Juco Darnell Dodson signs with UK

Forward follows Calipari from Memphis

Herald-Leader Staff Report

Junior-college player Darnell Dodson has signed to play basketball with the University of Kentucky, Coach John Calipari announced on Friday.

Dodson, originally from Greenbelt, Md., attended Miami Dade Community College last season, where he helped guide the Sharks to a Southern Conference Championship and a 26-2 regular-season record.

The 6-foot-7 All-Southern Conference small forward averaged 15.7 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 76.7 percent from free-throw line.

When Dodson was a high school senior, Prep Stars rated him as a top-100 national prospect.

New UK assistant Orlando Antigua originally recruited Dodson for Pittsburgh.

Dodson was enrolled and taking classes at Pitt during the summer and fall of 2007 before it was determined he was ineligible due to NCAA Clearinghouse issues. He transferred to Miami Dade in October 2007.

Dodson wanted to return to Pitt, but Big East rules prevented his return. So he went to Miami Dade.

Dodson committed to Memphis after a visit last October. After Calipari moved to Kentucky, Dodson re-opened his recruitment.

Dodson joins DeMarcus Cousins (Mobile, Ala.), Kentucky Mr. Basketball Jon Hood (Madisonville) and Daniel Orton (Oklahoma City, Okla.) as members of UK's 2009 signing class.

The late signing period runs from April 15 through May 20.