Jon Hood recently became Kentucky's third basketball commitment in a week. However, there's such an age gap Hood may never play with some of the other would-be Wildcats.
Hood, a 6-foot-7 swingman from Madisonville, Ky., can sign with Kentucky in November and play in 2009-10. He also had offers from Tennessee, Ole Miss and Georgia.
Hood may be long gone before Michael Avery ever gets on the court in Rupp Arena.
Avery, a 6-4 guard from Lake Sherwood, Calif., is in the eighth grade.
He has, in fact, picked a college before he picks a high school. The 15-year-old is still trying to decide whether to play his prep ball in California or Indiana.
Vinny Zollo, a 6-9 high school freshman from Ohio, also gave Billy Gillispie a commitment.
Zollo made unofficial visits to Tennessee, Xavier, Ohio State, Dayton and West Virginia before giving a pledge to Kentucky, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
The three new commitments join four others Gillispie had already landed in his first year in Lexington.
G.J. Vilarino is a point guard from Texas who joins Hood in the 2009 class.
The 2010 class has commitments from guard K.C. Ross-Miller and forwards Dakotah Euton and Dominique Ferguson.
Defending Tipton: Lexington Herald-Leader editor Linda Austin had to come to the defense of Kentucky basketball writer Jerry Tipton this week after receiving calls and e-mails about interviews he conducted with the parents of two Kentucky recruits.
"It is important to understand that Jerry does not work for the University of Kentucky, nor is he a recruiter for the university," Austin wrote on the newspaper's Web site blog. "His job is to report the news, and sometimes that includes asking tough, serious — but fair — questions of newsmakers. That is what occurred in these cases."
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
National Signing Day 2010
Tennessee Lady Vols 82, Auburn Tigers 64
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 26
kceltic#232917 writes:
Sure nice to know that those two eighth and ninth graders can make a decision on their futures before their voice changes.I am sure they are mature enough at that age to make an educated choice but probably still need their mommies to tuck them in at bedtime.Nice move there Billy G.
theoldbear writes:
I've got to wonder if BIlly G will be around to coach any of the players he's signed.
I thought it was ridiculous when coaches started recruiting my son when he was a sophomore in high school. They backed off after his grades dropped and he blew a knee. I wouldn't wish that on these kids...but...who knows what might happend between now and then.
marinevol writes:
I have a nephew that I think Gillispie might be interested in. He appears to be a great prospect. He can't walk yet, but he crawls pretty fast, and he can throw his rattle with a lot of velocity. I'm sure he would love to go ahead get this decision out of the way so he can concentrate on potty training. Give me a call, coach, and I'll set up a visit for you.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
My 1 month old just committed to Tennessee! I was reading the Govolsxtra story on the Florida player and he kinda vomitted. I figure any true vol fan would have the same reaction to Florida so I'm considering this a soft (wet) verbal.
rpowell#1351102 writes:
Something sounds fishy here.
marinevol writes:
No matter how good this child is, a verbal committment from a child is ridiculous. The NCAA needs to put a stop to this sleazy practice.
marinevol writes:
ETorange, I can't top that.
utfan15govols writes:
I said this once and i will say it again, we do not need Hood. I don't know why he is ranked so high. I am not a betting man, but i would bet the house that his ranking will drop this year. He has a new H.S. coach, which should help him, but no help on the team. Glad this article didn't mention he turned down Duke over UK, because Duke never offered him a scholarship.
As far as recruiting 8th graders, there have only been 3 top 8th graders that i know of that have been worth offering a scholarship, Indiana's Damon Bailey, LeBron James, and O.J. Mayo.
It is sad to see a coach grasping for straws to save his career. I love it though, i have something to joke about with all these UK fans and what is worst, they are even making jokes about it.
marinevol writes:
ImAllVol, don't be so full of yourself. All you've done is come on here and post insults to other posters. Kentucky owns us? OK, enough said about your knowledge of the game. If you're such a Kentucky fan, why aren't you out scouting a day care instead of posting on a Tennessee site? Go Vols, keep beating Kentucky, et al.
KHVOLFAN writes:
I was thinking the same thing volster if we can just get Candace to have a baby boy, WOW! Billy G. would cry his heart out. HaHaHa GO VOLS!
utfan15govols writes:
Letting me give you an example of a young basketball talent, who stock has dropped. Cordell Passley, verbally committed to Tennessee either his freshman or sophomore year, well now he is a senior, and were did he sign, some small school in Indiana. I thought he was suppose to be the next if not better than Damon Bailey several years ago.
If Billy G. is doing this to save his career, why isn't Philip Fulmer doing the same?
CoverOrange writes:
As utfan15 points out, very easy to let an offer wither on the vine years after it is given. Billy G. knows he can withdraw the offer quietly if the kid doesn't live up to expectations, gets injured, or doesn't pass algebra.
marinevol writes:
bamacheats, I'm not going to touch that comment, but it sure was funny.
eduardo writes:
Bunch of cheaters! Can't stand the blue and never will. Hopefully as it looks now they will fall all the way to the bottom of the beer barrel. Bunch of no good inbred fans and sorry basketball program. Draw a line in the sand BP and dare them to cross it. Only pain and misery for the blue nation as Tennessee Basketball the real basketball passes them by! cya blue, can't stand yeh!
CoverOrange writes:
Ed, you put the "spit" in "hospitality".
kceltic#232917 writes:
ImAllVol-You are probably right,NCAA should do something about it.I think it is a bad thing because no matter how good a kid is,he dosen't know what to do at that age.By the way,most parents are involved in the decision making about their childs' future as a high school senior, much less an eighth grader.
ballewville6 writes:
it is ridiculus to recruit middle school players who may never get any better,i wish they would sign so they want have scolerships to offer down the road,and we all know what early commits do they usally change there minds 3 or 4 times as they get older.where i live on tenn and ky border there are alot of uk fans not as many as the ut fans but a bunchand they think its ridiculas to recruit 8th graders from california,who will change thire minds and go to ucla or usc .uk is desperate right now they are no longer getting 2 to 4 mcdonalds all americans all the time any more ,and after UT wins back to back sec titals next year,we will get alot more top players.UT,s basketball program is finally outshining kentucky,i know ut had interest in hood but i think they will land atleast 2 or 3 players who are higher on scout and rivals for next year.kenny hall for one and a couple more .kentucky wanted demarcus cousins but he is going to uab was this past years game a big factor.ut want be as good at threes but this will be the most athletic team UT has ever had with maze,hopson,and tyler,chism,and either camron,or woolridge,or prince,and west and jurick will get an oppertunity.i hope we get mcdonald even better the sg from st benidicts in new york or jersey
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
Billy...please..just stop it...you're making a fool of yourself.
LadyVolsEighTimes writes:
It has been a week of accomplishments for Anywhere Middle School's Billy Bob Adams. Adams' a 4'11" power forward thought it could get no better after UK offered him a full ride on Tuesday.
However when his childhood sweetheart, 12 year old Tina Marie Snotgrass accepted his marriage offer, (verbal commitment only), he stated,"Wow this really ratched up the emotional hig I was already own, it can't get much better than this."
Billy Bob told this reporter that Monday his Dad is taking him to the DMC so he can get a restricted Drivers License. He further stated that he will be attending summer school in hopes of getting his academic averages up, and hopefuly qualify for Anywhere High School this fall.
Adams said he wasn't to concerned about the academic issues, he stated he faced the same challanges the year he transistioned from grade school to middle school.
As a side note, Tina Marie plans to quit school when she is 16, take her GED, and hopefully be accepted as a cook at Billy Bob's Dad's Bar and Grill imporium. She expressed that after one year there she would eleigible for un-paid maternity leave, and they have put off having children until she has completed her Cooks Aprenticeship. We wish them both the best!
Make sure you check out out colum next week when we report on the Wildcats offer of a full scholarship to Jimmy "The Fin" Williams. Williuams is the seven year old that Burtha Wiliams gave birth to in the families heated pool, he has never been outta the pool in his life, so he very comfortable in the water, and has adopted a unique Swim instead of Crawl mentality.
TommyJack writes:
Now this is tupid.
dvols writes:
e r i c b e r r y
pdhuff#552644 writes:
TJ, is SquareBob SpongePants elgible yet? Or SpongeBob SquarePants?
TommyJack writes:
SpongeBobSpareParts
splinterdand#602266 writes:
Does Bernard King have any kids in elementary school?
Razzle writes:
Pussy Cats = Jealous because Vols sign Mr. Maze.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Will 3rd graders have to wear Nikes during play-time?
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.