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Sporting News, The, Nov 8, 2004 by Roger Kuznia
The buzz surrounding Kentucky is focused on four talented freshmen--big man Randolph Morris and guards Joe Crawford, Rajon Rondo and Ramel Bradley. But another newcomer might be the most important addition of all.
Wildcats fans should remember Patrick Sparks. If not, they'll at least remember his first college game. He was part of the Western Kentucky team that stunned Rupp Arena with an upset win in 2001.
Now, after sitting out last season as a transfer, Sparks is going from being the man at one basketball-crazed Kentucky school to being an important piece at the basketball-crazed Kentucky school. All the Wildcats are asking him to do is assume a starting backcourt role on a team that was a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and lost its starting guards. He gives Tubby Smith the comfort of having a veteran backcourt presence on a roster that will feature plenty of young players learning on the job.
"He plays for his teammates, and he plays to win," says Georgia coach Dennis Felton, who coached Sparks at Western. "He follows that up with being outspoken and very knowledgeable about the game and how to go about finding a way to win each game. And he shares that with his teammates."
Sparks' role likely will change depending on which freshmen are on the floor. Besides playing the point, he could be used as a combo or a shooting guard. It won't matter to Sparks. He just wants to win in his new Kentucky home.
Other key transfers Player, position Old school New school Tony Bethel, SG Georgetown N.C. State Sharif Chambliss, PG Penn State Wisconsin Dan Coleman, PF Boston College Minnesota Brandon Cotton, PG Michigan State Detroit Adam Haluska, SG Iowa State Iowa Dennis Latimore, PF Arizona Notre Dame Ed Nelson, PF Georgia Tech Connecticut Mike Thompson, C Duke Northwestern Brian Thornton, PF Vanderbilt Xavier
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