True Blue Kentucky

Before I get started into the recent allegations and reports regarding the amateur status of Enes Kanter, let me be clear about one thing - NOBODY who you hear talking knows ANYTHING specific about this situation.  The people who REALLY know what's going on are bound to silence and aren't saying a word.  This includes me.  I don't KNOW specifics, just generalities.  The difference is, I'm willing to admit that right up front.

Let me also be very clear.... the reports that UK took the Kanter commitment "just in case" Kanter got cleared to play are ABSOLUTELY WRONG.  Those who are closely involved with Kanter are very confident that he will be cleared to play.  The only people claiming he is a pro are those with clear motivations to hold that belief.

So, what's the deal?  For me, the first thing to look at is motivations.  It's absolutely clear as day that EVERYONE involved with International basketball is absolutely 100% opposed to Enes Kanter playing in the NCAA.  It has nothing to do with any dislike for Kanter or the NCAA, it has to do with money.  If the top talent in the international game were to stop signing contracts with international teams in favor of going to college for a year, those international teams would lose a LARGE pot of gold.... the amounts they are paid when those youngsters finally make it to the NBA. When international players are drafted into the NBA, the teams who hold their rights get a LOT of money to let them go to the NBA.  If the youngsters go to college and never sign with the international teams, there IS NO contracts and that means no payday for these teams.  Every person associated with International Basketball is going to do anything to make sure Kanter can't play NCAA basketball.

Brandon Knight interview with the Hoop Doctors.  Kentucky's Hero?

Keep watching after the initial credits, there are a few more highlights afterwards.

Kelenna Azubuike is hoping to compete for a starting job for the Knicks in t 2010-2011 season.  The former Wildcat's quest for a starting job is up in the air while he is still recovering from a knee injury.  Azubuike tore his his patella tendon while playing with the Warriors last season.  Golden State traded Azubuike to New York over the summer.   

As the training camp start dates are approaching, the Knicks are taking a catious approach in dealing with Kelenna.  Howard Beck has an update on Azubuike's status in this article for the New York Times.  Here is an excerpt.  

Kelenna Azubuike, who was expected to compete for a starting job, may start training camp on the sideline, because of lingering concerns over his surgically repaired left knee.

Azubuike tore his patellar tendon last November while playing for the Golden State Warriors. He missed the rest of the season, and the Warriors expected he would need a full year to recover.

The Knicks are taking a similarly conservative approach.

“We’re not sure,” said the team president Donnie Walsh, who described a torn patellar tendon as “one of the worst injuries in the league.”

Tradition rich programs such as Kentucky Basketball find ways to add on to their folklore, sometimes in the most unsuspecting of places.  Remember Les Smith of Fox 13 in Memphis?  Thousands of Kentucky fans stayed glued to their computer screens as Fox 18 streamed a live feed of a University of Memphis Athletic Department door in the hopes of catching a glimpse of rumored new head basketball coach John Calipari.

During this live feed, a local Memphis sports anchor named Les Smith would come on screen, at which time the live chat room accompanying the video stream would see hundreds of chants for Les, chanting his name in Internet unison.

John Calipari's paperback version of Bounce Back comes out the same time he'll be touring the Bluegrass signing copies of the book.  The book features a new epilogue.  Cal will be in Lexington on Wednesday at the Hamburg Place, Barnes and Noble book store signing copies for fans.

Article courtesy of Jerry Tipton:

Kentucky Coach John Calipari is scheduled to go on a book-signing tour of the Commonwealth this week. The tour comes in conjunction with his best seller, “Bounce Back — Overcoming Setbacks to Succeed in Business and in Life,” coming out in paperback.

Kyle Wiltjer joined an already steller class on Saturday after giving his verbal commitment to play for John Calipari and Kentucky.  Wiltjer joins Marquis Teague, Micheal Gilchrist, and Anthony Davis in UK's 2011 class that is sure to be the top ranked class.  Several articles from the Courier Journal, Lexington Herald, and The Advocate Messenger discuss the commitment. 

Wiltjer is a 6'9" power forward from Portland, Oregon.  His dad Greg played at Oregon State in the 1980s and played on the 1984 Canadian Olympic team.  Wiltjer spoke this summer about why he was even interested in UK.  This summer in Cleveland, Wiltjer cited three factors that made Kentucky an attractive choice: "It's a winning program. They have a great coach. They know how to get players into the NBA."

Kyle's decision to attend UK came with out a visit.  He chose UK over Wake Forest, Kansas, Texas, California, and Gonzaga.  According to the Courier Journal, Wiltjer hopes to be the final piece to UK's 2011 class.  He said the UK staff “wants me to be the final piece to the puzzle. ”“I'm very excited to be a part of that team,” he said in a TV interview. “The one thing is I wanted to surround myself with the best players. They have a great recruiting class coming in, and I thought it would be a great fit.”

Click "read more" from comments from Marquis Teague and Dave Telep on the Wiltjer pick.