Lexington Herald Leader Logo

UK recruits take wait-and-see approach | Lexington Herald Leader

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • All News
    • Business
    • Communities
    • Counties
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Lexington
    • Local
    • Most Wanted
    • Nation/World
    • News Photos
    • News Videos
    • Politics
    • Searchable Databases
    • State
    • Watchdog
    • Columns
    • Tom Eblen
    • All Sports
    • UK Sports
    • College Sports
    • Next Cats Recruiting
    • High School
    • Horses
    • Kentucky Speedway
    • Lexington Legends
    • Reds
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • NASCAR
    • NFL
    • Sports Photos
    • Sports Videos
    • Columns
    • John Clay's Columns
    • Mark Story
    • Next Cats Recruiting
    • All UK Sports
    • Next Cats Recruiting
    • Baseball
    • Basketball - Men
    • Basketball - Women
    • Recruiting
    • Ex-Cats
    • Football
    • UK Photos
    • UK Videos
    • More UK Sports
    • Columns
    • John Clay's Blog
    • Mark Story
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • All Entertainment
    • Books
    • Celebrities
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Events Calendar
    • Horoscopes
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Restaurants
    • Stage & Dance
    • TV
    • Visual Arts
    • Entertainment Photos
    • Entertainment Videos
    • News Blogs
    • Kentucky Weather
    • Photo Archive
    • Sports Blogs
    • John Clay's Blog
    • High School
    • UK Football
    • UK Men's Basketball
    • UK Women's Basketball
    • Lexington Legends
    • Entertainment Blogs
    • Walter Tunis on Music
    • All Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Joel Pett
    • Letters to the Editor
    • National Columnists
    • Op-Ed
    • Submit a Letter
    • All Living
    • Celebrations
    • Family
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Fru-Gal: Deb Morris
    • Health & Medicine
    • Home & Garden
    • Paul Prather
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Readers' Choice
    • Kentucky Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Customer Service
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • E-edition
    • Page Reprints
    • Photo Reprints
    • RSS Feeds
    • Special Sections
    • Site Information
    • Advertise With Us
    • Archives
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Apps & eReaders
    • Newsletters
    • Social
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Google+
    • Today's Circulars
    • Classifieds
    • Jobs
    • Cars
    • Homes
    • Homeseller
    • Legal Notices
  • Place an Ad
  • Mobile & Apps

UK Men's Basketball

UK recruits take wait-and-see approach

By Mike Fields - mfields@herald-leader.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

March 28, 2009 12:00 AM

Billy Gillispie's dismissal as Kentucky's basketball coach on Friday drew similar reactions from the Cats' recruits and their families.

They're disappointed but not surprised that Gillispie was fired, and they're now in wait-and-see mode as UK searches for a new coach.

Recruits Jon Hood of Madisonville, Daniel Orton of Oklahoma City and G.J. Vilarino of McKinney, Texas, who make up UK's 2009 recruiting class, have already signed with the Cats. Junior college guard Konner Tucker has committed to the Cats for 2009.

Brian Hood, Jon's father, said he and his son had talked for a few days about the possibility of Gillispie being fired.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Lexington Herald-Leader

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

"There's really nothing to say until his replacement is named," Brian Hood said.

When Larry Orton was asked if his son was still firmly committed to UK, he said, "We've just gotta wait and see what happens. There's nothing else you can do."

Gerry Vilarino, G.J.'s dad, said rumors about Gillispie's job security dulled the impact of Friday's firing, but not the "sadness we feel because we'd developed a relationship with Coach G's staff. They've become part of the family, so when something bad happens to them, we feel it.

"Unfortunately, these things are part of the basketball game."

But G.J.'s dad said his son is still committed to the Cats.

"He's grown so close to the UK program over the last few years. I'd be surprised if G.J. would want to be anything but a Wildcat."

The father of point guard K.C. Ross-Miller, who is in the Class of 2010, said his son's status as a UK recruit is tenuous.

"It depends on who's coming in as coach, and whether or not they want K.C.," Tim Miller said. "As of today, we're open. We can't say we're committed (to UK) because we don't know who the coach is.

"K.C. still wants to go to Kentucky if the situation is right. But if (the new coach) brings in some top point guard who'll be there the next four years, there's no reason for K.C. to be there."

Miller is in the same recruiting class as Dominique Ferguson of Indianapolis and Dakotah Euton of Scott County. Neither of them could be reached for comment.

Vinny Zollo of Clark County, who is in the Class of 2011, said that while Gillispie's dismissal was "very upsetting," he is in a favorable situation as a recruit.

"The advantage is mine," Zollo said. "Being an underclassman, I have a lot of time before I sign anything.

"I need to sit back and consider my options. There's no rush. We'll see what happens with a new coach, and go from there."

That's the same approach Michael Avery and his family will take.

Avery, who is from Lake Sherwood, Calif., drew national attention last spring when as an eighth-grader he accepted a scholarship offer from Gillispie.

"Michael has an advantage of being young enough, in the Class of 2012, that he's got plenty of time," said his father, Howard Avery.

"We have a commitment from (UK), and they have one from us. We'll certainly go through a process where we meet and talk with the athletic director and whoever the new coach is.

"At the end of the day you want to be someplace where you're wanted, and someplace you want to be."

As for Gillispie's successor, Gerry Vilarino said, "I'm assuming it being Kentucky, they'll find the right guy who'll get the program to where everybody in Kentucky wants it to be — the best program in the country."

Tim Miller said he hopes the next UK coach plays a trapping, pressing style.

"What I was seeing the last couple years wasn't Kentucky basketball," Miller said. "It looked more like Texas A&M basketball.

"That's nothing negative against Coach Gillispie. He just didn't have the personnel up there to run it."

Related stories from Lexington Herald Leader

latest-news

Fans are left with an empty feeling

March 28, 2009 12:00 AM

latest-news

Billy Gillispie's memorandum of understanding with UK

March 24, 2009 03:00 PM

mark-story

The ultimate job evaluation

March 28, 2009 12:00 AM

uk-basketball-men

Gillispie buyout might ruffle feathers at UK, beyond

March 27, 2009 12:00 AM

john-clay

UK right to quickly correct this mistake

March 28, 2009 12:00 AM

uk-basketball-men

National buzz is all about Billy

March 28, 2009 12:00 AM

  Comments  

Videos

John Calipari discusses Reid Travis’ injury

Photo slideshow: Kentucky basketball defeats Missouri 66-58

View More Video

Trending Stories

In ‘really good spirits,’ Kentucky’s Travis sets target date for return

February 21, 2019 05:51 PM

9 things Kentucky teachers should know about the educator-proposed pension plan

February 21, 2019 12:44 PM

‘Top Chef’ Kentucky’s Graham Elliot is in town and you’ll never guess where he ate.

February 21, 2019 12:14 PM

Many Kentucky houseboat owners aren’t paying their taxes. This would make them.

February 21, 2019 10:04 AM

European basketball recruit offers another intriguing option for Kentucky next season

February 21, 2019 06:05 PM

Read Next

European basketball recruit offers another intriguing option for Kentucky next season

UK Recruiting

European basketball recruit offers another intriguing option for Kentucky next season

By Ben Roberts

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 21, 2019 06:05 PM

UK continues to search for possible basketball recruits to fill out its 2019 recruiting class, and the latest name to pop up on John Calipari’s radar is Tristan Enaruna, a Netherlands native. Duke is also involved.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Lexington Herald-Leader

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE UK MEN'S BASKETBALL

Is Indiana ever going to get its basketball program fixed?

Mark Story

Is Indiana ever going to get its basketball program fixed?

February 21, 2019 05:58 PM
In ‘really good spirits,’ Kentucky’s Travis sets target date for return

UK Men's Basketball

In ‘really good spirits,’ Kentucky’s Travis sets target date for return

February 21, 2019 05:51 PM
How UK could add more guards to its 2019 recruiting class (and a Keion Brooks update)

UK Recruiting

How UK could add more guards to its 2019 recruiting class (and a Keion Brooks update)

February 20, 2019 10:23 AM
‘It makes us all nervous.’ Travis to miss at least 2 weeks after MRI results revealed.

UK Men's Basketball

‘It makes us all nervous.’ Travis to miss at least 2 weeks after MRI results revealed.

February 20, 2019 07:53 PM
For Kentucky, one player’s injury could be a duo’s opportunity

John Clay

For Kentucky, one player’s injury could be a duo’s opportunity

February 20, 2019 11:51 AM
Friendly exchange precedes fierce exchange as Kentucky survives at Missouri

UK Men's Basketball

Friendly exchange precedes fierce exchange as Kentucky survives at Missouri

February 20, 2019 12:44 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Lexington Herald Leader App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Place a Classified Ad
  • Local Deals
  • Digital Solutions
  • Media Kit
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story