NEWSSTAND (5/18): Commitment predictions, Fox vs Ball, Scouting Adebayo

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"I do think Kentucky's in really good shape with players like Rivals100 ATH Blue Smith and Lakota West linebacker Xavier Peters, but I don't think either situation would amount to a silent commitment, at least by the definition I'd use for that. Those players might have strongly insinuated that they're very interested in Kentucky and certain parties might have been led to believe that things will end favorably for UK, but that doesn't amount to a silent commitment. Favorable winds are a good thing, but they're not silent commitments."

Link: CatsIllustrated.com's football recruiting mailbag covers all bases (FREE)

"This (Leonard Taylor) recruitment started early with a commitment to Michigan during his sophomore year, but Taylor backed away from that pledge last summer. In the time since, Taylor has gone about the process much slower. He made spring visits to both Kentucky and Iowa State. His next visits are being planned for the summer and include stops at Alabama, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Tennessee. He does not have a set top group and does not plan to sign in the early December period. ..."

Link: Read where Josh Helmholdt believes top Midwest prospects and UK targets end up (FREE)

"In fairness to the former Ohio State quarterback, he's been very complimentary of current Kentucky head football coach Mark Stoops in the past, so maybe the current regime will give him a pass.

Also in fairness to Herbstreit, there's no full transcript of his remarks (yet, at least).

And there will be those who agree with Herbstreit's assessment.

But, no doubt, one of the quickest ways to alienate a segment of the Kentucky fan base, particularly that portion of it which is inclined to rabid support of the football program, is to contrast passion for basketball with that of football."

Link: Kirk Herbstreit, in Kentucky, calls UK football 'an appetizer' (FREE)

“I think it’s good, as far as having the early signing period, having that ability," Mark Stoops said. "As far as changing the calendar and all those things when you package it together I don’t think I was total in favor of that, but you have to make due with the rules that were given to you. So, a player that we have committed that I know very well that we’ve had a relationship with for a year, year and a half or so, if you want to clean that up and get him signed in December I see no harm in that."

Link: Stoops has mixed thoughts on early signing period

Visit KSTV's website HERE

"Will be interesting to see if the Big Baller Brand Camp agrees to a head to head matchup w/De'Aaron Fox, considering how the last one went."

DISCUSSION: DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony on hypothetical Fox-Ball matchup

"Moving on to the actual players that might get drafted, I think that Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox could end up a winner. There’s always the chance that Philadelphia could take an elite wing like Josh Jackson or Jayson Tatum at No. 3, but what they would appear to need most is a playmaker at the point guard position -- or even a shooter but it might be a reach to go for Malik Monk here. The Sixers talk about trusting the process and the process could just work out to the benefit of Fox and bump him up a few slots in the Draft."

Link: Eric Bossi on NBA Draft Lottery winners (FREE)

"At only 19 years old, there's plenty of time for Adebayo to polish his skill-set on both ends of the floor and become a better-rounded contributor. That said, he will need to be willing to accept a role at the next level, most likely as an energy big man. That will include bringing a consistently high level of aggressiveness, focus and intensity on both ends to help him do all the little things a team needs to win games. If he is willing to embrace that, he's got a nice foundation in place to become a valuable two way big man."

Link: Mike Schmitz & Josh Riddell of DraftExpress on Bam Adebayo

“I think he will end up at Kentucky. I think he fits in their offense, his teammate is committed down there, it looks like he has a good relationship with the coaching staff and he has been down there a lot.”

Link: Rivals250 DE Tyreke Smith on where Rivals100 ATH Blue Smith will end up. Read where other players say he and top prospects end up (FREE)

"Despite a valiant effort from all five players, the Kentucky men’s golf team’s bid for an NCAA Championships berth fell just short in Wednesday’s final round at The University Club in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Cats were a mere stroke off the pace of a two-team tie for a playoff for the coveted fifth spot and a bid into the NCAA Championships next week."

Link: UK golf finishes NCAA Regional in Seventh

"On his latest podcast with guest Anthony Davis, Calipari said, "I just had a kid walk me around in the projects in Harlem thinking I would be intimidated.

"Mohamed Bamba, the No. 2 player in the 2017 class, is from Harlem. NCAA rules prohibit college coaches from mentioning specific names when discussing recruits. It is unknown when Calipari and Davis recorded the interview together, but Calipari tweeted a photo with former President Bill Clinton from Harlem May 9."

Link: Did Calipari drop a Bamba reference?

"Diallo’s move won’t be a game-changer any more than Brandon Jennings. Remember Brandon Jennings? He skipped college by going from high school to Europe in 2008. It worked out for Jennings who became a lottery pick after one season of playing in Italy. Jennings was hailed as someone who would blaze a trail for a new generation of young hoopsters. He earned money — $1.2 million in salary and endorsements — instead of being part of the unjust and uncompensated system of college basketball."

Link: TheComeback.com doesn't think Hamidou Diallo's path will become common

“My dad played baseball at Kentucky and my brother played football at Louisville so there’s really a big connection with both so it’s close to home for my family," Tanner Bowles said. "Since it’s two different sports we root for Louisville in football and Kentucky in baseball.”

Link: 2019 in-state offensive lineman Tanner Bowles has ties to Cats and Cards (FREE)

"Now, I know some aren't surprised I'm here to talk about a Kentucky guard. But you might be surprised to see that it's Fox on my radar and not my favorite player from the latest crop of one-and-dones: Malik Monk. Yes, I watched more Kentucky basketball than other teams. But I also watched it critically, as anyone who's been within five feet of me during a UK basketball game can attest.

Fox is the player who improved the most this season. In Kentucky's last 14 games, 13 of which they won, he shot nearly 48 percent from the field. He is the fastest player in the draft, end to end, and has shown that he can do more than just slash his way to the basket. He's one of the better defenders out there. One of the reasons his draft stock shot up was people got a look at Fox in tournament competition, both conference and NCAA. Those are crunch-time opportunities."

Link: Amy Fadool makes the case for Fox at 3 to Philly