WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:03.000 Welcome to the Big Blue Insider. Toy Gabriel with you 2 00:00:03.040 --> 00:00:07.360 on a Wednesday. We are beyond the midway point in April. 3 00:00:07.599 --> 00:00:12.119 That was yesterday, Tax Day, Jackie Robinson Day, and the 4 00:00:12.199 --> 00:00:14.880 last day before the portal open. We'll talk about that 5 00:00:14.960 --> 00:00:18.079 a lot tonight with Cam Drummond of the Herod leader. 6 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:21.160 Sean Woods, our unforgettable guard. We talk to him every week, 7 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:24.239 and of course we'll also chat with Gary Moore, our 8 00:00:24.239 --> 00:00:27.760 Weston Bureau chief, whom I suspect has some things to 9 00:00:27.800 --> 00:00:30.640 say about what's happening down in Knoxville. Of course, we 10 00:00:30.679 --> 00:00:34.359 pre record as we speak. No news on whether nico 11 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:38.719 Il Malaieva has landed a new pseudor a new employer, 12 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:41.280 a new school, but we'll stay on top of that 13 00:00:41.320 --> 00:00:44.320 as best we can. The portal opened up, I guess 14 00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:48.640 at midnight, and there are names that you might recognize, 15 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:51.600 not many if you're a Kentucky fan, But how about this. 16 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:57.439 Hartley Gilmore is back in the portal. Yeah, that Hartley Gilmore. 17 00:00:57.479 --> 00:01:03.880 He was a Wildcat last season and decided to transfer. 18 00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:07.000 Although he might have been, and I suspect he was. 19 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:09.439 I have on a pretty good authority. He was one 20 00:01:09.480 --> 00:01:12.799 of those guys who was sort of helped out the door. 21 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:16.040 You might recall Mark Troops has said us a couple times, 22 00:01:16.920 --> 00:01:18.920 you know, we need people to leave because of the 23 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:21.719 numbers game. But there was a press conference a while 24 00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:25.480 back when he talked about people who needed to leave 25 00:01:25.560 --> 00:01:28.359 for their benefit and the benefit of the program basically, 26 00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:30.640 and I have it on good authority that you mister 27 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:35.200 Gilmore was one of them. Apparently. Now he stepped out 28 00:01:35.239 --> 00:01:40.079 of the line again with a second program and is 29 00:01:40.120 --> 00:01:43.239 in the portal and is leaving Nebraska. So he traded 30 00:01:43.319 --> 00:01:46.560 blue for the red, and now who knows where he 31 00:01:46.840 --> 00:01:51.519 end up. He is a talented player, but evidently cannot 32 00:01:51.560 --> 00:01:53.879 stay out of his own way. So that's a name 33 00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:59.359 that you might recognize going into the portal. Wallace Unamba 34 00:01:59.400 --> 00:02:03.760 also in the portal from the Kentucky roster. He re 35 00:02:03.879 --> 00:02:06.280 entered the portal. He had come in through the portal, 36 00:02:06.359 --> 00:02:09.800 worked with a second team offensive line during the spring. 37 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:14.400 He was from Kilgore Community College down in Texas. He 38 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:17.199 was a juke call American twice. This is after he 39 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:22.560 redshirted at Florida Atlantic and transferred to New Mexico. I 40 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:26.319 guess Juco was before that. Transferred to New Mexico, started 41 00:02:26.360 --> 00:02:31.360 ten games and played fairly well. Played for Bronco Mendenhall. 42 00:02:31.400 --> 00:02:31.560 But. 43 00:02:33.800 --> 00:02:38.080 Decided Kentucky's not the place for him, and so he's 44 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:41.240 in the portal. That's somebody that you may know about. 45 00:02:41.319 --> 00:02:44.120 If you follow the depth chart, you know about that guy. 46 00:02:45.800 --> 00:02:49.599 There's another name in the portal. He's a Kentucky defensive back, 47 00:02:50.120 --> 00:02:54.719 Jiquavius Marshall. He entered really late last night. I guess 48 00:02:54.759 --> 00:02:57.520 it was first thing. He was part of the twenty 49 00:02:57.560 --> 00:03:01.560 twenty four freshman class, ranked one of the top six 50 00:03:01.719 --> 00:03:04.639 hundred and thirty best players in the nation according to 51 00:03:04.680 --> 00:03:08.080 two four to seven Sports, and was ranked the seventy 52 00:03:08.199 --> 00:03:13.240 fourth best player in the state of Georgia. But he 53 00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:17.280 was on the injured list last year so did not 54 00:03:17.560 --> 00:03:20.599 play for the Wildcats and gained a red shirt year. 55 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:23.400 But he has entered the portal. He was back in 56 00:03:23.479 --> 00:03:27.080 practice the spring practices in the two open practices, work 57 00:03:27.159 --> 00:03:30.840 with the third and fourth team defenses. According to Aaron 58 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:34.520 Gershaan of the Cats Boss So he is the second 59 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:38.479 member of the twenty twenty four freshman signing class no 60 00:03:38.520 --> 00:03:43.240 longer with the program. Caleb Read and edge rusher transfer 61 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:48.039 to Kansas during the winter portal window. So those are 62 00:03:48.080 --> 00:03:50.800 the comings and goings from football as we know it. 63 00:03:50.919 --> 00:03:56.000 Right now, you've got four Wildcats being projected as NFL 64 00:03:56.120 --> 00:04:00.000 draft possibilities, including, of course, cornerback Maxwell Harrison. He's been 65 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:04.280 invited to the draft up in Green Bay. Dion Walker 66 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:08.039 will be drafted. Eli Cox is projected as someone who's 67 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:10.560 going to be drafted. Dion, of course, the dtackle. Cox 68 00:04:10.879 --> 00:04:14.240 played center, has played in more than one offensive line position, 69 00:04:14.759 --> 00:04:19.519 and according to one outlet, Jamin Dumas, Johnson will be drafted. 70 00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:23.519 He is the linebacker who transferred in from Georgia, battled injuries, 71 00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:27.480 played well. Remember he was known as Pops, although they 72 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:29.600 kind of wanted us to move away from that. But 73 00:04:30.560 --> 00:04:33.319 these are the guys expected to be drafted off the 74 00:04:33.399 --> 00:04:37.240 Kentucky team. Harston may go in the first round, possibly 75 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:41.600 the second round. But he's a guy who just made 76 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:45.399 a huge leap. You might recall he was victimized by 77 00:04:45.480 --> 00:04:48.519 I guess it was Tennessee a couple of years ago, 78 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:53.800 and then last year two years ago, had an incredible season, 79 00:04:54.079 --> 00:04:57.279 was hurt much of last year. But he's still coming 80 00:04:57.319 --> 00:05:01.079 out and it's projected because dat are such a great 81 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:05.360 commodity in the NFL, so you can expect to hear 82 00:05:05.399 --> 00:05:08.920 his name go fairly early in the NFL Draft again 83 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:11.639 being held in Green Bay. No, I will not be there. 84 00:05:11.639 --> 00:05:14.519 I wish I could go, but I need to stay 85 00:05:14.519 --> 00:05:17.519 close to home right now. Biggest news on the basketball 86 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:22.079 front today if you're a Kentucky fan, of course, is 87 00:05:22.120 --> 00:05:26.600 the fact that the Wildcats have brought in another recruit, 88 00:05:27.399 --> 00:05:31.959 Braydon Hawthorne, who listed his hometown as Beckley, West Virginia, 89 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:34.759 but as high school is listed as Huntington. Beckley's not 90 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:39.600 far from Huntington. But I've been to Beckley several times 91 00:05:39.639 --> 00:05:42.720 because when you go Whitewater Rafting, generally in West Virginia, 92 00:05:43.040 --> 00:05:46.279 that's where you go to work with any one of 93 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:50.600 the companies that run the New and the Gauley Rivers. 94 00:05:50.680 --> 00:05:54.439 You go to Beckley. But Braiden Hawthorne lists Huntington High 95 00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:58.920 School as his school. He decommitted from West Virginia. We'll 96 00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:01.720 talk more with Cam drum and about him coming up, 97 00:06:02.040 --> 00:06:04.199 but he was going to go to West Virginia. Then 98 00:06:04.199 --> 00:06:07.800 they had a coaching change. Had been talking to Old Dominion. 99 00:06:07.879 --> 00:06:14.199 Ohiou Mount Saint Mary's and Florida Gulf Coast. But now 100 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:19.360 today was or is on campus here in Lexington, so 101 00:06:19.480 --> 00:06:23.800 maybe the Wildcats at him to the roster. Otaga Ohway 102 00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:28.240 made his announcement last night. Otaga Ohway made his announcement 103 00:06:28.360 --> 00:06:32.279 last night. And it's not a surprise that he will 104 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:35.439 try the NBA draft, which he should. He needs to 105 00:06:35.480 --> 00:06:38.120 go find out. First of all, could he be a 106 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:41.959 first round pick? Probably second round pick? Eh, you know, 107 00:06:42.040 --> 00:06:45.800 he may maybe late if he comes back to school 108 00:06:46.800 --> 00:06:50.759 and of course receives a hefty stipend. Could he work 109 00:06:50.839 --> 00:06:56.639 his way up into the first round. And I guarantee 110 00:06:56.680 --> 00:07:01.079 you they've already talked to him, somebody has. Antonio Reeves, 111 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:04.279 who did not play for this current staff, did not 112 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:08.839 play with any of these Wildcats, but is a great 113 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:14.279 example of a guy who went and got really valuable advice, 114 00:07:14.920 --> 00:07:20.240 great information, and came back fully armed with the knowledge 115 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:22.639 of what he has to do or what he had 116 00:07:22.680 --> 00:07:26.360 to do to improve himself and get to the NBA. 117 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:30.319 And he did it. He improved his floor game, his handle, 118 00:07:31.160 --> 00:07:33.600 his short game. When he came to shooting, we already 119 00:07:33.639 --> 00:07:39.040 knew he could shoot. His defense. Antonio Reeves is a 120 00:07:39.079 --> 00:07:41.560 grand example of really for any kid in the country 121 00:07:42.519 --> 00:07:46.920 who's thinking about testing the waters away. Of course, Kentucky's 122 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:52.120 leading scorer, second team All Conference sixteen points a game, 123 00:07:52.720 --> 00:07:56.560 nearly five rebounds a game, one and a half assists, 124 00:07:56.600 --> 00:08:00.959 one and a half steals, heroic moments for the Wildcats. 125 00:08:01.160 --> 00:08:04.839 Man had that long string of double digit games finally 126 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:08.399 broken by I want to say Alabama, but he scored 127 00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:12.360 in double digits thirty three of thirty six games and 128 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:16.639 had thirteen games of twenty or more, including the career 129 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:20.480 high twenty eight against Oklahoma in Norman. His old school 130 00:08:20.480 --> 00:08:24.319 had the buzzer beater, remember, and he had twenty seven 131 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:31.279 against Oklahoma and had a buzzer beater, So no, I 132 00:08:31.279 --> 00:08:33.159 guess the first game was not a buzzer beater, but 133 00:08:33.720 --> 00:08:38.039 he almost single handedly brought the Wildcats back, and then 134 00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:40.159 that went over Troy in the first round of the tournament. 135 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:44.600 Became the first UK player since Walter McCarty back in 136 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:49.080 nineteen ninety six with twenty or more points, eight or 137 00:08:49.080 --> 00:08:52.600 more rebounds, and five or more assists in an NCAA 138 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:57.840 tournament game, maybe his best all round game. So the 139 00:08:57.879 --> 00:09:02.000 only UK transfer is ever to score more than o 140 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:05.720 take Oway in his first year as a wildcat. Antonio 141 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:09.159 Reeves did it. Then Oscar she Boy did it as well. 142 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:13.000 Oway had five hundred and eighty four. S Boy had 143 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:17.080 five ninety. Reeves at six sixty seven, So you know, 144 00:09:17.159 --> 00:09:20.559 good luck to him, but he doesn't have to settle. 145 00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:23.360 If there is such a word for second round money, 146 00:09:24.279 --> 00:09:26.639 it's amazing that we're talking about that kind of stuff. 147 00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:29.879 But he'll make some bank here if he comes back. 148 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:35.639 So keep an eye on the NBA picture, keep an 149 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:38.120 eye on the portal will help you keep an eye 150 00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:42.960 on it, and also keep an eye on recruits who 151 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:48.639 may have been a wildcat but instead choose to go elsewhere. 152 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:51.759 I'm looking right at you, Lamar Wilkerson. He's going to Indiana, 153 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:55.039 and a lot of people thought he would come to Kentucky, 154 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:59.360 but he decided to be a Hoosier, and it sounded 155 00:09:59.399 --> 00:10:02.639 in his interview with Field of sixty eight and Jeff 156 00:10:02.679 --> 00:10:07.279 Goodman that he wanted to go someplace where he might 157 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:09.840 have been needed a little bit more in terms of 158 00:10:09.840 --> 00:10:13.080 the roster construction. You saw the quote I've got it 159 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:15.840 for you right here as he talked about why he 160 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:19.039 decided to become a Hoosier, and decided against Kentucky. 161 00:10:19.720 --> 00:10:21.840 I'm grateful for the opportunity that I had to get 162 00:10:21.879 --> 00:10:23.039 recruited by the. 163 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:24.159 Top blue buzz in the school. 164 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:27.879 You know, it was a hard decision, but Indiana felt 165 00:10:27.879 --> 00:10:28.519 like home. Man. 166 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:30.960 I'm just I'm ready to bring Who's your Basketball? Back? 167 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:31.320 Man? 168 00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:35.039 So why was it Indiana? I mean, you had Kentucky? 169 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:36.559 Who else was it at the end? 170 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:38.840 I know it was Indiana Kentucky at the very end, 171 00:10:38.919 --> 00:10:40.720 But why Indiana over. 172 00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:43.039 Kentucky in some of these other big time programs? 173 00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:46.159 Like I said, Uh, it was a pleasure to be 174 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:48.399 recruited by Kentucky, but I didn't want to go to 175 00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:51.519 Kentucky and just be another guy. You know that that 176 00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:52.919 has already been to Kentucky. 177 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:54.559 Man, Who's Yours basketball? 178 00:10:54.600 --> 00:10:56.960 You know, it was a it's a big time name, 179 00:10:57.200 --> 00:10:57.799 and you. 180 00:10:57.840 --> 00:10:59.720 Know they haven't been where they wanted to be. And 181 00:10:59.799 --> 00:11:02.360 you know, our trust coach Debries and what he's bringing 182 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:04.879 in and the type of coach he is and how. 183 00:11:04.679 --> 00:11:07.840 He's going to you know, put us in position to win. 184 00:11:08.279 --> 00:11:11.279 That's Omar Wilkerson's interview with Field of sixty eight Jeff 185 00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:13.320 Goodman asking the question I got to get him back 186 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:16.919 on the show. He's an interesting guest, but again it's 187 00:11:16.919 --> 00:11:18.720 sounded to me like and of course, if you're not 188 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:21.000 going to be just another guy at Kentucky, come on. 189 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:24.000 But I have a feeling he wants to be the 190 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:29.080 guy at Indiana or somewhere important in Indiana is important 191 00:11:29.240 --> 00:11:32.320 to college basketball. Hasn't been as important as it needs 192 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:35.279 to be for the good of college basketball in my opinion. 193 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:37.159 And he had has a blue blood, it just hasn't 194 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:39.519 been there in a while. Maybe this kid helps bring 195 00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:41.679 him back and you'll get a chance to cheer against 196 00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:45.559 him real, real soon. So now he's public enemy number 197 00:11:45.559 --> 00:11:47.960 one for the Big Blue Nation until the next one 198 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:52.559 comes along. But best of luck to him. We'll come 199 00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:54.519 back and talk more Kentucky sports in just a minute 200 00:11:54.519 --> 00:11:56.679 at the bottom of the hour. We'll chat with Cam 201 00:11:56.759 --> 00:12:00.360 Drumming about the portal, about recruiting, our number two, Sean 202 00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:03.480 Woods and Gary Moore Weston Bureau Chief. You're on six 203 00:12:03.639 --> 00:12:08.279 thirty Wlap, Welcome back to the Big Moonsider. Coming up 204 00:12:08.279 --> 00:12:10.080 at the bottom of the average, Cam Drummond of the 205 00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:13.960 Hero Leader. We'll talk the transfer portal, Kentucky basketball recruiting, 206 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:16.080 and we'll get back to basketball in a minute. But 207 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:18.519 I don't know if you saw this story yesterday. I 208 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:21.000 didn't really talk about it much, if at all, when 209 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:25.120 we talked about Rory McElroy winning the Masters. Apparently when 210 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:30.360 it came to his playing partner Rice into Shamba, Rory 211 00:12:30.679 --> 00:12:33.399 never spoke to him, never said a word, and De 212 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:35.600 Shambo was interviewed about it, and he kind of made 213 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:37.919 it sound like he thought it was weird or you know, 214 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:40.360 I don't know if he if his feelings were hurt 215 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:43.320 or whatever, but you could tell he wasn't super thrilled 216 00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:45.639 about it, not that, but you know, he wasn't fixated 217 00:12:45.679 --> 00:12:50.759 on it. But Bob Rotella, who was McElroy sports psychologist, 218 00:12:51.080 --> 00:12:54.159 talked about it. And you might recognize that name because 219 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:57.600 John Caliperi used to talk to Roteller, used to have 220 00:12:57.679 --> 00:13:01.000 him come talk to the Wildcats. That's where you know 221 00:13:01.080 --> 00:13:07.159 that name. Bob Rotella, sports psychologist. Well he's one of 222 00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:11.679 Rory McElroy's coaches, if you will. And he later said 223 00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:15.159 the silent treatment really wasn't the treatment. It had nothing 224 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:19.000 to do with the Shambeau or anybody. He said, it 225 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:22.919 was just the strategy that they put together for Rory 226 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:28.960 to stay laser focused on winning that Masters, and if 227 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:33.000 you saw the interview with Jack Nicholas, that figured into it. 228 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:36.320 He and Rory McElroy sat down and had breakfast or 229 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:39.519 launch or something first of the week, and he said, 230 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:41.440 how are you going to play the tournament? To Rory, 231 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:47.600 they went through every stroke on every hole at Augusta. 232 00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:49.360 Of course, both of them know that course, they know 233 00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:55.159 every blade of grass, and McElroy told Nicholas this is 234 00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:58.440 how I planned to attack one, two all the way 235 00:13:58.440 --> 00:14:04.639 through eighteen the greens, and Nicholas later said, I wouldn't 236 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:07.639 have changed the thing. That's exactly the way you need 237 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:10.960 to play. And I mentioned this prior to the tournament 238 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:13.759 because I've told you I was hoping Rory would win 239 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:17.840 that He had been overly aggressive at times and it 240 00:14:17.960 --> 00:14:22.559 cost him, and it almost cost him this tournament when 241 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:26.120 he had just some clunkers, some bad shots and flew 242 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:28.960 the green late, but was able to come back from 243 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:31.519 it and make up for it in a couple other 244 00:14:31.559 --> 00:14:35.759 holes with almost miraculous shots. He lost the tournament and 245 00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:40.960 won the tournament on the back nine. Amazing. But part 246 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:45.039 of the strategy was staying quiet and not chatting up 247 00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:49.960 his playing partner. As Rotella told the BBC said that 248 00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:53.159 had nothing to do with Bryson. That was just the 249 00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:56.399 game plan all week and we wanted to get lost 250 00:14:56.519 --> 00:15:00.360 in it and that's what he did. And now on 251 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:05.320 a social media accounts Rory McElroy is simply right and 252 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:09.000 he has Grand Slam winner, which he has done the 253 00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:13.840 career Slam. Just amazing. Good for him. All right back 254 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:18.919 to basketball, we know about Georgia Amore being drafted. Well, 255 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:22.720 Kenny Brooks has going out and gotten another outstanding guard. Apparently, 256 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:28.759 Asia Boone has signed with the Wildcats, a new part 257 00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:31.799 of the family. They say she'll joined the program as 258 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:35.600 a junior coming up. She's from San Diego, but played 259 00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:40.600 the last two seasons at Liberty Down in Tennessee. Started 260 00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:43.799 in all sixty seven games in which she played, scored 261 00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:47.080 six hundred eighty three points, knocked down one hundred and 262 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:51.360 twenty five triples, more than two hundred rebounds one hundred 263 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:56.200 and seventeen assists. She was Conference USA Freshman of the Year, 264 00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:01.799 ALLCUSA second Team, and of course made the All Freshman 265 00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:06.480 team in two years ago. Was named Freshman of the 266 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:11.879 Week nine times, so she should be able to step 267 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:17.200 right in now the SEC tougher competition. She's not Georgia anymore. 268 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:21.759 We know this, but she knows what she's doing. She 269 00:16:21.799 --> 00:16:25.679 attended IMG Academy, so yeah, she's far from home, but 270 00:16:26.039 --> 00:16:29.759 she's traveled. She's mature when it comes to that. So 271 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:35.440 Kenny Brooks lands another one baseball while Cats land another 272 00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:39.080 one as well, another one run victory. They've played thirty 273 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:43.360 four games this year. Almost a third of them have 274 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:45.919 been one run contest. I got to think more than 275 00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:48.360 a third have been one or two runs. They beat 276 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:52.039 Miami of Ohio, jumped out to the early lead, looked 277 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:54.279 like they were going to turn it into a midweek blowout, 278 00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:58.360 but no bats went to sleep. Miami of Ohio chips 279 00:16:58.399 --> 00:17:02.559 away Kentucky's bullpen falters that had been really good of late, 280 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:04.559 and some guys came in who had really had a 281 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:08.920 chance to throw much. And long story short, Miami ties 282 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:13.960 the game when a runner scores thanks to a couple 283 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:16.200 of wild pitches, gets the third on a wild pitched, 284 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:19.599 then scores in a wild pitch, and it just looked 285 00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:21.960 like it was gonna be another extra inning deal. But 286 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:26.039 two outs runners on second and third Ethan Hindle is up. 287 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:29.240 Ethan had a huge home run against Texas over the 288 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:31.599 weekend and to win over the long Horns. They're now 289 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:34.880 ranked number one by the Way. And with two outs 290 00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:38.000 and the infield back, Hindle drops down a bun. It 291 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:41.680 wasn't a good bunt. He popped it up quite frankly, 292 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:43.960 but it didn't go very far and the third basement 293 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:48.000 it was playing back came charging in and made a 294 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:50.440 dive for the ball and it hit his glove, which 295 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:52.160 would have been the end of the inning, but it 296 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:56.839 bounced off as Mitt went into foul territory. Umpire immediately 297 00:17:56.920 --> 00:18:01.039 played up said fairball, which it was, and Kayas garget 298 00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:05.039 scores and Kentucky wins by a final of four to three, 299 00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:08.359 and the Wildcats could not afford another midwek loss. Just 300 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:11.839 could not had lost a Xavier had lost to Murray 301 00:18:11.880 --> 00:18:14.759 State lost to a good Louisville team. But you got 302 00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:18.839 postseason coming up fast, and unless they start piling up 303 00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:21.359 SEC wins, they're gonna have to sweat it out on 304 00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:26.480 selection day. So big win for the baseball Wildcats. Softball 305 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:30.319 team also wins knocks off Western Kentucky nine to one 306 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:35.200 in six innings Lauren Borzolari with two home runs, so 307 00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:39.480 good win for Rachel Loss's ball club. The men back 308 00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:43.160 in action on Friday night. They go to Knoxville take 309 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:47.480 on a really good Tennessee team, and last year the 310 00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:51.160 Tennessee series was incredible. This is on their home turf. 311 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:53.920 It's a launching pad. It's gonna be tough and you'll 312 00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:56.599 hear it right here. Cameron drummers next year on six 313 00:18:56.759 --> 00:19:00.279 thirty WLAP Welcome back to the Big Blue and so sider. 314 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:02.839 Joining us now in our celebrity highline is mister Cameron 315 00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:05.640 Drummond from the Herald Leader, who covers anything and everything 316 00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:10.920 that he's covering, including Kentucky basketball. Cam the beat just 317 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:14.480 doesn't go to sleep, doesn't, especially when it's UK basketball. 318 00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:16.960 I know that, but thanks to the Transfer Portal, you've 319 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:21.039 been reporting a lot about cummings and goings. So if 320 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:22.680 it could be more than twenty four to seven, it 321 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:24.599 would be right. You know. 322 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:25.759 It's one of those things, you know. 323 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:28.599 When the season ended, after Kentucky lost in the sweep sixteen, 324 00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:31.599 some family friends were texting me calling saying, oh, you know, 325 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:34.640 congrats on a great season of hard work. You must 326 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:36.559 be looking forward to the off season now, and I 327 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:38.680 kind of look at them with a blank stare, and 328 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:40.880 I say, you know, the date I always use in 329 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:43.559 mind is the Kentucky Derby because a I do a 330 00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:45.599 lot of the horse racing coverage for the Herald Leader 331 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:48.519 as well, but also with the transfer portal, with the 332 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:52.160 comings and goings with roster movement, the NBA draft declarations 333 00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:55.720 constantly happening. It feels like there's another extra month six 334 00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:58.440 weeks to the season, so we're getting closer to the 335 00:19:58.519 --> 00:20:00.599 end of it, just like Kentuch he is in terms 336 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:04.079 of finalizing next year's roster. But you're right, it's ever 337 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:06.880 going and it feels like the season extends far beyond 338 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:08.240 the end of March Madness now. 339 00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:13.319 Earlier today, the name Brayden Hawthorne was linked to Kentucky. 340 00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:15.599 What can you tell us about him? 341 00:20:16.119 --> 00:20:18.480 Yeah, so he's a four star small forward in the 342 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:21.839 class of twenty twenty five of prospect in this year's 343 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:25.079 high school senior class that Kentucky is a bit late 344 00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:28.279 getting on but nonetheless is making a move for He's 345 00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:31.920 from West Virginia originally and was committed to and signed 346 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:35.000 to play with West Virginia as well, that was Seinfield 347 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:37.559 and delivered for many months. Obviously, there was a coaching 348 00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:41.160 change this offseason at West Virginia, with Darien de Bries 349 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:44.559 going to Indiana, and of course Indiana and Kentucky have 350 00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:47.839 some recent portal recruiting history as well to speak of. 351 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:52.599 But nonetheless, Hawthorn has now reopened his recruitment following that 352 00:20:52.680 --> 00:20:55.799 coaching change at West Virginia, and he's still giving Ross 353 00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:58.079 Hodge and the new coaching staff at West Virginia a 354 00:20:58.079 --> 00:21:01.079 fair chance, but he's also a track seeing new recruiting 355 00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:05.640 interest from the likes of Michigan, Virginia Tech, and obviously Kentucky. 356 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:07.960 You know we're speaking here on Wednesday. This is the 357 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:12.079 beginning of braiding Hawshorn's visits to Kentucky. A really rangey, 358 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:16.880 small forward, lots of versatility, lots of toughness, of tremendous lens, 359 00:21:17.160 --> 00:21:20.000 a guy who's really rocketed up the rankings. He went 360 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:22.880 from I think outside the top one hundred and fifty 361 00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:25.799 prospects in the country to now solidly in the top 362 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:29.160 eighty per the twenty four to seven Sports rankings. So 363 00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:31.799 a guy who's a late bloomer and certainly is expected 364 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:34.279 to make an impact as a multi year guy at 365 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:38.359 the college level, and now he's here in Lexington taking 366 00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:40.559 a visit to Mark Pope and the Wildcats as they 367 00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:43.480 look to continue to round out the roster. And as 368 00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:45.680 something I alluded to earlier, the fact that so many 369 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:48.440 pieces are already in place for that twenty five twenty 370 00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:51.400 six team kind of gives Kentucky that latitude a bit 371 00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:53.480 to be, you know, mining for some diamonds in the 372 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:56.119 rough or some late additions from the senior class like 373 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:59.039 braiding Hawkshorn could appear to be Well, does. 374 00:21:58.880 --> 00:22:02.519 This have anything to do with otega always announcement, which 375 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:05.400 to me was not a shock. It was kind of sobering, 376 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:08.519 I'm sure for Kentucky fans when they saw his message, 377 00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:10.559 because it sounded like he was gone, but he's leaving 378 00:22:10.599 --> 00:22:15.599 his options open. But does that have any impact either way? 379 00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:18.519 No, I don't think so at all. Two very different players, 380 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:20.839 and I think, you know, talking about Oway's announcement for 381 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:22.880 a second, I think this was always kind of the 382 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:25.279 expected route for him. I mean, obviously, if you look 383 00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:28.359 at a lot of the mock drafts, ESPN, the Athletics, 384 00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:31.240 the Ringer, you know, what have you? Olways, is nowhere 385 00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:33.119 really near the draft board right now. I think he 386 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:35.759 might be the eighty sixth on the big board for 387 00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:38.119 the Athletics. So he has a ways to go in 388 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:40.319 terms of, you know, earning his way into being maybe 389 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:43.279 a second round pick status at best. That being said, 390 00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:46.000 if you have the avenue and the availability to go 391 00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:49.279 through the draft process to get feedback from teams, I mean, 392 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:51.200 why wouldn't you go that route? And so I think 393 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:53.599 that was something that's been expected for a while, you know, 394 00:22:53.640 --> 00:22:55.839 almost one of those Hey, you have this opportunity, why 395 00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:58.960 would you not go seek out advice from NBA personnel? 396 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:00.920 But I don't think that a hawk point and way 397 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:03.559 things are connected. And I still think that the most 398 00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:05.880 likely outcome would be Alway coming back to Kentucky for 399 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:09.240 his senior season, just because as of now the draft 400 00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:10.279 stock isn't there for him. 401 00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.279