CONCERNED FANS FOR
BASKETBALL
EDITORIAL
PART III
October 8, 2006
RECRUITING AND PLAYER RETENTION
RECRUITING
Kentucky has been premier because of its long-term success on the national stage, participating in final fours, and competing for and winning national championships. However, Coach Smith has never recruited and coached his own chosen player in a Final Four.
Recruiting during the Smith era has been an adventure. When Coach Smith has attracted an outstanding recruiting class, the resulting teams have spun out of control, indeed languishing in turmoil. Fool us once, shame on you, fool us twice …. The 2005 and 2006 recruiting classes have not included a viable replacement for Chuck Hayes at the power forward position. The recruiting woes have been obvious to the press as well, and on May 17, 2006 , Jerry Brewer of the Louisville Courier-Journal wrote, “The Wildcats are turning into bargain hunters because of their failings, which also include unfocused recruiting tactics.”
Those who support Coach Smith suggest that the current criticism of Smith's record by concerned fans will damage UK 's recruiting. Yet, this spring's recruiting efforts have again attracted no additional players at a time that UK has two available scholarships and could promise significant, immediate playing time to capable players, especially forwards.
PLAYER RETENTION
Coach Smith's nine recruiting classes have produced 37 signed recruits. Seventeen (17) left the program early, and only one of these early departures led to a NBA draft choice. Of the seven players in the 2005 and 2006 recruiting classes, three have already left the program, and two others tried to leave but failed. With respect to his decision to leave UK after his sophomore year at UK , “Rondo said he realized by midseason that the style of play at Kentucky was hurting his draft chances, and so making the decision to jump to the NBA … relatively easy. ‘Coach agreed that the style we were playing probably wasn't the best fit for me.' Rondo said.”
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FOOTNOTES FOR PART III:
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060517/COLUMNISTS
02/605170525/1002/SPORTS
Rajon Rondo left UK in May 2006 to enter the NBA draft following
his sophomore season. Based on NBA scouting reports prior to the NBA
draft, it appears that Rondo will become the first of Coach Smith's players
to leave the UK program early and move directly into the NBA
via the draft.
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=
2461970&name=ford_chad
Return to Previous Parts:
Other Editorials:
Can UK Football Be Fixed By Just Replacing Its Coach?
Sadly It Is Not LikelyUK Should Fight The NCAA If Sanctioned Over Bledsoe in Two Parts
ARE TUBBY SMITH CRITICS UNREASONABLE?
MEMBERS OF UK SPORTS PRESS CORPS OWE DUTY TO BIG BLUE NATION, November 12, 2006
Please submit all comments about these editorials to The Editors at: editor@BigBlueFans4UK.com
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SugarHill Communications of Kentucky
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