March 22, (9$f
Sutton Now Beating The Recruiting Bushes
Needs Support For Chapman And Hanson
Kentucky still has not definitely decided how many of its remaining four basketball scholarships it will fill.
The Wildcats signed 6-4 Rex Chapman of Owensboro Apollo and 6-8 Reggie Hanson of Pulaski County during the early signing period in November. But that still leaves four vacancies on next year's squad.
"Obviously we need size and help inside to help replace the loss of Kenny Walker," says UK assistant coach James Dickey. "We are also looking for another guard to come in.
Larry Vaught
Cats' Pause Columnist
"We are out there looking but we just have not made a determination about who we might bring in. We're checking everyone, though, because we need some size and bulk. Unfortunately, that's what most teams are looking for, too."
What the UK coaches must decide is how improved sophomores Cedric Jenkins and Rob Lock will be next year. Both have shown signs of brilliance the last month but each has lacked consistency.
Kentucky apparently will sign 6-8 junior college player Harvey Grant. But he's considered more of a perimeter player than an inside performer.
Would Kentucky look to the junior colleges for an inside player?
"We might but we would have to decide if that junior college player could beat out Cedric and Rob after they have already been in our system a year," says Dickey. "We still have high hopes for both young men, especially if they work the way this summer that we want them to."
UK will hold a spot for 6-11 Mike Scott of Greenup County, who left Wake Forest in December. He's enrolled at Lexington Community College now. He's not playing basketball but when he becomes eligible in either January or for the 1987-88 year he has a scholarship waiting.
Kentucky originally did not plan to sign another guard after it inked Chapman to go with James Blackmon, Ed Davender and Paul Andrews. Now, though, the thinking has changed.
"When you look at how Roger Harden has played it becomes obvious that you need good guard play," says Dickey. "We don't want to be limited in case someone goes down with an injury.
"We are not looking for just a point guard or a second guard. Our guards are interchangeable. We need someone who can play both spots. Rex is a versatile player like that and with the way he jumps he could probably play forward if he had to."
Sutton leaves many cf the recruiting decisions to his assistant coaches. The UK head coach simply has too many obligations to his current team to worry about future Wildcats. But when a player signs with Sutton, he knows the coach will stand by him.
"I think players respect the fact that my first obligation is to the current players," says Sutton. "They should understand that they will need that same type attention when they get to college.
"My assistants know what type players I want but I trust their decisions. I just don't have time to get real involved in recruiting during the season."
Sutton doesn't think the loss of assistant coach Leonard Hamilton to Oklahoma State will not hurt recruiting. "No one can question Leonard's loyalty to Kentucky," says Sutton. "He will reinforce what he has told potential recruits to this point. Besides, we aren't going for numbers. We are going for quality."
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NEXT SEASON one of those quality players UK and other schools look for will be in Lexington. Sutton's son, Sean, is one of the top junior players in the Bluegrass and is a legitimate big-time player. The Henry Clay standout should be one of the candidates for Mr. Basketball honors next year and it will be hard for the UK coach to ignore this potential recruit.
The state has several talented juniors that will draw attention from college recruiters next season.
David Hogg of Owensboro has been rated the best of the junior class by some experts. Deron Feldhaus of Mason County, a rugged 6-6 inside player, and 6-6 John Pelphrey of Paintsville, are also highly regarded along with Sutton and Hogg.
Sutton has made no secret that he wants to sign quality in-state players and his staff is sure to take a close look at these four and others before next November's signing date.
A future recruit for some school will be 6-11 Jon Moore of Lincoln County in Stanford, Ky. Moore, a sophomore, grew one inch during the season and the 16-year-old eager could go over the 7-0 mark before next season.
He has already received letters from North Carolina and Nevada-Las Vegas. Others are sure to follow because he will be the tallest player in Kentucky the next two seasons.
Moore made rapid improvement during the season but still needs strength and stamina. However, he has a nice shot from the baseline and is working to develop a hook shot.
"Jon loves basketball and will work to make himself better," says Nelson Moore, Jon's father who has just completed his first season as head coach at Lincoln County.
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SUTTON WILL not look for a replacement for Hamilton until the season is over. "After the NCAA I will worry about recruiting and finding a coaching replacement in that order," says Sutton.
The UK coach won't specifically look for a black coach. He wants to hire the best coach possible instead of a "black" or "white" coach. And that's the way it should be, too.
Sutton also says it will not be mandatory for the new assistant to have ties to UK or to the state. But it would help.
That's why former Wildcat Dwane Casey, now an assistant at Western, would be perfect for the job. He is a proven recruiter and knows all about the pressure surrounding the UK program.
Casey is respected across the state and has enhanced his national reputation while at Western. His personality and work habits would fit in nicely with Sutton's beliefs, too.
Sutton says there are no front-runners for Hamilton's job. But someone should take a close look at Casey's credentials before the position is filled.
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SUTTON DID all he could do to tout Walker as college basketball's Player of the Year but not everyone has the same view as the UK coach.
"If I was picking a front line player I like Walter Berry (of St. John's)," says Louisville Coach Denny Crum. "He is dominant on both ends of the floor.
Dwane Casey
Kenny Walker
You have other great forwards like Len Bias (of Maryland) and Kenny Walker but I feel like Berry was the best.
"If I was picking a guard I'd pick Johnny Dawkins (of Duke). He can do so many different things on both ends of the court."
Most voters agreed with Crum as Berry won the recent Wooden Award and Dawkins finished in front of Walker.
The Associated Press will name its College Player of the Year during the Final Four in Dallas. The winner receives the Rupp Trophy, named in honor of former UK Coach Adolph Rupp.
UK did all it could to help Walker's chances by encouraging each Kentucky media outlet to vote. He got my vote, as did Sutton for Coach of the Year, but don't be shocked if Berry also takes this honor.
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