It's a bit early to panic but the pressure is on the UK

Sporting News, The, July 17, 2000 by Mike DeCourcy

Kentucky's Tubby Smith spent the recruiting period last July observing some of the most startling talent any coach could hope to behold, but none of the members of the U.S. Senior National Team was eligible to play for the Wildcats. It's likely most UK fans would rather see their coach dealing with the next Gary Payton than the original.

Smith is part of the U.S. Olympic coaching staff, an honor few would decline but one that does not come without a price, including extensive travel and detachment from essential duties.

Whether Smith's infrequent appearances on the recruiting road last July contributed to a decline in the quality of UK's haul is immaterial. What's important as this summer's scouting period enters its second week is what he does with the class scheduled to arrive in 2001. This is a huge recruiting year for Kentucky, perhaps more so for Smith.

Coaching that has resulted in a 10-2 NCAA Tournament record, one national title and two Southeastern Conference titles at Kentucky has been beyond reproach, but the recruiting work of Smith and his staff can legitimately be questioned. Fortunately, Olympic training doesn't start until August, so Smith is out in his UK golf shirt searching for the next generation of Wildcats.

With Saul Smith entering his senior season, Kentucky needs a point guard and is among those in pursuit of Houston's gifted T.J. Ford and versatile Ben Gordon of Mt. Vernon, N.Y. At shooting guard, the Wildcats long have coveted Rashaad Carruth of Oak Hill Academy but also are looking at Daniel Ewing, Ford's high school teammate.

Up front, the Wildcats are watching Nashville's 6-10 David Harrison, Louisville's 6-9 Brandon Bender, Chicago's 6-7 Najeeb Echols, Oakland's 6-9 Demarshay Johnson and 7-foot DeSagana Diop of Oak Hill (Va.) Academy.

Talk about a dream team.

There has been considerable misfortune with Kentucky's recent recruiting, most notably the death of center John Stewart in the spring of 1999. UK also lost a year from power forward Marquis Estill because of knee surgeries and rescinded a scholarship to center Michael Southall after his arrest on drug charges this spring.

However, the greatest needs last year were another option at point guard and a scorer at small forward, preferably one with shooting range. UK's results ranked only 50th according to PrepStars.com. Smith told the Lexington Herald-Leader he knows more about talent than the analysts; he's right on that, but it doesn't mean they're wrong.

Had recruiting gone as scripted the past two seasons, UK would not have been cruising for leftovers in April and early May. This year, they signed unknown shooting guard Gerald Fitch in April, wing Corey Sears in June and wing Erik Daniels as consolation prize after McDonald's All-American Darius Rice strung them along.

After not signing a point guard two seasons ago, Smith said he preferred the talent available in last year's senior class. The Wildcats became convinced they were a factor with Louisiana's Chris Duhon but finished second to Duke--just as several analysts predicted last July. UK wound up with Oak Hill's Cliff Hawkins, most highly regarded as a defender.

"There were indications a couple weeks before Chris committed to Duke last year that Kentucky was right there," says analyst Dave Telep of Rivals.com. "It's hard to back off a kid like that when that's the kind of thing you're hearing. If they could do it all over again, they might have worked the second tier of first-tier guys a little harder--the Andre Barretts and Omar Cooks."

In Smith's first three full classes, Kentucky added three McDonald's All-Americans: wings Keith Bogans and Tayshaun Prince and center Marvin Stone. They are players around whom a coach can build a program, and 6-11 Jules Camara is an energetic, athletic big man who could make the difference in a national title run.

However, each player could be entering his last season with the Wildcats, depending on how the season develops. They all need to make progress with conditioning and skills. (Although that didn't prevent Ohio State's Michael Redd from cliff diving into the second round of the NBA draft.)

"I think this year will be a very telling year," Telep says. "By Kentucky's standards, last year's class was not where it needs to be. But before anyone goes pulling any panic buttons, we've got to see what they come up with this year in what is a deep and talented class."

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