Devin Booker likely committing to Kentucky
Final tweet for a while: I just got a text. I can confirm Devin Booker will, indeed, commit to Kentucky today at 4 pm ET
October 31st, 2013 at 10:48 AM ^
That's funny because every Kentucky insider I've read has said that this is strictly a Kentucky-UM battle and that Blackmon didn't even stay for IU's exhibition game on his visit this weekend. Point is we really don't know until he announces later tonight.
October 31st, 2013 at 11:08 AM ^
Sam Webb is giving IU a legitimate shot at landing him. IU is factor unfortunately.
October 31st, 2013 at 10:44 AM ^
so is blackmon.
October 31st, 2013 at 10:47 AM ^
love to be wrong, But it's just not happening.
October 31st, 2013 at 10:47 AM ^
And why is he pissing in our Corn Flakes?
October 31st, 2013 at 10:47 AM ^
For those who would prefer to wait until the announcement for definitive answers, the Sun Herald newspaper will have the video strem at 4 PM EDT today.
That link is (HERE). According to the article, he plans to sign a letter of intent during the early signing period, which begins in about two weeks.
October 31st, 2013 at 10:52 AM ^
Pay sites reported this yesterday
October 31st, 2013 at 10:55 AM ^
it's fine because they got Chatman to soften the blow. Chatman will likely see time at PG, SG and SF anyway.
October 31st, 2013 at 11:06 AM ^
Your right, it does soften the blow but it still would have been very nice. Also, I doubt chatman ever sees time at PG. We will need him out there at sg and sf.
October 31st, 2013 at 11:36 AM ^
that he can play PG for him. After seeing LeVert at PG in action, I have no doubt that he'll see time at PG. Chatman has been asked to be with the PG group at elite basketball camp which says a lot about his ability as a passer.
October 31st, 2013 at 11:22 AM ^
:/ oh well.
October 31st, 2013 at 11:26 AM ^
On the plus side, we're competing with Kentucky for recruits.
October 31st, 2013 at 11:38 AM ^
a few seasons ago and tell yourself that?
October 31st, 2013 at 12:07 PM ^
Weren't we competing with Valpo for recruits a few years ago?
October 31st, 2013 at 11:40 AM ^
247 Composite has
Booker: 95% to UK
Blackmon: 100% to UK
Looks like it's over, folks.
http://www.umhoops.com/2013/10/31/announcement-primer-devin-booker-james-blackmon-jr/#more-52483
October 31st, 2013 at 11:44 AM ^
Kentucky BB isn't part of the university. Just another team in the NBA D league...except that the players are treated like royalty and don't have to stay at a Motel 6....
October 31st, 2013 at 11:46 AM ^
With the advent of social media, I know this will never change as long as there are people like us on this blog craving this information as early as possible, but why can't people just let this kid be the one to break the news to everyone? I'm not talking about gut feelings or having a pretty good idea about which school an athlete is leaning to, I'm talking about if you know 100% for sure what he's deciding, keep your mouth shut and let him speak his piece unless given permission to do otherwise. This is a big deal for him, and I know I'd be pissed if some guy come out and stole my thunder. I felt the same exact way about that no name on Twitter that outted THJ Jr. on his decision to go pro a few days beforehand. I know I'm ranting about something insignificant, but it just gets under my skin.
October 31st, 2013 at 11:50 AM ^
If a recruit is that worried about people finding out before his big announcement, they maybe he shouldn't tell anyone until it's time. Just saying...
October 31st, 2013 at 12:02 PM ^
You're absolutely right. But at the same time, news like that is a really big deal that's hard to contain, especially when you are a young kid. It's highly plausible this decision was told in confidence and that trust was abused. I'm probably over thinking it because the whole process irks me, but I wouldn't put it past a lot of these guys to abuse a relationship with a young athlete or a confidant of the young athlete for who knows what personal gain (more Twitter followers?). But yeah, the simple solution is just to keep your mouth shut if you really want to be the first person to tell the world where you're going.
October 31st, 2013 at 11:49 AM ^
You guys are patheric. Assuming that if these guys go to Kentucky that they are being bought? If they went to Michigan though then noooo. Unless you have actual proof then why belittle the achievements of Kentucky or these guys possibly picking Kentucky because that's where they actually want to go?
Don't act like that.
October 31st, 2013 at 12:03 PM ^
I personally read a lot of it as just in jest, but you also can't ignore Calipari's seedy past. At any rate I do agree, attracting top talent does not, in any way, mean you're cheating.
October 31st, 2013 at 12:27 PM ^
How many more programs does Calipari have to leave with vacated wins and sanctions in his wake before we can just conclude that he's not the best guy at following rules? Why would going to Kentucky change any of that behavior? If they're not getting paid then he's doctoring records to get them into school in the first place. He may be a great basketball coach but he's as slimy as they get.
October 31st, 2013 at 12:38 PM ^
Even his bagmen have bagmen. Every final four in his career might get vacated, every school he ever coaches at might get put on probation in his wake, but nothing is ever going to lead directly back to the man himself.
The only thing that could even conceivably go wrong is some sort of federal investigation of William Wesley (and I'm not suggesting there's anything to investigate, just that it's the only scenario that could ever lead to anything coming out) and even then there'd never be anything on Calipari but a wink and a nod.
October 31st, 2013 at 12:44 PM ^
The way his entire Memphis class followed him to Kentucky, I tend to believe that the money is coming directly from his camp. He's the only coach to have final fours vacated at two different schools(UMASS and Memphis) and it's likely #3 wont be far behind.
October 31st, 2013 at 12:54 PM ^
His bagmen move with him from school to school. But he doesn't have to be personally involved; he just needs to look the other way and to make sure everyone else does too. He's proven he can be trusted to do that.
I'm not sure I like how I've been phrasing this. "His bagmen" makes it sound like Wes is in some way subordinate to Calipari and of course that's not how it is at all.
October 31st, 2013 at 11:49 AM ^
if they both go to UK, kind of douchy for booker to jump in on the same day, and steal the thunder of blackmon, his future teammate. leads me to think not both going to UK, but also not UM.....
October 31st, 2013 at 12:11 PM ^
Or they're friends and thought it'd be cool to commit on the same day?
October 31st, 2013 at 11:51 AM ^
Trevon Bluiett?
October 31st, 2013 at 11:56 AM ^
Chose lunch instead.
October 31st, 2013 at 1:16 PM ^
Good choice, lunch is where eating options kick into high gear.
October 31st, 2013 at 12:14 PM ^
Cant wait for the day when everything Calipari has ever done at UK shows up as 'Vacated' in the record books. Its inevitable. Take solace in that my friends
October 31st, 2013 at 12:34 PM ^
You guys didn't see that tweet this morning? From that totally reputable source? The one that said that the NCAA finally got their break, and Kentucky is going down for all their shenanigans? They said it was going to make tat-gate looke like practice-gate. You guys didn't see that? Me neither...(damnit).
October 31st, 2013 at 12:41 PM ^
His best friend is in my 3rd hour I am from Grandville. He was wearing a Michigan shirt when I asked he smiled and said we will see! Go Blue! I sat by him in 3 classes in 8th grade. He was so passionate about UofM football but loved msu bball.
October 31st, 2013 at 12:50 PM ^
I am generally an optimistic guy, but all of this speculation is just that--speculation. Are we honestly believing that because Crean saw Blackmon this morning that automatically means he is leaning toward IU? How do we not know that Crean is assuming Blackmon is leaning toward UK or Michigan (which has been the case for the last while) and is making a last-ditch effort to get Blackmon to go to IU? How do we not know that this "insider" is just trying to pull a Herby and be THE guy to break the news?
Remember, everyone thought Chatman was pretty much a lock to Arizona before committing to Michigan.
Now, do I believe that we will get either Booker or Blackmon? Not really. But all of these "tidbits" coming in today have not swayed my opinion on either player. Both have remained tight-lipped about any leaders, so I won't say for sure either way until I hear it from them. Booker has seemed high on Kentucky ever since they started coming after him. Blackmon is the wild card for me. I could see this going any which way, but I still believe it is a Kentucky/Michigan battle.
The big question, I believe, is does Booker committing to Kentucky affect what Blackmon does? I honestly think it will.
Would I love to have either of these guys? Absolutely. But I believe Stauskas and LeVert are both 4-year players, so missing out on Blackmon and Booker won't kill us, but we will absolutely have to get 1 (probably 2) top wings in the 2015 class.
October 31st, 2013 at 2:35 PM ^
he will be in the nba. similar game to Jamal Crawford and similar build.
October 31st, 2013 at 2:35 PM ^
he will be in the nba. similar game to Jamal Crawford and similar build.
October 31st, 2013 at 2:35 PM ^
he will be in the nba. similar game to Jamal Crawford and similar build.
October 31st, 2013 at 2:35 PM ^
he will be in the nba. similar game to Jamal Crawford and similar build.
October 31st, 2013 at 2:35 PM ^
he will be in the nba. similar game to Jamal Crawford and similar build.
October 31st, 2013 at 3:46 PM ^
First of all, it's LeVert.
Second of all, he will be here all 4 years. He hasn't even had his "breakout season" yet and people are going nuts about this guy. Two years ago, he was almost an Ohio Bobcat, and now he's not a 4 year player? Let's temper our expectations about LeVert please.
And third of all, you do not have to post like, 5 times.
October 31st, 2013 at 2:36 PM ^
he will be in the nba. similar game to Jamal Crawford and similar build.
October 31st, 2013 at 3:08 PM ^
so it must be true.
October 31st, 2013 at 2:37 PM ^
he will be in the nba. similar game to Jamal Crawford and similar build.
October 31st, 2013 at 2:48 PM ^
You don't say.
October 31st, 2013 at 3:04 PM ^
and say, and say, and say, and say, and..........
October 31st, 2013 at 1:19 PM ^
Let me make sure I can get in line with the general opinion.
If he chooses Kentucky = paid
If he chooses Michigan = not paid
Got it
October 31st, 2013 at 1:34 PM ^
Until John Belien's wins at West Virginia and Richmond get vacated this seems perfectly reasonable to me. Calipari cheats. This is not breaking news.
October 31st, 2013 at 1:37 PM ^
and press on!
October 31st, 2013 at 1:52 PM ^
What's plan B assuming we don't get either guy ?
We go after one of the Austrailian's or do we bank the scholly for 2015 or someone else ?