Today in Indianapolis John Wall received the United States Basketball Writers Association National Freshman of Year Award. Also at the breakfast was ESPN’s Andy Katz and he spoke with Coach Cal. Here are a couple of very interesting quotes.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
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“I’ve already met with every player and met with the five guys who should put their names in the draft,”
Calipari said he told five of his players — freshmen Wall, [URL=”http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=45882″][COLOR=#225db7]DeMarcus Cousins[/COLOR][/URL], [URL=”http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=45881″][COLOR=#225db7]Eric Bledsoe[/COLOR][/URL] and [URL=”http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=45884″][COLOR=#225db7]Daniel Orton[/COLOR][/URL], and junior [URL=”http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=36191″][COLOR=#225db7]Patrick Patterson[/COLOR][/URL] — to put their names in the draft. All players have until April 25 to declare and, under a new NCAA rule, until May 8 to withdraw their name and still be eligible to return to college. The NBA hasn’t changed its deadline for withdrawing — 10 days prior to the draft in June. But with the new NCAA rule, players would have to provide documentation that they withdrew from the NBA draft in order to prove that they returned to college by the May 8 deadline.
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Coach Cal is doing what any good coach would do. He is looking at the player’s best interest and if they can get guaranteed money in the NBA then they have to go.
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Calipari said he told three of those players — Patterson, Orton and Bledsoe — to keep their options open.
“You don’t know where this is going,” Calipari said. “Eventually you’re going to be a professional. It may not be this year or next year. I told them they have to keep doing their academic work so that if it doesn’t play out they’re still fine.”
Calipari said the shortened window to work out this season, which is down to 10 days, shouldn’t be a problem. In past drafts, underclassmen have had a month to work out before making their decision.
“They’ll each have three or four teams that they can work out for and some of it might be that we tell teams to come to our campus to work them out if you really want to see them,” Calipari said. “The scary thing is if the young man leaves his name in and is told he’s a first-round pick and it’s not a lock.”
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The workouts should be very interesting. I personally think John Wall could hide in a closet for 2 weeks and he would still be the #1 pick.
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Kentucky is also losing seniors [URL=”http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=35582″][COLOR=#225db7]Ramon Harris[/COLOR][/URL], [URL=”http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=31685″][COLOR=#225db7]Perry Stevenson[/COLOR][/URL] and [URL=”http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=38408″][COLOR=#225db7]Mark Krebs[/COLOR][/URL]. Likely returning are [URL=”http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=45883″][COLOR=#225db7]Jon Hood[/COLOR][/URL], [URL=”http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=41837″][COLOR=#225db7]DeAndre Liggins[/COLOR][/URL] and [URL=”http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=41838″][COLOR=#225db7]Josh Harrellson[/COLOR][/URL]. The one unknown could be [URL=”http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/player/profile?playerId=36576″][COLOR=#225db7]Darnell Dodson[/COLOR][/URL]. Calipari said he has heard the rumors that Dodson may transfer but he said he hasn’t talked to him about that option.
“I don’t believe it,” Calipari said. “I think he’ll be fine. There are rumors because it’s Kentucky. We’re like Darth Vader at Kentucky. I just don’t buy into them. We’ll have a good team next year with talented young players and go from there.”
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The most interesting thing about this entire article to me is the quote about Dodson. I am still wondering how all of the Dodson situation will play out. I am also trying to figure out if I really care or not if he stays or goes. I guess we will find out in the next couple of week.
[URL=”http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/katz_andy/id/5050200/calipari-kentucky-wait-underclassmen”]Read Entire Article[/URL]
