Wildcats Lyles, Young Featured in NBA Utah Summer League

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Former Kentucky men’s basketball players Trey Lyles and James Young will play in the NBA’s Utah Summer League, which begins Monday and runs through Thursday.

Lyles (2015) will play for the Utah Jazz while Young (2014) will suit up for the Boston Celtics for a third season.

Former Wildcats Aaron Harrison (Charlotte Hornets), Dakari Johnson (Oklahoma City Thunder), Alex Poythress (Orlando Magic Blue) and Marquis Teague (Dallas Mavericks) are currently playing in the NBA Orlando Summer League, which began Saturday. All four were in action on the first day:  Read more... (212 words, estimated 51 secs reading time)

  • Teague – 13 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals

Hinshaw expects Women’s Clinic to be fun for everyone

Darin Hinshaw (Vicky Graff Photo)

Darin Hinshaw (Vicky Graff Photo)

By LARRY VAUGHT

The annual Kentucky Football Women’s Clinic will be July 23 at Commonwealth Stadium and new quarterbacks coach Darin  Hinshaw expects it to be an entertaining day.

“We have done women’s clinics about everywhere we have been,” said Hinshaw, who came to UK from Cincinnati. “They like to see players dressed in tight uniforms. Not the coaches, but the players. And the players always seem to have more fun than the women.”

Hinshaw said players are often surprised that women are so knowledgeable about football.  Read more... (183 words, 1 image, estimated 44 secs reading time)

UKTF Long Jumper Sha’Keela Saunders Comes Narrowly Close to U.S. Olympic Team

OHtTZBZVNltOx3ezxtvh8rMd2G5HNjBvCj-Np2iGi-wwDzZN4qcW-09wUMroxP8pw9X3fYR5mwbxBmpXqglfr31rWZQ11Ih4EbEaO9r49FFYhfQigQ34PQSN1AUJQBTZftyGmWt5lM5w43gLtccMfVgiB1nvPWFXvOY=s0-d-e1-ftEUGENE, Ore. –  Junior Sha’Keela Saunders came agonizingly close to claiming an Olympic berth on Team USA, placing fourth – one spot off the team – at the United States Olympic Team Trials on Saturday at Oregon’s Hayward Field.

One inch and three quarters separated Saunders from a place on what is widely considered the toughest team to make in sports.

Saunders put together the best field series of her life on Saturday. The college junior turned the four farthest jumps of her life on the biggest stage against some of the world’s best.  Read more... (443 words, 1 image, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)

Saunders and Hackworth Advance in Long Jump on Day One at U.S. Olympic Trials

ppC5rbdBgdQCnqGPaHFIccT9BJTkJ8xupTTgVSX8F6fbW6Rl-grsrVreU6uh6DIM2LnlPwm1bQkNHrC7FCTUKUyhLrywcrxTCFxwt88pNl5NmtDvOdCLkwPcz-4PWCuc0xsyuT_XF38epVb3Qlcpx0Ab-G7NWZNz2WCoP3DW=s0-d-e1-ftEUGENE, Ore. – Kentucky track and field’s Sha’Keela Saunders and Kenyattia Hackworth both advanced in the long jump to start the Wildcats’ 2016 United States Olympic Team Trials campaign off strong on Friday before 20,987 at Oregon’s Hayward Field.

They will be among the 12 who contest the long jump final at 2:45 p.m. ET on Saturday. The top-three finishers will qualify for Team USA.

Saturday’s action will be broadcast on NBC. The early-going of the completion will be shown on NBC Sports Live Extra.  Read more... (366 words, 1 image, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

UKTF Alumna Leah Nugent Qualifies for Olympic 400H at Jamaica Trials

KINGSTON, JAMAICA. –  Leah Nugent made the Jamaican Olympic Team on Friday night, placing second in the 400-meter hurdles final with a personal best time of 55.44 at the Jamaica National Stadium.

The UK class of 2015 alumna trains in Lexington under head coach Edrick Floréal’s direction.

Nugent was NCAA Bronze Medalist in the 400m hurdles in 2015, behind Shamier Little – who would go on to medal in that event at the IAAF World Championships later that summer – and teammate Keni Harrison.  Read more... (195 words, estimated 47 secs reading time)

Move to UK an opportunity, not a gamble for Eddie Gran

Eddie Gran

Eddie Gran

By LARRY VAUGHT

Did you ever wonder why offensive coordinator Edd Gran left Cincinnati, where he had one of the nation’s most productive offenses and all kinds of job security, to come to Kentucky?

The Kentucky offense has struggled. Coach Mark Stoops has yet to have a winning season. The Southeastern Conference has some of the nation’s best teams.

So I asked Gran why he left and if the move was a career gamble for him.

“It doesn’t matter where you are at in this profession. It was the right time to be with a great man in Mark Stoops,” Gran said.  Read more... (179 words, 1 image, estimated 43 secs reading time)

Four Wildcats to Participate in NBA Orlando Pro Summer League

Alex Poythress (Vicky Graff Photo)

Alex Poythress (Vicky Graff Photo)

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Former Kentucky men’s basketball players Aaron Harrison, Dakari Johnson, Alex Poythress and Marquis Teague will play in the NBA’s Orlando Pro Summer League.

Harrison (2014-15) will play for the Charlotte Hornets, Johnson (2014-15) will suit up the Oklahoma City Thunder, Poythress (2013-16) will join the Orlando Magic Blue team and Teague (2012) will play for the Dallas Mavericks.

The Orlando league will be one week, spanning 25 games. The games begin Saturday.

Summer league rosters for the Utah league (July 4-7) and the Las Vegas league (July 8-18) will be announced at a later time.   Read more... (231 words, 1 image, estimated 55 secs reading time)

Todd Guilliams joins Kentucky baseball staff

Guilliams

Todd Guilliams

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Todd Guilliams, who has an extensive history of coaching outstanding hitters during his career, has joined the Kentucky baseball staff, head coach Nick Mingione announced Wednesday.

“Coach Guilliams has coached at the collegiate level for 28 seasons and has been a part of every facet of baseball – coaching catchers, infielders, outfielders, hitters and calling pitches,” Mingione said. “His overall wealth of knowledge will be invaluable.

“I’ve known Coach Guilliams since he began recruiting me in 1995. He’s a faithful man, a family man. He’s been a winner everywhere he’s been, he’s a developer of players and, even more important, a developer of men.  Read more... (1242 words, 1 image, estimated 4:58 mins reading time)

UK Track and Field Set for United States Olympic Team Trials

EUGENE, Ore. – Kentucky track and field will be well represented at the United States 2016 Olympic Team Trials, which will take place July 1-11 in Eugene, Oregon.

Weekend Breakdown

Three Wildcats – Beckie Famurewa, Kenyattia Hackworth and Sha’Keela Saunders – are entered to begin qualifying in field events on Friday evening. 

The women’s long jump starts at 7:50 p.m. ET. The women’s long jump begins at 8:10 p.m. ET.

NBC’s family of networks will broadcast the 10-day trials. On Friday the early going from 7-9 p.m. ET will be shown on NBC Sports Live Extra (online and app), and then NBC will show the competition from 9-10 p.m.  Read more... (632 words, estimated 2:32 mins reading time)

Calipari glad to have three point guards again

Malik Monk

Malik Monk

By LARRY VAUGHT

Kentucky’s first summer basketball practice resulted in high praise for freshmen guards Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox.

One, or both, will have to try and run the team like Tyler Ulis did  last year. So take a look back at the recent comments coach John Calipari had when asked about advice he would give to anyone trying to fill Ulis’ shoes:

“You’re not filling his shoes. This is a totally different team,” Calipari said. “But De’Aaron Fox is really good. Malik  is really good. With Dom and Isaiah,  again you have three point guards. We had three point guards last year. That’s why we became the most efficient team in college basketball on offense.  Read more... (245 words, 1 image, estimated 59 secs reading time)