Will youth sports guidelines in Kentucky hurt baseball/softball development?

By LARRY VAUGHT

The guidance for youth sports and athletic events issued by Governor Andy Beshear and his staff seemed to indicate there could be hope for a high school fall sports season.

However, not everyone was pleased with how the guidelines read and it was more than high school coaches who had been hoping for me.

I have a friend in western Kentucky who was not happy at all with the restrictions still on baseball and softball, two sports that both have elite travel league teams in summer months that often can lead to college scholarship offers.  Read more... (479 words, estimated 1:55 mins reading time)

With Jonathan Kuminga including G-League option, will he remain recruiting target for John Calipari?

By LARRY VAUGHT

Welcome to the new world of college basketball recruiting.

Jonathan Kuminga, the top rated player in the 2021 recruiting class, narrowed his college options for next year Kentucky, Duke, Auburn and Texas Tech. But he also included possibly going to the NBA G-League as an option.

Remember just recently three players — Jalen Green, Dashien Nix and Isaiah Todd — all opted not to play college basketball next year and signed lucrative G-League contract. Kentucky offered both Green and Todd and Nix wanted a scholarship offer but never got one.  Read more... (286 words, estimated 1:09 mins reading time)

UK signee Isaiah Jackson’s athleticism impresses Fox Sports writer Aaron Torres

Isaiah Jackson (Waterford Mott Photo)

By LARRY VAUGHT

Because he had not seen Kentucky signee Isaiah Jackson play in person like he had most of this year’s top college basketball recruits, Aaron Torres of Fox Sports took time recently to study film of the 6-9 Jackson.

“I’ve seen BJ Boston multiple times, Devin Askew multiple times, Terrence Clarke, on and on. So I just wanted to pull up a little tape to better familiarize myself with his game — and wow was I was impressed,” Torres said. “He isn’t super skilled, but has the athleticism of few high school big guys I can remember.  Read more... (469 words, 1 image, estimated 1:53 mins reading time)

Emma King knew freshman year at UK would be hard — but it was even harder than she ever imagined

Emma King found out older, stronger players could bully her with their strength. (Vicky Graff Photo)

By LARRY VAUGHT

She scored over 2,500 points and had 750 rebounds in her high school career at Lincoln County and was nearly a 40 percent shooter from 3-point range.

Yet Emma King played in just 15 games her freshman season at Kentucky, scored only 21 points after averaging 18.5 points per game her final high school season and had just four 3-pointers all season.

So was she not as good as she thought or was Southeastern Conference play just tougher than she expected?  Read more... (385 words, 1 image, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)

Reggie Hanson still remembers his mom telling UK coaches during home visit about time he snuck out to attend party

It has been almost 30 years since Reggie Hanson played at UK but fans still remember him well. (Larry Vaught Photo)

By LARRY VAUGHT

It was about 33 years ago that Reggie Hanson decided to come to Kentucky to play basketball for then coach Eddie Sutton.

He eventually played in 101 games in four seasons and scored 1,167 points. He finished his career averaging 11.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Hanson grew up in North Carolina before moving to Pulaski County and admits her grew up a North Carolina fan before Sutton and assistants Leonard Hamilton and James Dickey convinced him to sign with the Wildcats.  Read more... (331 words, 1 image, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)

Guidelines released for football to start resuming workouts in Kentucky

Somerset quarterback Kaiya Sheron  could be back working out with teammates on a limited basis June 15 possibly. (Melissa Sheron Photo)

By LARRY VAUGHT

Here are the guidance/timeline for youth sports and athletic activities that will pertain to football — Gov. Andy Beshear and his staff released a long list of information pertaining to a lot of sports — beginning June 15.  Read more... (459 words, 1 image, estimated 1:50 mins reading time)

UK linebacker Chris Oats hospitalized in Cincinnati

Junior linebacker Chris Oats has played in 25 games the last two years but is now hospitalized in Cincinnati. (Vicky Graff Photo)

By LARRY VAUGHT

Junior linebacker Chris Oats had played in 25 games his first two years at Kentucky and made 46 tackles in 2019 and 27 in 2018.

His experience and speed figured to be even more prominent for the Kentucky defense this season. However, Oats is now in the hospital in his hometown of Cincinnati with a serious medical issue.  Read more... (263 words, 1 image, estimated 1:03 mins reading time)

SEC to permit voluntary athletics activity resuming on June 8

Drake Jackson and other UK athletes could resume workouts June 8 if allowed by UK.  (Photo by Britney Howard/UK Athletics)

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama  — Voluntary in-person athletics activities may resume on Southeastern Conference campuses, at the discretion of each university, beginning June 8 under strict supervision of designated university personnel and safety guidelines developed by each institution, the SEC announced Friday.  Read more... (819 words, 1 image, estimated 3:17 mins reading time)

“Super senior” Autumn Humes was prepared never to play softball again

Autumn Humes. (Vicky Graff Photo)

By LARRY VAUGHT

Once she decided to take advantage of a NCAA waiver to return to Kentucky for another softball season after COVID-19 halted play in March, Autumn Humes has been telling her family she is a “super senior” because she will go through a senior season again — something UK’s other three seniors off the 2020 team decided not to do.  Read more... (429 words, 1 image, estimated 1:43 mins reading time)

Quinton Bohanna, Marquan McCall being counted on to build Big Blue Wall on UK defense

Quinton Bohanna (95) could be a star for UK’s defense. (Vicky Graff Photo)

By LARRY VAUGHT

When former Kentucky football player Anwar Stewart returned to UK to complete his degree in 2017, he was a student assistant coach for coach Mark Stoops. After graduation, he was hired as an analyst for the football program.

“I helped with whatever the defense needed me to do to help,” Stewart said. “I would give scouting reports and how to attack offenses.”

During his two years at UK, he watched the maturation of All-American Josh Allen, who had a terrific rookie season with Jacksonville in 2019.  Read more... (485 words, 2 images, estimated 1:56 mins reading time)