Does anyone know who Austin Kyles is? I had to look twice to make sure I got his name right.
Well Yahoo.com’s Cameron Smith tries to pin a recruiting violation on Calipari with a kid that no one has heard of before.
The tone of this article makes me think there is a hidden agenda somewhere, you can decide for yourself.
[I]Well, if Calipari was trying to make light of [/I][URL=”http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/Did-Coach-K-commit-recruiting-violation-Will-th?urn=highschool-wp4082″][COLOR=#0069aa][I]Krzyzewski’s teflon reputation[/I][/COLOR][/URL][I], such criticisms will seem even more withering this week after it emerged that Calipari appears to be guilty of an even more egregious contact violation just weeks earlier in July. What makes the near-certain violation all the more shocking is the recipient of Calipari’s adoration: A rising junior prospect who almost certainly won’t reach the pinnacle of recruits who are likely to attend Kentucky.[/I]
[I]The player in question is [/I][URL=”http://profiles.berecruited.com/athletes/880104″][COLOR=#0069aa][I]Aiken (S.C.) High center Austin Kyles[/I][/COLOR][/URL][I], a 16-year-old dual citizenship hoopster who happens to be en route to play for his father’s native New Zealand junior national team over the forthcoming weekend. Kyles is an impressive player — he’s nearly 6-foot-7 already and is surprisingly strong with a wide frame — but no one would watch him play and target him as a future Kentucky Wildcat. Rather, he appears to be a good fit for a team with a more standardized system of offensive motion that could take advantage of his incredibly reliable 12-foot jumper.[/I]
[I]Yet that disconnect from Calipari’s direct recruiting interest didn’t keep him from walking over and shaking Kyles’ hand during the [/I][URL=”http://www.scoutsfocus.com/events.html”][COLOR=#0069aa][I]ScoutsFocus Super 60 Showcase in South Carolina on July 15[/I][/COLOR][/URL][I]. The picture of Calipari you see above was during Kyles’ most impressive performance at the event. More poignantly, the showcase is smack dab in the middle of the NCAA’s no-contact period, and Prep Rally can confirm that the handshake and conversation happened because both Kyles and his father, Dr. Tony Kyles (who was at the camp) confirmed that it occurred.[/I]
[I]”After the game, Calipari shook his hand and said, ‘Great game,'” Dr. Kyles told Prep Rally. “I think he was just acknowledging, ‘Hey, this kid is holding down my senior.'”[/I]
[I][URL=”http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/Calipari-had-likely-illegal-contact-before-criti?urn=highschool-wp5887”]Complete Article[/URL][/I]
I don’t know about you, but this just seems like a far reach to try and catch Calipari doing anything slightly wrong as possible.
Even if he did this, and Kentucky is recruiting him, it is a minor violation and nothing will happen.
If UK isn’t recruiting him, then what does it matter?
Everyone make sure if you have a son that plays basketball, don’t get a picture with Coach Cal…it might be a violation.
