The Commercial Appeal just reported that 5-star freshman SF Jelan Kendrick has been “released” by Memphis. Kendrick was a McDonalds All-American and the #15 overall player in the 2010 class.
[I]”After meeting with Jelan today, we decided it was best that we part ways,”[/I] said coach Josh Pastner in a statement. ([URL=”http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/nov/13/freshman-jelan-kendrick-released-memphis-tigers/”]source[/URL])
This is just the final straw in a series of altercations and bad decisions by Kendrick. Due to a verbal altercation with one of the coaches at practice Friday, Kendrick was already being [URL=”http://blogs.commercialappeal.com/dan_wolken/2010/11/more-on-jelan-kendrick.html”]reprimanded[/URL] by not being allowed to play in the Memphis season opener. Before that, the freshman from Georgia was briefly [URL=”http://gary-parrish.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6271764/25659837″]suspended[/URL] from the team for threatening another player… on his own team.
What does this have to do with Kentucky? First, UK had shown interest in Kendrick before he committed to Memphis. Second, Memphis will surely sign any kind of release allowing Kendrick to request a hardship waiver from the NCAA (ie. he might not have to sit out a year for transferring). Third, you KNOW Cal has a history of going after this kind of player ([URL=”http://www.nationofblue.com/tony-woods-just-another-distraction-3182/”]exhibit A – Royce White, exhibit B – Tony Woods[/URL]). Mark my words, you will hear UK mentioned in his recruitment next year. Let’s hope the class is full, and whatever you do, don’t tell [URL=”http://www.nationofblue.com/dear-pete-thamel-10-14-2010-3153/”]Pete Thamel[/URL].
