Tuesday's CatsIllustrated.com Newsstand will bring you up to speed on everything in the world of UK baseball, basketball and football, plus recruiting, and will make you the smartest person in any room.
Read all about UK's win over NC State and the baseball program's first trip to a super regional. Read what Jarren Williams had to say after being selected to the Elite11 and The Opening Finals. Basketball recruiting, football recruiting, and lots of links related to Bam Adebayo and De'Aaron Fox.
HISTORY MADE
"For the first time in school history, UK baseball will play in a super regional. The Wildcats beat NC State 10-5 in front of a stadium record 5,005 fans who stuck around after a 2 hour and 16 minute rain delay before the game ever started.
UK used a four-run 4th inning, a three-run 7th inning and a three-run 9th inning,along with a couple of gutsy pitching performances, to advance out of the Lexington Regional. It will face Louisville in a three-game series for a chance at the College World Series."
LINK: UK advances to first ever super regional
"In three different seasons in three different ballparks, N.C. State has held a lead in the seventh inning with a regional title in focus.
The third chance unfolded in an all-too-familiar refrain for the Wolfpack, with unearned runs, poor pitching and errors eroding N.C. State's chances and giving Kentucky a 10-5 victory and a Super Regional berth for the first time in program history.
The Wolfpack held a 5-4 lead in the seventh inning until Kentucky put up three runs apiece on only two hits in the seventh and ninth innings."
THE FIGHTER
"It's a story of mothers. There's the 20-year-old who was able to wait a year before going pro because his family could afford to, and there's the 19-year-old who needed to help his mother as soon as he could.
They were both raised by single moms. They both struggled to get by for much of their lives, and Monday, both big men were working out for the Indiana Pacers leading up to the NBA draft."
LINK: Bam Adebayo fights for the NBA like when his mother fought for him
"Everything about Edrice Adebayo explains his nickname of Bam. At 6-10 and approximately 260 pounds, Adebayo is an imposing figure out on the court. Couple his frame with his propensity for vicious dunks, and the name Bam comes rolling off the tongue. Adebayo’s strength and at times physically intimidating game is what made him the #5 recruit in the nation when he graduated high school according to ESPN. During his lone season at Kentucky, he was tasked with manning the paint for a Wildcat team that often played without another traditional big man. Despite posting impressive numbers, Bam is ranked as the 37th best prospect in the draft per Draft Express. I’m here to dispel the rumors and highlight why he should be closer to the lottery than the second round."
LINK: Bam Adebayo may be the biggest steal in this year's draft
PROSPECT LIST
"With the MLB Draft just one week away, Baseball America updated its prospects list. Several current UK players and commits were scattered amongst the 500 players ranked.
The draft will take place on June 12, meaning UK’s season could be ongoing. The Wildcats play N.C. State in the Lexington Regional final at 7 p.m. Monday night. With a victory, UK would play Louisville in a super regional this weekend. The winner of the best of three series moves onto the College World Series in Omaha, Neb."
LINK: Several current and future Wildcats make Baseball America list
SCHEDULE TAKING SHAPE
"Former Wildcat and 1996 National Champion Mark Pope Tweeted that his Utah Valley Wolverines will open the 2017-2018 season at Rupp Arena.
Pope took over the head coaching job at Utah Valley in 2015. Last season Pope put the Wolverines in postseason play, falling in the semifinals of the CBI Tournament.
Kentucky has never played Utah Valley in program history."
LINK: Kentucky adds Utah Valley and Vermont to 2017-18 non-conference schedule
WILLIAMS ON ELITE11
"Williams earned his way onto the final board on the basis of his three days of work in Los Angeles, Calif., with former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer, a team of coaches and the best high school quarterbacks in the nation.
He's just one of 11 quarterbacks who received the distinguished honor, and the recognition earns Williams a ticket to The Opening Finals in Beaverton, Oreg., for an event that spans the end of July and the beginning of August."
LINK: Jarren Williams goes in-depth with CatsIllustrated.com about Elite11
INSIDER NOTES
"The Monday Insider Notes will focus on John Calipari's USA U19, the freshmen arriving to campus and the 2018 class.
Discuss of the Monday Inside Notes at House of Blue."
LINK: Insider Notes: USA U19, freshmen invade Lexington and 2018
THE WAR ROOM (6/5)
Keaton Upshaw's situation and upcoming camp, what it means for fellow tight end prospect Leonard Taylor and where things stand with wide receiver commitment Shocky Jacques-Louis, who visits Tennessee on Tuesday.
That and much more in Monday's War Room.
LINK: The War Room! (6/5): Camps approaching, Elite11 postmortem, prospect updates
HOLDING STRONG
"De’Aaron Fox liked accounting class in high school in Cypress, Texas, has a mind for business, wants to start a gaming channel, is a Kevin Garnett fan and appreciates Russell Westbrook in particular among fellow point guards. He listens to classical music, especially Beethoven, and a couple years ago taught himself piano with an electric keyboard at home and YouTube videos. He decided he wanted to learn an instrument and chose between drums and piano. Guitar was not an option."
LINK: Speedy point guard De'Aaron Fox stays high on boards as 2017 Draft nears
"As this year’s draft is nearing, teams who have top picks are now busy working out prospects who they are looking to select in the lottery. One of them are the Sacramento Kings, who own the fifth and 10th pick, and are looking to bring in more young, talented players to add to their core."
LINK: De'Aaron Fox visits Kings for possible workout
"The 76ers are scheduled to work out former Kentucky point guard De’Aaron Fox next week, according to NBA.com.
He is a candidate to be selected by the team with the third-overall pick in the June 22 NBA draft. Fox worked out for the Sacramento Kings on Monday. NBA.com reported that he’ll work out for the Phoenix Suns later this week before heading to the Los Angeles Lakers and Sixers next week."
LINK: Fox scheduled to work out with Sixers
"The 76ers worked out six prospects during Monday's predraft workout who could be second-round candidates or free-agent acquisitions.
However, their being at the team's practice facility was a sidebar. Most of the focus centered around the team's options with the third-overall pick in the June 22 NBA draft."
