In-depth coverage of a football commitment, De'Aaron Fox's desire to shut LaVar Ball up, MLB draft and upcoming decisions and Louisville's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
You'll be impressed and very busy with the size of Friday's CatsIllustrated.com Newsstand, so put work (or most anything else) on hold and make yourself the smartest Kentucky fan in the room.
COMMITMENT
"CatsIllustrated.com first reported Williams was a Kentucky target when he was spotted talking to assistant coaches in Lexington during registration before the start of a morning camp.
The physical defensive back has the look of an SEC defensive back, and he had drawn serious attention from the coaches at Alabama when he visited Tuscaloosa and camped with the Tide over the week prior to his Kentucky visit.
Williams attended high school in Knoxville, Tenn., as a Class of 2016 prospect. He signed with Eastern Kentucky but greyshirted and detoured to Highland.
He has three years to play two seasons of college football, which means he is eligible for a redshirt. ..." (read more)
Q&A WITH THE NEWEST WILDCAT
"Kentucky's just two hours away from home. That was the closest school (out of his finalists - UK, Iowa State and Colorado State) and the biggest school. It's an SEC school and everybody knows about that.
I feel like I can go to Kentucky and play the cornerback spot, play nickelback or anything they need me to. ..." (read more)
LINK: CatsIllustrated.com's exclusive Q&A with the newest Wildcat
DOM WILLIAMS: IMPACT ANALYSIS
"Williams has gained 16-17 pounds over the past two years and has gone from a smaller, work-in-progress DB with potential to a physically stout, more mature secondary prospect who can tackle, cover and blitz.
When CatsIllustrated.com has spoken with Williams and his trainer Chris Treece (and we've spoken with them several times now), versatility is the key word that has come up more than any other.
Kentucky loves Williams' ability to rotate back and forth between the corner spot and the nickelback position, and that versatility speaks to a well-rounded game. He has the athleticism, the footwork, the ability to judge the ball and the mentality to play corner, but he's also not afraid to help stuff the run and his physicality is as impressive as his athleticism. ..." (read more)
LINK: Impact Analysis: What Dom Williams to Kentucky means from every angle
TRAINER: WILLIAMS FOUND 'RIGHT OPPORTUNITY'
"He's an extremely physical player and he's that kind of guy who always wants to be on the best player, the best receiver on the field. He's asked for that duty since I've known him, from when he was at Fulton High School (in Knoxville, Tenn.) to when he was at Highland Community College."
LINK: Dom Williams' trainer tells CatsIllustrated.com that he found the right opportunity
SHUTTING LAVAR BALL UP
"Kill mode all the time," is how Fox described his mindset before the UCLA game in March. "Shut Lavar Ball up," is how he explains it a few months later.
Of course, he says he had other motivations, too. UCLA fans were talking too much. And he always plays better in big games. And he loved Kentucky. When they lost to North Carolina two days later, he was in tears in the locker room as his career came to an end.
He's still cool with Lonzo and his brothers. The elder Ball was just a puzzling wrinkle that added some motivation along the way. "In the last year, he became relevant for some reason," Fox says. "When I knew Lonzo in high school, I’d never seen his dad before. He went crazy this year. I guess when your son a lottery pick, that gives you a lot of confidence."
LINK: Who wants to bet on De'Aaron Fox?
"Lonzo Ball was widely assumed to be the Los Angeles Lakers' prize after the team landed the No. 2 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, but a number of other players have visited Los Angeles to work out in front of Magic Johnson, including Kansas' Josh Jackson and Kentucky's De'Aaron Fox.
Fox made an appearance on Thursday's episode of "The Herd" to reflect on knocking Ball's UCLA out of the NCAA Tournament and what makes Ball so good."
LINK: NBA Draft standout Fox breaks down Lonzo Ball's game
"Another prospect the Lakers may be considering is Kentucky point guard De’Aaron Fox, who demonstrates elite quickness and athletic ability, while being one of the best perimeter defenders in the draft.
But like Jackson, Fox struggled to shoot for outside in his one year at Kentucky, as he shot just 24.6 percent from three-point range."
LINK: De’Aaron Fox Believes He Is Better Shooter Than What He Showed At Kentucky
'MAGNETIC PERSONALITY'
"Fran Fraschilla, who will be part of ESPN’s coverage of the June 22 NBA Draft, said Thursday that Fox’s stock has improved.
“To the extent he’s in the conversation now as far as these top three picks,” Fraschilla said on a teleconference. “I thought he not only outplayed Lonzo in the second meeting, but he outplayed him at least in the first half of the first meeting in Lexington.”
To review, Fox had more points (20-14) and assists (nine-seven) than Ball when UCLA won 97-92 at Kentucky on Dec. 3. Fox also had fewer turnovers (two-six)."
RANKING THE DRAFT'S BEST POINT GUARDS
"While Lonzo Ball currently holds the consensus opinion of likely being selected with No. 2 pick in the draft, he still concedes the spot as the second-best point guard to De’Aaron Fox.
Fox is a speed demon who has drawn countless comparisons to fellow former Kentucky Wildcat John Wall for his quick feet and defensive ability. And while some eyes are focused on Ball as the next in line after Fultz is off the board, Fox has the potential to be more of an impact player at the next level."
LINK: Basketball Insider's ranking of the draft's best point guards
COMBO GUARD'S FUTURE
“People are always going to say what they want,” Monk said Thursday afternoon after his 76ers put him through a workout alone at the team’s Camden practice facility.
“Some people said I couldn’t play off the ball when I went to Kentucky,” he added. “I think I did a good job at that. I just have to adjust.”
LINK: Malik Monk sees himself as a combo guard
"Reporters Keith Pompey and Bob Cooney dissect former Kentucky shooting guard Malik Monk's workout with the 76ers on Thursday. They also talk about his chances to get drafted by the team and how he projects in the NBA before discussing his former UK teammate De'Aaron Fox."
LINK: Sixers man of the hour: Malik Monk
"Kentucky guard Malik Monk visited the Sixers' training facility in Camden, N.J. on Thursday for an individual pre-NBA Draft workout.
Check out Monk's performance in the video at the top of this story.
Monk would certainly provide roster balance and could play alongside 2016 No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons in the Sixers' backcourt, as head coach Brett Brown has said he hopes to play Simmons as the team's point guard this season."
LINK: Watch Malik Monk's pre-draft workout for the Sixers
"On a Timberwolves team that features some of the best young talent in the NBA, you’d think that they wouldn’t have enough room for another rookie. However, that thought should immediately go out the window with the selection of Malik Monk. From the jump, Monk should be a key contributor to the Timberwolves due to him being a standout perimeter weapon. Shooting 41% from beyond the arc during SEC play, Monk should help out a team that’s in desperate need for perimeter shooting."
OPEN HOUSE
"As a reward for season-ticket holders who renewed prior to March 31, Kentucky football will host an open house allowing fans to go behind the scenes at Kroger Field and the Joe Craft Football Training Facility on Friday, June 23.
The open house will take place from 6-10 p.m. on June 23. The event will offer exclusive access through self-guided tours of the two facilities that opened over the last two years, taking fans into premium spaces, the press box, team areas, locker room, weight room, practice field, state-of-the-art recruiting room and onto the field."
LINK: Kentucky football to host season ticket holder open house
FOUR FAVORITES
"Five-star point guard Immanuel Quickley is amid a grueling schedule. He took time to discuss his approach to travel, his recruitment and whether or not John Calipari and Kentucky have an extra advantage in his recruitment.
A strong and physical point guard, Quickley was in Italy with adidas over the weekend. After he finishes up with NBPA Top 100 this weekend he'll head to Colorado Springs to try out for USA Basketball's U19 National Team."
LINK: Five-star guard Immanuel Quickley talks about four favorites
DECISIONS, DECISIONS ... MLB DECISIONS
"There haven’t been any official announcements on players signing yet, but it’s a safe bet that every player taken in the top 10 rounds is signing a professional contract. Reks and Salow are seniors and wouldn’t impact next season’s roster anyway, but White, Mahan, Pop and Logue will likely all sign.
The big question comes with Justin Lewis. Lewis, who went 6-4 with a 3.56 ERA, was selected early in the 11th round on Wednesday. Sources in recent weeks indicated to Catsillustrated.com that Lewis, who is just a redshirt sophomore, could return to UK. However, MLB.com reported that Lewis is likely to sign with the Tampa Bay Rays. The article, written by Rays beat writer Bill Chastain, said this. ..." (read more)
BEST OF THE CAMPS
"CatsIllustrated.com had the opportunity to check out most of the many high school football players that made their way to Lexington in recent days.
Here's our list of some of the top performers of the event, bearing in mind that it would have been impossible to get an extensive look at everyone there."
LOUISVILLE'S WORST DAY
"For all the Katina Powell scandal has cost the University of Louisville, Thursday brought sanctions and more heartache from the NCAA, which aims to take the school's 2013 men's basketball championship banner too.
U of L consultant Chuck Smrt said the NCAA’s decision to force the Cardinals to vacate records from December 2010 through July 2014 could erase 108 regular-season and 15 NCAA Tournament wins, including the 2013 national title game and 2012 appearance in the Final Four.
A panel representing the NCAA Committee on Infractions imposed — among other penalties — a five-game suspension for U of L coach Rick Pitino, a four-year probation and the vacating of records for basketball games in which ineligible student-athletes participated."
LINK: Program's 2013 title is at risk by NCAA sanctions
"University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino was suspended on Thursday from his team's first five Atlantic Coast Conference games next season in an alleged sex-for-pay scandal.
Louisville said it would appeal the ruling by the NCAA, which also put the basketball program on probation for four years."
LINK: NCAA suspends Rick Pitino in escort scandal
"The saga may be far from over(Getty Images)Not a day after Chane Behanan embraced his coach as streamers fell from the Georgia Dome following Louisville’s 82–76 win over Michigan in the 2013 NCAA men’s basketball national championship game, Rick Pitino was on a flight to New Orleans."
LINK: NCAA sanctions won't end Louisville's nightmare
"Of the thousands of words delivered in the aftermath of the stinging penalties the NCAA pinned on Rick Pitino and the University of Louisville basketball program Thursday, one continues to resonate.
That word is repugnant.
It was delivered by Carol Cartwright, the chief hearing officer for the Committee on Infractions as well as the respected president emeritus at two universities.
Cartwright called the string of Louisville NCAA violations “repugnant.”"
LINK: Word that resonates in NCAA judgment: Repugnant
"They're going to take down a banner.
By God, the NCAA is going to take down a banner.
That's really the only conclusion that can be taken from Thursday's release of the NCAA report on the Louisville basketball program's strippers-and-sex scandal, right?
There were plenty of notable punishments in the report. Coach Rick Pitino is suspended for the first five ACC games of the coming season. Andre McGee, the former director of basketball operations at the vortex of the scandal, received a 10-year show cause penalty from the NCAA, which effectively will end his basketball career. Louisville's basketball program will enter into four years of probation."
"June 15, 2017, is the first time that the NCAA's Committee on Infractions has issued a public decision detailing how a university staffer paid prostitutes to perform sex acts for minors the university was recruiting. Among the details in the NCAA's finding against Louisville's men's basketball program is that former director of operations Andre McGee arranged these activities to take place in the school's majority-basketball-player dorm, Minardi Hall, and that "four of the prospects who engaged in sex acts [with prostitutes] were 17, while one other was 16." It also quotes an additional 16-year-old Louisville recruit as telling NCAA investigators the following happened after a strip-tease party at Minardi Hall ..."
LINK: NCAA case has Louisville making wrong kind of history—and likely vacating a national title
"For even more context about just how rare it is for teams to be forced to vacate national championships, consider that only one football title at the FBS level has been vacated: the 2004 BCS national championship that belonged to USC. The NCAA handed down myriad punishments after deeming that star Reggie Bush accepted improper benefits. Bush was stripped of his Heisman Trophy, 30 scholarships were docked, the school served a two-year postseason ban and its 2005 BCS national championship game appearance also was vacated."
LINK: A vacated national championship would put Louisville on history's bad side
"Why devote energy, money, the making of nachos and, yes, love to a program that had become a national punchline, top-heavy with power and riddled with misconduct?
There was only one answer: I couldn't. It was time to deprogram, to pour the red Kool-Aid down the drain. It was starting to taste a little rotten, anyway."
LINK: How a fan's love dies: Louisville basketball scandal killed the Cards for me
