog? Well, the site was brought to my attention by the guys over at freedarko. Shoefly, Boxiana's proprietor, is a talented scribe, and, I must say, there's just something about pugilism that lends itself to writing. Moreover, for a sport that I seldom find compelling, one of the most interesting fights of the past few years takes place tomorrow -- Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton. I'd go into all the reasons why this is an absolutely fascinating matchup, but that would give you an excuse not to check out Shoefly's three-part preview of the fight, which is nothing short of remarkable. Even if you're not a boxing enthusiast, you should give Boxiana a chance. It's that good. In fact, I'm hard-pressed to identify better sports writing anywhere in the blogosphere.

Kentucky High School All-Star Controversy

A few weeks back I attended the Kentucky All-Star Tryouts at Campbellsville University. Every year the Kentucky All-Stars play, and in recent history, lose to the Indiana All-Stars. And every year, coaches, fans and parents across the state gripe about who was left off the roster and how the whole thing is all way too political. The controversy surrounding this year’s team started even before I left for the tryout. Bluegrasspreps.com and Kentuckypreps.com were full of messages about players that got screwed by being left off the tryout list. Not long after arriving at Campbellsville, I hear that a player from Eastern Kentucky didn’t show up for his tryout because according to his father, “The team has already been picked”. I agree that it is certainly not an unbiased, objective selection format, however I want to make clear exactly how the team is chosen. Every year 40 kids from across the state receive an invite to the tryout. 16 of these kids are automatic bids as they were chosen the player of the year in their respective region. 10 are chosen by head coaches across the state. 10 more are selected by the media while the final 4 players are invited by the head coach of the team.

Though the selection of Kentucky All-Stars is not completely objective, changes have been made within the last decade to create a much more democratic process. The only player guaranteed a spot on the team is Mr. Basketball, Jon Hood. The other 10 spots on the team are voted on by the coaches of the year from each region. Each player must be given unanimous support by those coaches in order to make the team. The last spot on the team is chosen by the head coach. This year’s coach is Tony Hopper from Owensboro Apollo. One of the major controversies surrounding this year’s team is the lack of big city players, particularly the lack of 7th region players from Louisville.

It is inevitable that someone will always be left off the team who was popular in a particular region or received a certain amount of media attention for their play during the year. The general consensus from those on the western side of the state is that too much media attention is given to Louisville, Lexington, and the eastern Kentucky schools covered by the Herald Leader that it’s very hard for players from Owensboro, Bowling Green, Hoptown, or Paducah to make the team. For those in the Louisville and Lexington regions, there is always the complaint that one of the studs from their region was slighted to create a team that is more representative of the entire state. This claim is usually followed up with a statement about how the Kentucky team deserves to get beat every year because the selection process is too political and the best talent doesn’t always end up on the floor.

Though I am not steeped in the history of the Kentucky-Indiana series, I am willing to bet that one would be hard pressed to find a Kentucky team from years past with only one player from the 7th and 11th regions. This Kentucky All-Star team has zero representatives from the 7th region, arguably the toughest region in the entire state, and only one from the 11th region. Perennial powerhouse teams like Ballard, Male, J-town, Manual and Eastern battle it out in the Big East like 7th region where teams have size, athleticism, and highly touted players. Even second tier 7th region teams like Trinity, St. X and Moore would give fits to the best teams in other regions. Yet, not one player from this region was chosen for the Kentucky squad.

7th region players that should have made it:

Chris Dowe- Eastern High School 6’2 G/F



















Dowe was the second biggest surprise in the state this year. He was overshadowed coming into the year by his highly touted teamates junior Delquan Thomas and Eastern’s stud sophomore class that includes Remy Abel and Arman Marks. However, Dowe was a stat sheet stuffer all year and led his team to a gaudy record of 30 something and 3. He also had the second sickest dunk I have ever seen in person, on any level. He is a slasher that can finish in traffic or pull up with a floater. For any high school coach with a dribble drive system, he is a dream. His athleticism set him apart from others his size. If not checked, Dowe owned the boards and made people look bad in the process. He is considered by many a strong D2 player as Northern Kentucky and Bellarmine have been hot on his trail. In recent weeks however, a bunch of low major to mid major schools have come calling. Now teams like EKU, Fairfield, Wright State, and Western Carolina are in the mix for Dowe.

The knock on Dowe: I thought it likely that Dowe would make the team because of all the press he recieved during the season. But Dowe had two things working against him at the tryout. First, he had a rough weekend at Campbellsville. He never really got things going. Shots weren’t falling, and he wasn’t getting all over the rim like he was known to do. I suspect some questioned his effort, and his desire to be part of the squad. Second, most coaches and people from around the state have a Louisville bias. The knock on Louisville is that there is plenty of talent but little structure. Outsiders see Louisville as a place where playing within a system, playing the fundamentals, and playing your heart out all come secondary to looking flashy and getting recognized. This combination led to the perception that the Kentucky All-Star team could take it or leave it when it came to Dowe. In my opinion, they would have been much better off taking him.

Eric Mosley- Louisville Moore 5’10 PG



















Mosley was the biggest surprise of the year around the state. Mosley transferred back to the Louisville area after spending a year in prep school. Prior to the season, neither Mosley nor Moore received much press, yet by the middle of the year, he was one of the hottest names in the state. He finished the year 3rd in the state in scoring at 26.4 a game. His game is very reminiscent of Allen Iverson in that he dominates that ball, often times to a fault, but scores almost at will. He is extremely quick, and has a definite division one handle. He is a streaky shooter, but a constant scorer. Rumors around the tryout were that he would probably take his game to Austin Peay.

The Knock: Mosley definitely had the Louisville bias working against him. I think some questioned how coachable he would be, particularly in the an All-Star game where so many players are more worried about shining that winning. Probably the biggest criticism of Mosley was the perception that he had to have the ball in his hands at all times. The question of whether or not he is a team player is a valid one. However, he is a supreme talent that would have countered the size and shooting ability of the Indiana guards with his speed and handle. It is hard to understand how a D1 guard doesn’t make a team that is half NAIA players, especially for a contest that is more like the college game than high school.

7th region players that were on the fringe:

Jordan Reves-Jeffersontown 6’10 C
Reves had a good tryout. Big guys usually get lost in pick up games and all-star games, but Reves did a good job of posting up, staying active around the rim, and taking advantage of his opportunities.

The Knock: Reves is too thin, too weak, and too slow to play in the type of game that Kentucky will have to play to be competitive against the Indiana team. To Reves' credit however, he is better than Jared Carter.

Dayvon Sloan- Waggener 5’10 PG
Sloan shot the ball very well at tryouts. He is a sturdy guard with a quick release and a consistent stroke. He was 7th in the state in scoring. The kid has a great attitude and will play at the next level.

The Knock: Sloan was not a true point guard. He was a 2 guard in Mark Jackson’s body. His handle was suspect, and his intensity on defense was lacking. He shot the ball well but not well enough to secure a spot on the team.

Wesley Cox- Ballard 5’8 PG
Cox is lightning quick guard. He showed in flashes that he could be a playmaker and a hustler.

The Knock: Cox had a poor tryout. He didn’t make shots, made some questionable decisions in the open court and began to force the issue in his last workout. I would have loved to have seen Cox at his best.

The Lost Mariner Speaks

* I received the following essay from the lost mariner, First Mate Ken Griffey, Jr. RBP looks forward to future contributions from our wandering brother when he finishes circumnavigating the globe on his book tour. First Mate Griffey also wanted me to let our overseas readership know that he will be spending the next couple days in Cape Town, SA. So, if you or any of your friends are going to be in or around the Cape of Good Hope this weekend, feel free to check out First Mate Griffey over at The Looking Glass Lounge and Bookery at the corner of 18th and Cauliflower. He will be reading choice excerpts from his new book, Edward Gorey: through Space and Time, on Friday at 7p, Saturday at 2p and then again at 8p, and Sunday at 3p.



Arrggghhh, This Draft Be Smellier Than Davy Jones’ Locker:
A Wayward Mariner’s Take on the 2009 NBA Draft Class
by First Mate Ken Griffey, Jr.

I may be eating my words in a few years, so I'll try to make this short so as not to choke should I have to ingest said words at a later date. Put simply, this draft class is horrible. Analysts have complained that it was weak, and I've reviewed plenty of mocks, but for some reason, the deficit of talent hasn't really hit me until now. Maybe it's because my previous reviews of the mocks have been mostly to see where Patterson and Meeks were going, and I haven't really paid attention to everybody else. Or maybe it took the Admiral's keen analysis to grab my attention. Whatever the reason, I find myself highly disappointed in this year's crop.

The first and second picks, while not otherwordly, could turn out to be solid NBA talent. However, once I saw Jordan Hill's name at the 3-slot, my stomach started to turn. I can't personally speak to Mr. Hill's talents as I've had few opportunities to see him play. I do know that prior to this season, he was barely on the draft radar, and, compared with previous players chosen at this spot in the draft, he seems sub-par. Just in the past few years, players like 'Melo, Ben Gordon, and O.J. Mayo were selected in the same position, and at this point, it's hard to argue that Hill is in the same league as those guys.



I could feel the bile rising in my esophagus when I saw big crazy stiff man's name at the 4-spot going to the Thunder. If I'm putting together an NBA Live team (which of course is how I would run a franchise if I were a GM) I definitely don't want this guy on my team! The Thunder (who should've been called the Barons) have the makings of a mouth-watering Live squad. They're young, they're long, they're athletic...in short, I really really like this team. But throw Thabeet in the middle, even with their need for a center, and the whole NBA-Live-running-dunking-crazyathletic thing is thrown out the window. Sidenote: I almost cried when the Chandler trade was rescinded. That could've been a thing of beauty.

So far then, we have a relatively unknown (to me) at the number 3 spot, an awkward mojo wrecker at the 4, and that brings us to the Timberwolves. It can't really be argued that James Harden is a bad player, unworthy of a 5th pick in the draft. No, my problem is not with Mr. Harden, but with the lack of point guard talent that comes to light when you reflect on 'Sota's obvious need for a floor leader at the 1, and then realize that none of the PGs in this draft, outside of Rubio, are worthy of being selected this high. I see Lawson at the next spot down, and I liked what I saw from him in the NCAAs, but the last time the T-Wolves selected a guard from UNC, he just threw up the Roc sign a whole bunch, and nobody’s heard from him in a while.

The remainder of the first round is littered with similar situations - teams with certain positional needs who will probably resort to taking someone at a position they already have filled, simply because there are no players at the needed position worthy of being taken at that particular spot. Further evidence of this unenviable situation is reflected by Admiral Sax’s repeated use of some form of this phrase: “X team needs a (fill in position), but...”

Certainly, there have been worse draft classes than the one at hand. For proof, go back and take a look at the 2006 picks. That awful class even lacks a redemptive 2nd round pick, unless you consider Paul Millsap as such. Still, even with the existence of similarly shallow draft pools in the not-so-distant past, it saddens me that one of my favorite sports days of the year will be somewhat diluted by the lack of available talent. A truly interesting read would be a study of why draft talent ebbs and flows like it does, but that’s for someone with more time and a bigger brain to dissect.

2009 NBA Mock Draft--Early Entrants

The following projections represent not who the NBA teams will likely pick but, rather, who they should select. It takes into account seniors and those underclassmen and international players that declared for the NBA Draft prior to the April 26 early entrant deadline. Feel free to compare these projections with my January draft prospectus and the pre-April 26 deadline mock drafts prepared by Commodore Finnegan and myself, which took into account all draft-eligible players, regardless of intent to enter the draft.

1 Kings: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
Soph 6-10 240 PF
An explosive physical specimen. I can't imagine a scenario in which he doesn't go first.

2 Wizards: Ricky Rubio, International
N/A 6-3 180 PG
If Washington ever wants to contend, they need to find a real point guard. I enjoy Gilbert Arenas' antics as much as the next guy, but I don't think he's going to lead a team deep into the playoffs.

3 Clippers: Jordan Hill, Arizona
Jr 6-9 235 PF
With Marcus Camby and Chris Kaman at the five, the Clippers can afford to pass on Hasheem Thabeet. The scary thing about Hill is that he has room for development on both ends of the floor.

4 Thunder: Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut
Jr 7-3 260 C
I'm not convinced Thabeet is the next Dikembe Mutombo. Still, he's a game-changer on the defensive end and would be an excellent addition to a franchise that is assembling a roster that could be a force in the near future.

5 Timberwolves: James Harden, Arizona State
Soph 6-4 220 OG
Minnesota needs a point guard, but they have three first-round picks, so there's no rush. Moreover, Harden would give Kevin McHale the go-to perimeter scorer he so desperately needs.

6 Grizzlies: Ty Lawson, North Carolina
Jr 6-0 195 PG
Memphis needs a power forward, but all of the fours that are worthy of a top-6 selection are staying in school. Tyler Hansbrough may be the best option, but a Psycho T/Marc Gasol post tandem is pretty underwhelming in terms of athleticism.

7 Warriors: Tyreke Evans, Memphis
Fr 6-6 220 OG
Still trying to figure out whether Evans will be a one or two in the Association. Playing within the nonexistent confines of Nellie's position-less anarchy (shout out to freedarko) would all but negate that dilemma.

8 Knicks: Patrick Mills, Saint Mary's
Soph 5-11 180 PG
Has proven himself playing for the Australian national team on the international circuit. While he needs to improve his outside shooting, I really like Mills in Mike D'Antoni's system.

9 Raptors: DeMar DeRozan, USC
Fr 6-6 210 OG
The Raptors lack athleticism in the backcourt, and DeRozan has athleticism to spare. Still a project, but his play towards the end of the season got my attention.

10 Bucks: Jeff Teague, Wake Forest
Soph 6-2 175 PG
Teague's ability to get to the basket would complement Michael Redd's long-range game. Think Jason Terry with point guard skills.

11 Nets: James Johnson, Wake Forest
Soph 6-8 235 PF
The Nets need a four man to pair with Brook “The Forbidden Fruit” Lopez. While Johnson may end up playing a lot of three, he has an NBA-ready body to throw around in the post.

12 Bobcats: Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
Sr 6-8 245 PF
I must admit that I'm a little annoyed by the whole Chapel Hill-to-Charlotte pipeline, but this one just makes sense. Charlotte needs quality post players, and Psychotic Tyler is going to be productive.

13 Pacers: Gerald Henderson, Duke
Jr 6-4 210 OG
Henderson is both a lockdown defender and, at times, an explosive scoring threat. The Pacers need both.

14 Suns: Stephen Curry, Davidson
Jr 6-3 180 PG
An apprenticeship under Steve Nash is just what the doctor ordered for Curry. I'm not convinced he'll ever be much of a point guard, but, at the very least, he'll provide instant offense off the bench.

15 Pistons: Eric Maynor, VCU
Sr 6-3 180 PG
It's a toss-up between Maynor and Jonny Flynn at the 15 spot. Flynn's fiery, hard-as-nails approach would be a great fit in the Motor City, but Maynor's heady play and sweet stroke give him an ever-so-slight edge.

16 Bulls: DeJuan Blair, Pittsburgh
Soph 6-6 280 PF
Blair may not have ideal size to play the four, but his 7-3 wingspan should allay any fears that he won't be able to defend at the next level. The wide-bodied Pitt product has his detractors, but he's going to add wins to whatever team selects him.

17 76ers: Jonny Flynn, Syracuse
Soph 6-0 185 PG
Flynn's an excellent defender and floor general, but his decision-making needs to improve. I like the idea of him learning at the feet of Andre Miller for a couple years before taking over the Sixers' uptempo attack.

18 Timberwolves: Brandon Jennings, International
N/A 6-1 170 PG
I'm not all that high on Jennings, but Minnesota's best option at point guard at the moment is Sebastian Telfair. Needless to say, the Wolves could use Jennings, a springy athlete with playmaking skills.

19 Hawks: Sam Young, Pittsburgh
Sr 6-6 220 OG
Young would provide Atlanta with scoring punch off the bench. The Hawks needs a distributor, so they would likely pick up Jonny Flynn or Brandon Jennings if either should fall this far.

20 Jazz: Patrick Patterson, Kentucky
Soph 6-8 235 PF
With the impending departure of Carlos Boozer, Patterson would be a more than capable backup to Paul Millsap. Taking into consideration the fact that fellow power forwards Ed Davis, Greg Monroe, and Craig Brackins have decided to head back to school, Patterson may not be available this late in the first round.

21 Hornets: Terrence Williams, Louisville
Sr 6-6 220 OG
Imagine all the turnovers a Chris Paul-Terrence Williams backcourt would create. Moreover, New Orleans could use some bounce at the two spot, and T-Will is a top-shelf athlete.

22 Mavericks: Jodie Meeks, Kentucky
Jr 6-4 210 OG
This may be a little high for the Kentucky junior, but Meeks is the draft's best shooter this side of Stephen Curry. Derrick Brown is also a possibility here.

23 Kings: Toney Douglas, Florida State
Sr 6-2 195 PG
Douglas isn't getting much love from the draft boards, but he's a deadly scorer who can defend. If Sacramento has doubts about Douglas' playmaking abilities, Jrue Holiday is an option.

24 Trailblazers: Austin Daye, Gonzaga
Soph 6-10 200 SF
The rail-thin Daye is a few years away from contributing, but the Blazers have a loaded roster and can afford to stash him at the end of their bench for a spell. I also like Jerel McNeal for Portland.

25 Thunder: Chase Budinger, Arizona
Jr 6-7 220 OG
Budinger's a great athlete with polished offensive skills. Plus, he's got a great build to play the two at the next level and possesses an excellent shooting touch.

26 Bulls: Earl Clark, Louisville
Jr 6-10 230 OG
Clark is a favorite of draft boards, but I'm not sold on the Louisville junior. He has a decent outside shot, but he needs a great one if he's going to hang around on the perimeter like he thinks he's the next Rashard Lewis.

27: Grizzlies: Derrick Brown, Xavier
Jr 6-8 225 SF
Brown has a great body and a developing game. He has tremendous potential but needs to play with more conviction.

28 Timberwolves: B.J. Mullens, Ohio State
Fr 7-0 275 C
Mullens had a disappointing freshman season, but he's a seven-footer with athleticism. Plus, Minnesota has three first-round picks, so it makes sense to take a flyer on Mullens.

29 Lakers: DaJuan Summers, Georgetown
Jr 6-8 225 SF
Summers has a mature offensive game and can score in a variety of ways. Unfortunately, he appears disinterested on the defensive end and on the glass.

30 Cavaliers: Luke Harangody, Notre Dame
Jr 6-7 245 PF
With Lebron being a de facto second power forward when he's in the game, the Cavs' can afford to play the Gody alongside King James. Luke has a developing outside shot, and I think he can play some three at the next level as well.

The Pass-First Big Man

Duke's recent lack of success in recruiting has been obvious to college basketball fans. Whatever has occurred, it hasn't been due to the lack of McDonald's All-Americans. In 2005 Duke hauled in Josh McRoberts, Greg Paulus, and Eric Boateng, although Boateng left after his freshman season for Arizona State. In 2006 Duke landed Gerald Henderson, Lance Thomas and John Scheyer. 2007 saw Duke get Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith, and Taylor King, who also transferred. In 2008 Duke signed Elliot Williams. Despite landing numerous All-Americans over the last four years, excluding the success of Gerald Henderson, none have been game-changing college players. Don't get me wrong, Duke has had success with these guys. But it's obvious that they have underachieved considering the influx of talent each year.

Captain Montana likely hit on the problem in his piece covering Duke's lack of a post presence the past few years in his piece that touched UK fans in a seductive manner. I know I enjoyed it. My only qualm was the lack of respect paid to Brian Zoubek. Maybe beginning with Shavlick Randolph, Duke post players have had trouble turning high school hype into college success. Josh McRoberts, ranked the number two prospect out of high school, did not live up to the hype in his two seasons at Duke.

However, I think the Duke fans can breathe a collective sigh of relief after the inking of two big-time recruits in the 09 class. Coach K has pulled in a "pass-first big man" known as Mason Plumlee. Personally, I've never heard a high school McDonald's All-American described as a pass-first big man coming out of high school, but I can't imagine it being a good thing when you are a McD's AA whose scoring in the post will be heavily relied upon for the next four years. Plumlee was described as a pass-first big man by a rivals scouting report of the post players in the class of 09. The best part, however, is that Plumlee is ranked as the fifth best post passer in the class of 09.

If that isn't enough for Duke fans to get excited about, Plumlee will have some help. The only problem is the help is this guy. Kelly has been described as an ugly-first dead-eye shooter. The future of Duke looks bright.

The Michigan State Curse

It has truly been a remarkable five months for college basketball fans throughout the state of Kentucky.

Despite starting Michael Porter at point guard, January saw the 54 point explosion by Jodie Meeks against Tennessee that had UK fans bathing in the champagne-soaked after party that was positive national media attention. UK opened up their weak conference schedule with five straight convincing wins and looked to be poised to reclaim dominance in the SEC and at worst a four seed in the national tournament. Things were good.

UofL was showing signs of development into a really good college basketball team in an unbelievably tough conference. Terrence Williams was cementing his game as that of a stat filler point forward with All-American type talent and All-world type athleticism. Pitino, despite two occasions of donning an all-white linen suit, was praised for the development this team, and players such as Terrance Jennings were showcasing. Things were even better.

Then UK went on a three-game losing streak. Coach Billy Gillespie visibly started to show signs of a mental breakdown, and Michael Porter was still our point guard. After losses to Georgia's A-League Intramural Team and Florida, Kentucky was NIT bound. Things were not good.

UofL's development continued, and after a convincing win against Pittsburgh, looked to be the best team in the Big East. Even after they suffered a 33-point loss to (Brandon Cunningham's) Luke Harangody's fade away jumper, UofL stormed through the Big East regular season and championship to sit at the throne of the number one seeds. Things were great.

Three N.I.T. games, 120 minutes of Gillespie crouched and cracking his knuckles, and several hours of quiet sobbing by this blogger later and Kentucky's season was officially over. Word soon got out that Gillespie would be fired for off-court behavior and clashes that were magnified by a miserable season. Almost just as soon, Billy Donovan's name again arose as the likely replacement. He opted to stay in Florida because Dan Werner was returning he's invested in the community. Things were suicidal.

UofL marched to the Elite Eight in sometimes impressive and other times lackluster fashion. However, appeared at the onset to have a relatively easy road to the final four with the upset of Wake Forest. (Call 911 time for UK). But thanks to Michigan State, Louisville was stopped from reaching their second final four under Pitino leadership. Things were disappointing, but hardly worthy of complaint.

UK turned their attention to John Calipari, and most of the bluegrass began to feel excited again. Cal accepted the job as coach, and fifty thousand anointed him as the savior. (I'm excited about Cal. And I think any level of excitement over his hire is deserved, but I don't automatically think a coach without a national championship is going to deliver a multitude of championships to UK. He generates excitement, and I'm positive will be able to handle the attention given the coach of Kentucky, and we will be relevant, competitive, and fun to watch. That's why things are exciting.) UK seemed to have made a giant step in the right direction. Things were exciting.

UofL did not fear the hire, or dismiss the hire as inconsequential. Most realized it helps UofL as well by generating more national attention to the rivalry. But it does disappoint fans whom loved watching UK fans in agony and turmoil over the decisions and recruiting of Gillespie. There was no reason to feel bad about the status of UofL, just the loss of jokes and fire-poking that provided entertainment over the last three or four years. Things were lost, but not down.

Then UK began entertaining the idea of combining DeMarcus Cousins, Daniel Orton, Xavier Henry, and John Wall in one of the greatest recruiting classes ever with Patrick Patterson, Jodie Meeks, and Darius Miller. Visions of 1996, Phi Slamma Jamma, and the Runnin Rebels danced in Wildcat fan's heads. Things were orgasmic.

UofL gained the commitment of Mike Marra and Pitino became embroiled in a personal scandal of alleged extortion, alleged defamation, alleged personal encounters, with the soon-to-be-ex-wife of UofL's current equipment manager and close friend of Pitino. Fans pondered which was worse, and most sided with the alleged Pitino scandal. I went in the other direction because the existence of a clown wrapped in a straight-jacket tattoo on Mike Marra's left bicep is not alleged. In somewhat quiet news, Dick Pitino, the son of Rick Pitino, left UofL to work under Billy Donovan at Florida because all of Donovan's assistants become head coaches. It's a striking move considering the inability of Florida to find success after their back-to-back national championships. Things were not a good type of crazy.

Calipari locked up Cousins and Orton, but missed on Xavier Henry. As usual, some fans looked at this as a sign of the apocalypse, others, myself included, were impressed we stayed in the hunt for so long when both of Henry's parents played basketball at KU. John Wall's future remains a myth, much like that of an epic green sea creature whose name does not come to mind or Bigfoot. By all accounts he is a prospect capable of having an impact like Derrick Rose or Lebron James. He has that much talent. Most suggest it is a battle between UK and his desire to stay in state, with Florida and Miami playing the warm weather good-looking girls wild card. Regardless, just the notion that UK has a chance to land this kid has created an excitement not seen in the past three years. (Not counting my excitement after seeing Mike Marra for the first time). Things are not getting done because everyone is watching John Wall highlight videos.

As the cherry on top of the Pitino maybe sexual encounter, then extortion after the act scandal sundae, Jeremy Tyler has decided to skip his senior year of high school to play professional basketball in Europe. This means Tyler will surrender his amateur status and not play for UofL as he originally intended. As Admiral Sax accounted, this is a big loss for the UofL family, as Tyler seems like a once every ten to fifteen year type talent. He looks extraordinary on film. So much so, I'm very glad I didn't see tape of him prior to his announcement to turn pro. Things are looking down.

I don't want to suggest, even though I have in more my more irrational moments like after watching a John Wall highlight tape, that a 180 has occurred between the UofL and UK programs. I write merely to coin the phrase "The Michigan State Curse" in applying to the future years of the UofL basketball program. UofL is not down in the sense that UK was down when playing in the NIT, but UofL has taken some knocks after that loss in the Elite Eight, while UK has seemingly received only good news. Whatever happens, the first five months of 2009 will never be forgotten by either program. Now things are looking stressful for me because I wrote this rather than study for law finals.

Jeremy Tyler, Heartbreaker

Earlier this evening the lead story on the website of the New York Times read:

Prospect Leaving High School for Europe

Jeremy Tyler, whom some consider the best American big man since Greg Oden, said he would play basketball in Europe after initially committing to Louisville.

That's a tough pill for a Louisville fan to swallow, but I think I'm going to be OK.

I love high school basketball as much as anyone, but, when it comes to the hype surrounding supposed high school phenoms, I usually take a backseat and wait for the inevitable disappointment that goes along with unfulfilled expectations. My recent post on the superhuman force that is John Wall notwithstanding, I usually wait for the evidence to accumulate on the collegiate hardwood before I jump on anyone's bandwagon. But I must admit that I fell pretty hard for Jeremy Tyler...and that was before he committed to Louisville. After Tyler inked a contract with Ricky P, the Wizard of Derby City, visions of a potential national championship (perhaps foolishly) danced in my head. (After all, one player does not a program make.)

Those hopes (foolishly) came to a screeching halt after hearing the news late Wednesday that Tyler had decided to forgo his senior year of high school to play professionally in Europe. (After all, one player does not a program make.) My heart broken, I was prepared to put together an angry, sky-is-falling-type post. I thought about writing a scathing critique of Sonny Vaccaro, who preys on young, gifted athletes and who is apparently guiding young Jeremy through this process or an expose on the irrationality of Big Blue Nation as it pertains to recruiting or an article blasting Tyler for making the mistake of a lifetime.

Then, I took a deep breath and realized all is well.

So, after about an hour of rational thought, how do I feel about Tyler's decision? Well, I'm still disappointed. I truly thought Tyler was next year's John Wall. But I realize that, despite the turmoil of the last few weeks surrounding the Louisville program, things have been pretty sweet lately. Even with the Cards' Elite Eight exit at the hands of the Michigan State Spartans, it's hard to complain about the number one overall number one seed and back-to-back Elite Eight appearances. Louisville survived Sebastian Telfair and Amir Johnson jumping to the Association, and, while Tyler would have been special, the Cards will be fine.

But back to Jeremy Tyler...




















At the risk of engaging in Rick Pitino-level hyperbole, the sky is the limit for Tyler. He's a Chris Webber-like talent, but he also reminds me of the great Tim Duncan. And I couldn't be more serious. Whether he's 6-9 240 or 6-11 260 (both measurements have been cited), he plays huge and is great in the open floor. He has a wonderful feel for the game, a pterodactyl's wingspan, and a body that is just going to get better. Not to mention the fact that he has a nice handle, a very good outside jumper, and advanced post skills. For the record, I like him much more than Greg Oden. He's just a far smoother athlete with an incredibly diverse skill-set. Needless to say, I'm impressed.

Ultimately, I'm not sure it makes sense for anyone to skip their senior year of high school. That being said, I'm not going to begrudge anyone the decision to pull in six figures. Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports has a pretty interesting take on Tyler's decision. Wetzel refers to Tyler's unprecedented move as "trailblazing yet well-thought-out." The article also makes it clear that Tyler's decision is not the result of financial hardship. In fact, if Wetzel's account is to be believed, Tyler seems to be going into this with eyes wide open, recognizing that the transition won't be easy but that going overseas offers him a chance to develop his game to a degree not possible in the high school ranks or on the AAU circuit.

So, it's time to move on but not before a look back at what could have been.



And one more because it's so hard to say goodbye (and because this one shows off how wet his J is).

Donald Sloan May Have Also Received Some Bad Advice

"Sloan would be lucky to make an NBDL team, let alone an NBA team. If he's staying in the draft, I hope he has a passport."

In no way do I intend to direct the negative light away from Eric Devendorf and onto Donald Sloan, but I found this quote from Chad Ford about Donald Sloan's status in the draft somewhat humorous. Ford wrote a piece for ESPN evaluating the prospects who are currently testing the waters, the prospects with "one foot in the [proverbial] door," and prospects who are "50-50." Check it out here. Chad Ford is the Todd McShay of the NBA draft. He has yet to embrace the Big Board.

Most of his evaluations seem pretty accurate, excepting that of Patrick Patterson. Ford describes Patterson as giving so-so defensive effort, but having elite athleticism. I've watched Patterson play for two years and never thought I would hear anyone describe his effort on either end as "so-so." As for his athleticism, Patterson is definitely strong and possesses a great motor, but is nowhere near an elite athlete.

Your Ridiculous CatsPause Post of the Week

In a new weekly feature titled "Your Ridiculous CatsPause Post of the Week" we will reprint an actual comment from a poster on the CatsPause message board. CatsPause is supported by rivals.com and has been mentioned on ESPN as a source of crazy in explaining the Kentucky fan base.

Without further ado:

Is it possible that Henry & Wall have known they'd go to Kentucky but wanted to draw it out so that it wasn't so obvious? Calipari left, Cousins follows, and to make it appear as though they are looking elsewhere they make a couple more visits to other schools but will eventually come to Kentucky. If they are truly looking around, I don't blame them, I would too. I also don't blame them if they know they're UK bound but making it look as though they're shopping around. What do you think?

Rick Pitino May Have Received Some Good Advice

In a bizarre story coming out of Louisville over the weekend, it appears Rick Pitino is being extorted. Well, someone is attempting to extort the UofL men's head basketball coach. I'm not sure if he actually has to pay out the money from the threat to have been extorted. Anyway, attempting to extort is just as illegal as extorting. Pitino released the following statement yesterday:

“My family and I were recently threatened as part of a criminal scheme to extort money. Upon receiving these threats, we reported this extortion attempt to the FBI. While I did not want to make this matter public, I recently learned that the individual behind this extortion attempt has already gone to the media with false, defamatory and outrageous allegations in an attempt to pressure me to cave in to this scheme. I want to make it clear that I intend to vigorously defend my reputation and the character of my family against any criminal scheme to extort money. I am hopeful that the media and public will recognize the slanderous nature of this direct and malicious attack. My family and I appreciate the support we have received from Tom Jurich, Dr. James Ramsey, and the entire Louisville family. Because this is a federal criminal investigation, I cannot comment further at this time. Any inquiries should be directed to my attorney, Steve Pence.”

However, prior to this statement, no news outlets had reported on any defamatory or outrageous allegations concerning Pitino. More information rolled in yesterday and it appears the culprit behind the scheme is this woman:

(scary)

So, based on Pitino's released statement this woman is alleging Pitino had an affair with her at best, and who knows at worst. One would assume she told Pitino she would be airing whatever it is to the public unless Pitino paid her a certain amount of money. Pitino refused to pay (bad move, unless really untrue) and decided to issue a preemptive strike by releasing a statement.

The really wierd part of the story is that this women is the former wife of UofL's current equipment manager and Pitino's former personal assistant when he was with the Boston Celtics. One would also assume Pitino had spent quite a bit of time with his friend's wife at social gatherings, dinners, etc. It all makes for quite a weird story that should develop over the next few days.

Pitino's statement publicizes this women as a criminal so any statement she gives concerning the allegations against Pitino are received under that cloud. It seems like a pretty smart move at this point. The only way I see it as being a mistake was if this women was bluffing, and hadn't gone public with her story. Pitino maybe knows her better than most, and likely realized she was certifiably crazy.

Regardless of whether her story is true or false, Pitino has shown she is a criminal, a crazy criminal. And with the way Pitino is deified in Louisville, this woman's story will be hard for locals to believe.

Despite the outcome of this it serves as an important lesson to the youth: Never promise crazy a baby. Don't do it.

EDIT UPDATE: The lawyer of the woman being investigated by the FBI for attempts to extort Pitino has released a statement that all but admits guilt on the part of his client. He says:

“There is a federal investigation going on, and there may be criminal charges placed against her as a result of what coach Pitino has brought to the attention of the FBI,” Clay said. “. . . There are no counter allegations, and as far as I am concerned this criminal investigation is going to proceed to a logical conclusion and I hope that we can put this matter behind us as quickly as possible.”

I told you Pitino was deified in that town. I'm not a lawyer yet, and by no means feel as if I have the intelligence to give others advice, but here is what I say if somehow reached (which would have been hard to do in the first place): No comment at this time. That doesn't seem to hard.

It appears the advice Pitino received to release a preemptive statement is more than paying off.

Eric Devendorf May Have Received Some Bad Advice

"I have no idea why he came out. I have no thoughts on Eric Devendorf. He's not someone we even discuss."

Yahoo! Sports spoke with three NBA scouts in an attempt to ascertain whether various underclassmen had made the right choice in deciding to leave school early. A number of players that are "on the fence" are also profiled. The scouts' assessments form the basis of Jason King's article, which provides insider opinions on 29 of the nation's most tantalizing prospects...oh, and Eric Devendorf. Actually, it's more like 28 of the nation's most tantalizing prospects, since Greivis Vasquez has also managed to draw the ire of at least one NBA scout. Needless to say, I highly recommend this fantastic read.

John Wall: Purveyor of the Secret Manna; Guardian of the Star Chamber; Slayer of Cryptids

I thought you should know that the guys over at freedarko felt the need to blog about how amazing fifth-year high school senior John Wall is. If you don't check out freedarko very often, then (1) you're missing out and (2) you should know that these guys rarely, if ever, blog about anything other than the NBA. I don't think they even really did anything on the NCAA tourney this year. And, if they did put up a post on March Madness, I'm guessing they just made fun of it.

Anyway, if you're interested, here's the link.

Oh, and in case you're too lazy to access the article, let me give you a little taste.

It starts off:

"It is almost impossible to explain how awesome John Wall is."

This from a blog that, as the New York Times noted, somehow managed to work the Fibonacci Sequence into an examination of Tim Duncan's career numbers. And yet for some reason, the task of describing this Wall kid's myriad talents gives them writer's block.

Also, during the course of the rather short article, Wall is compared to:

(1) Derrick Rose; (2) a Chris Paul-Lebron James hybrid being; and (3) Jesus Christ.

Oh, and the fellas over at freedarko, in their search for John Wall trinkets on the interweb, stumbled upon a rather confusing blog that freedarko's Bethlehem Shoals likens to "a masterpiece of high-concept psychedelic caveman prayer." As it turns out, this is the very same blog that plagiarized Captain Montana's A Plea to John Wall approximately one week ago. Needless to say, the Mariners of Roundball Portfolio don't take too kindly to such acts of digital piracy. If we encounter the marauding raiders of radiolaluna on the high seas, there will be hell to pay.

So that this post doesn't end with a reference to the thieving bags of horse crap over at radiolaluna, here's some John Wall for that *** courtesy of One Entertainment.



Yikes.

Wising Up

In shocking news, Willie Warren and Greg Monroe have decided to return to Oklahoma and Georgetown, respectively, for their sophomore seasons. Monroe had somewhat of a disappointing year but would still have been selected in the first round. Warren had a tremendous year, claiming the Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors, and would also likely have been taken in the first round.

It's a smart move for both kids, but admittedly somewhat of a surprise. I think both can only improve their stock during sophomore years where each will be the featured player in the offense.

Austin Daye, a 6-10 sophomore from Gonzaga, has entered his name in this year's draft. It's a smart move for Daye who will likely be a potential pick as he projects to play the three in the NBA. Daye has a nice game, but needs to add some strength and develop a more reliable outside shot. Daye's size and skill set project nicely to the NBA, and I can see his stock rising over the next couple of weeks.

In other news, Club Trillion founder has decided to test the NBA waters after his junior season. He has decided not to hire an agent, thus keeping open the option of returning for his senior year. Though he boasted insane per minute stats over the past season, I expect The Shark to return for his senior year. He will have the opportunity to "dot" several more people before leaving school next year.

2009 NBA Mock Draft--Everybody in the Pool (Cmd. Finnegan Version)

The following projections represent not who the NBA teams will likely pick but, rather, who they should select. This exercise assumes all players are eligible to be drated, regardless of intent to enter the draft (thus, the title Everybody in the Pool). This is my opinion, but feel free to compare these projections with Admiral Jameson Sax's previous post.

1 Kings: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
Soph 6-10 240 PF
As Sax said: a no-brainer in the top spot. He is likely the most talented, yet physically imposing player in a draft since Lebron. Acknowledging all the hype surrounding Griffin after his freshman year, I still came away thoroughly impressed from his sophomore campaign. I have a feeling NBA scouts feel the same.

2 Clippers: Ricky Rubio, Spain
N/A 6-3 180 PG
If it weren't for the Knicks, the Clippers managemenet and coaching failures would receive much more attention. They have some athletic, developing wings in Gordon and Thornton, but little else. Might as well take a chance on Rubio developing into a better scoring Steve Nash and hope to surround him with some more athletes.

3 Wizards: Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut
Jr 7-3 260 C
Thabeet spent his junior year proving many of his doubters wrong. He has shown he can compete at an extremely high level. His inability to consistently knock down an outside jumper will hamper his offensive abilities in the NBA, but he should be a defensive stalwart his first game on. He immediately improves the Wizards defensively and with the return of Gilbert Arenas to a core of Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, the Wizards don't need any more offensive firepower.

4 Thunder: James Harden, Arizona State
Soph 6-4 220 SG
A guy who can score in a variety of ways but also set up Kevin Durant. He's also a good rebounder at the guard position and should free Kevin Durant up to get out in transition.

5 Grizzlies: Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina
Sr 6-8 245 PF
Can't believe I went this high for Hansbrough, but seems like a perfect fit for a young Memphis Grizzlies team. They probably can't justify taking Hansbrough this high, but it negates any drawbacks from the Love for Mayo trade last year. Gives the Grizzlies a different look defensively than Darrel Arthur or Hakim Warrick

6 Timberwolves: Eric Maynor, VCU
Sr 6-3 180 PG
Reminds me a lot of Russell Westbrook. He excels in pressure situations and would defer to Jefferson and Love. I think he is the second best point guard prospect in the draft.

7 Warriors: Brandon Jennings, N/A
N/A 6-1 170 PG
An all-world talent at point guard. Top-ranked point guard in the 08 high school class. He is a west-coast kid who would thrive in Nelly's up-tempo offense.

8 Knicks: Greg Monroe, Georgetown
Fr 6-10 234 PF
Would provide the Knicks with some different lineup possibilities and a high potential player. Monroe often looked lost in Georgetown's Princeton offense, but showcased his passing ability out of the post. He gives the Knicks some lenth and athleticism on their front line.

9 Raptors: Jordan Hill, Arizona
Jr 6-9 235 PF
Largely a value pick at number nine, but makes any team much more athletic. He could play alongside Bosh and Marion nicely.

10 Bucks: Craig Brackins, Iowa State
Soph 6-10 230 PF
Needs to add some weight but could give the Bucks some frontline scoring help. Villanueva is about it at this point. Would also limit Dan Gadzuric's minutes as a backup which is always a good thing.

11 Nets: Gerald Henderson, Duke
Jr 6-4 210 SG
Henderson gives the Nets another athletic wing who can get to the rim and finish in transition. He would be a nice pice with Harris and Lopez if Carter is shopped in the off-season.

12 Bobcats: Tyreke Evans, Memphis
Fr 6-6 220 PG, SG
Evans ability to play the point is of less concern to a team like the Bobcats with guys like Felton and Augustin. However, Evans gives the Bobcats another athletic ball handler who can defend bigger guards.

13 Pacers: Stephen Curry, Davidson
Jr 6-3 180 PG, SG
Curry's ability to play the point guard at the next level is critical. However, I feel like he could easily shift to the two guard for stretches and knock down open jumpers off Granger double-teams. He was a tremendous passer on a down Davidson squad. He isn't a high tempo type guard, but the Pacers aren't exactly a high tempo team either.

14 Suns Jonny Flynn, Syracuse
Soph 6-0 185 PG
Flynn gives the Suns a fast paced transition scorer who is also able to knock down the open three. He would allow Barbosa to stay at the two guard.

15 Pistons, DeMar DeRozan, USC
Fr. 6-6 210 SG
A burst of athleticism for a seemingly aging Pistons backcourt minus Stuckey. Afflalo is a nice young player, but doesn't give them the dynamic that DeRozan would.

16 76ers: Ty Lawson, UNC
Jr 6-0 195 PG
Really showed his ability to take over games towards the end of this season. I don't think UNC wins the tournament without him. Improved outside shot, but has unbeleivable strength to finish in the lane after contact. He could be a great asset to guys like Dalembert, Young, and Iguodala in transition.

17 Bulls: Sam Young, Pittsburgh
Sr 6-6 220 SG
Young has the outside shot to make defenders respect him. He has tremendous athleticism, maybe in the top 3 of this draft with Griffin and DeRozan. He could also play at the three allowing the Bulls to play Rose, Gordon, Young, Thomas, and Noah. Very young, but a lot of promise.

18 Timberwolves: Terrence Williams, Louisville
Sr 6-6 220 SG
Another option on the wing for the Timberwolves, but a guy who can create his own shot, but has the passing ability to drop it off for Love or Jefferson when slicing to the rim. He'll also play defense.

19 Hawks: Jeff Teague, Wake Forest
Soph 6-2 175 PG
An ultra-athletic floor general who takes over behind Bibby. He has the body to play some off guard as well, and could relieve Joe Johnson in some instances.

20 Jazz: Patrick Patterson, Kentucky
Soph 6-8 235 PF
It does just make too much sense. Willing to do anything asked of him on the court and will obey Sloan's road trip curfew rules

21 Mavericks: Patty Mills, St. Mary's
Soph, 5-11 180
Another option at point guard and one that can still get into the lane to open up the many shooters on this team.

22 Hornets: Jodie Meeks, Kentucky
Jr 6-4 210 SG
A spot up two guard to knock down open shots from Paul's penetration. A clutch performer and free-throw shooter who knows how to draw a foul at the rim. Tremendous upper body strength.

23 Thunder: Wayne Ellington, North Carolina
Jr 6-5 195 SG
Mid-range shooter who developed into a much more controlled player as a junior. Good but not great athleticism.

24 Trailblazers: Cole Aldrich, Kansas
Soph 6-10 250 PF
Steering clear of any more Ohio St. 7-footers, the Blazers have to be seeking another big man. Aldrich is a polished scorer, rebounder, and defensive player. He's a big boy who, a la Rudy Fernandez, enjoys telling people he will put points on faces. See Kansas State cell phone debacle.

25 Kings: DaJuan Blair, Pittsburgh
Soph 6-6 285 PF
Terribly undersized but could be a difficult matchup for a lot of NBA players. He is wide and a tremendous rebounder. He executes a pick and roll extremely well.

26 Bulls: James Johnson, Wake Forest
Soph 6-8 2335 PF
Athletic body to lurk in the post for a while. Questions about his defensive skill set are there, but this is a potential pick, and Johnson has as much as almost anyone in this draft class.

27 Grizzlies: Earl Clark, Louisville
Jr 6-10 230 SF
Another potential pick for a team waiting on potential to develop. He needs to get away from the three point shot and develop a nice 15 foot jumper for defenders to respect. His best years may be what Beasley produced as a slow-to-adjust rookie.

28 Timberwolves: Chase Budinger, Arizona
Jr 6-7 218 SF
Can knock down a mid-range jumper off of a curl screen but has otherwise shown a very slow to develop skill set. He is crafty around the rim, but seems to lack any sort of specialized skill set that shows he can stick around this league. If he becomes a deadlier three-point shooter, he would be a really dangerous player.

29 Lakers: Damion James, Texas
Jr 6-7 225 SF
If a top level point guard is still available at this point I see the Lakers going in that direction, but believing most of it to be off the board at this point, the Lakers simply need to make a pick on potential. James was considered a top five pick in drafts past but inconsistent play and a lack of focus showed themselves during this three years at Texas. He is a great rebounder from the three spot, but must become a more polished player to see any real clock in the NBA.

30 Cleveland: BJ Mullens, Ohio State
Fr 7-0 275 C
A top ranked player out of high school, but like most big men rarely put in the effort needed to take over a game. Lacks leadership and nerve in pressure situations (see two missed free throws) but stays in state to provide a big body in Cleveland's post.