NEWSSTAND (8/3): Bam & Monk return, camp continues, staff addition, more
In today's CatsIllustrated.com Newsstand readers can get the latest on four-star cornerback Stanley Garner's plans for a decision, what happened at preseason football camp yesterday and more content from Kentucky's recent media day event.
Phil Hoskins' health situation, Dorian Baker's take on the receivers, Jordan Griffin and Quinton Bohanna.
Plus, the Mitchell Robinson situation and Bam Adebayo and Malik Monk returned to Kentucky.
CONTINUITY AND CHANGE
This isn’t Dorian Baker’s first rodeo. It may seem like only yesterday when Baker arrived at Kentucky as a chiseled, athletic phenom. But this is his fourth fall camp.
There are reasons to believe Baker could be poised for his best season yet, but time will tell on that. Baker is focused on getting himself ready, but he told reporters this week that he’s excited about what he’s seen from the program’s younger receivers.
Continuity and change. They're different concepts, but they're reasons Dorian Baker is bullish on his receiving corps.
LINK: Dorian Baker says continuity and change will help receiving corps
GIVING BACK TO MOM
Malik Monk wants you to know he did the “normal thing” new millionaires do for their mothers.
“I bought my mom a car and a house,” Monk said, repeatedly saying it was normal to do that. Bam Adebayo on the other hand took his mother out to eat.
“I took my mom to Cheesecake Factory,” Adebayo said. “She ain’t really want nothing so I took her to Cheesecake.”
LINK: Raised by single moms, Adebayo and Monk give back for their sacrifices
STAFF ADDITION
Early this week news broke that Kentucky had added former Tennessee defensive coordinator John Jancek as a defensive analyst.
Now multiple sources tell CatsIllustrated.com that Mark Stoops' program has also hired a new offensive analyst.
LINK: Sources tell CatsIllustrated.com another analyst has been added to Stoops' staff
PHOTO GALLERY
Here's a third CatsIllustrated.com photo gallery exclusively for members of the site.
DOING THEIR PART
It seems like only yesterday when Kentucky was starting a pair of freshmen at cornerback in the SEC. Sure, very tall, physically impressive freshmen. But freshmen.
Fast-forward two years and both Chris Westry and Derrick Baity are experienced and taking new and younger players under their wing to show them the ropes.
S&C IMPACT
Kentucky's strength program has been profiled extensively here at CatsIllustrated.comwith recent content on coaches Corey Edmond and Mark Hill.
On Sunday, we had a chance to ask plenty of players about the impact of the strength program on their physical development and maturation in the offseason, particularly some of the younger players who are just now getting a taste of that program.
Here's what they had to say.
LINK: What impact is the strength program making for the freshmen?
DECISION DATE
Stanley Garner is one of the top recruits on Kentucky's board for the Class of 2018 and the four-star prospect has now set a decision date.
Garner announced via Twitter on Tuesday that he will be making his college decision public on August 16th.
LINK: Four-star cornerback Stanley Garner sets decision date
ROBINSON FREE
It was announced on Tuesday that five-star center Mitchell Robinson would be allowed to transfer from Western Kentucky.
Hilltoppers head coach Rick Stansbury said Robinson would be free to transfer to any school outside of Conference USA. However, the 7-foot, 220-pound Louisiana native would need a waiver by the NCAA to play this upcoming basketball season. Robinson was enrolled at WKU for two weeks before mysteriously leaving last week.
PRACTICE REPORT
Day 4 of fall camp is in the books for the UK football team. Here are the key notes from today’s practice.
SETTING EXPECTATIONS
Kentucky signed another impressive recruiting class with a strong national ranking earlier this year, and now almost that entire group is on campus and enrolled.
CatsIllustrated.com spoke with several members of the new freshman class and let them talk about their expectations for their first year at Kentucky.
LINK: Freshmen talk about expectations for first year at Kentucky
TAKING NOTHING FOR GRANTED
Darius West has gone through some adversity. The former highly-ranked recruit has found it nearly impossible to stay on the field for any length of time at Kentucky, but that's just to this point.
West keeps bouncing back, he's still optimistic about the future and he told CatsIllustrated.com that his injury issues have made it impossible to take football for granted.
LINK: Darius West says injuries have made him appreciate the game more
PERFECT LEADER?
Know this about Jordan Griffin: He couldn’t be interviewed for this story because he was headed to class right after practice on Wednesday morning.
It’s pretty much all you need to know about the Kentucky defensive back, who played in eight games last season, mostly on special teams.
LINK: Has Kentucky football found the ‘perfect person’ to lead its secondary?
P.A. TRYOUTS
The University of Kentucky’s soccer complex was no place for the skittish Wednesday night. UK tested nerves by holding high-volume tryouts there for would-be public address announcers.
LINK: Shout! Shout! Let it all out! UK holds high-volume tryouts for P.A. announcers
NATIONAL TEAM
Former University of Kentucky star and current WNBA Dallas Wings forward Evelyn Akhator has been named to the Nigerian National Team and will train and compete for her home country over the next month in the upcoming AfroBasket Tournament in Mali.
ON TRACK
He kept hearing that he would not be ready to play when Kentucky’s season opened after having offseason surgery on both shoulders.
Junior college transfer Phil Hoskins never quit believing. He was convinced he would not only be on campus, but would be ready to help UK’s defensive front Sept. 2 when the Cats open the season.
TICKETS FOR ROGER
Kentucky football held a clever marketing stunt that brought more than a few ‘Rogers’ to Kroger Field on Wednesday morning.