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Ellis decides best move is to transfer
The Cats' Pause
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by TCP associate editor Nick Nicholas
Last year's leading scorer for the Kentucky Wildcats, LeRon Ellis, announced that he will transfer. Ellis' decision came the Monday following the sanctions issued against UK's basketball program. It was the two-year ban on postseason play which convinced Ellis to move on.
"My career would really be curtailed seeing as we have no preseason or postseason," Ellis said to reporters outside Wildcat Lodge. "To be penalized that severely for something I had nothing to do with, after all I went through this past year and all the team went through, is a lot to ask somebody to stay."
Even the possibility of playing for Rick Pitino couldn't sway Ellis, a junior-to-be, to remain a Wildcat.
Kentucky athletics director CM. Newton backed Ellis' decision.
"LeRon and I have had several discussions on this matter," Newton said in a release. "As a result of the two-year penalty on postseason
CM. Newton supports center's reason to go
play, I not only understand his reason for making the decision to transfer, but support that decision. We have agreed to release LeRon to the school of his choice."
At this writing Syracuse, St. John's, Arizona and Nevada Las Vegas were the schools Ellis was leaning toward. And because UK has been banned from postseason for two years Ellis will not have to sit out a season, the traditional rule transfers must follow.
"LeRon knows that he was wanted by the university," added Newton, "and to say that he will be missed would be an understatement. However, every one here understands his reasons for transferring and we wish him every success at the school he selects."
Last season Ellis averaged 16.0 points per game and 5.5 rebounds, to boot. He was a second-team selection on both AP and UPPs All-SEC squads. As a sophomore he scored a career-high 37 points in an 85-82 loss to
Go jump in the lake, Bobby, Jocko, and take the NCAA with you
Betcha this headline caught your attention, huh?
Now that we've got your attention, I'd like to talk UK basketball with vou. As a Kentucky fan, no doubt you enjoy following the great UK program. As publisher of 7CP, I enjoy nothing more than providing you with an exciting publication which follows UK sports.
Many of you reading this edition of 7CP are not current subscribers. Some of you are former subscribers and some of you have never seen this publication before although we are about to begin our 14th year of publishing. This sample copy (if you're nol a subscriber) is our way of introducing TCP to new readers and renewing our friendship with old ones.
This past year has been a long and trying ordeal for everyone connected with UK. Our staff is no exception. The NCAA investigation has taken its toll on everyone, dividing fans and causing long friendships to dissolve. No one hated the task of having to report so many negative stories more than I did, but it was part of the job we had
to do. Thankfully, it's over. Now it's our task (and one I eagerly look forward to) to bury the past and get on with the brighter side of news surrounding UK basketball and other Wildcat sports. What you'll be seeing less of are all the negative stories which were generated because of the NCAA mess. What you'll see more of are player features and exciting stories on the recruiting scene since UK coaches can now look forward to such days. And you'll be seeing the great Kentucky program rising to the top once again. As the 'Cats return to the top, we not only invite you to follow the 'Cats' progress by subscribing to Tlie Cats' Pause, but to also give the program and the university your full support.
I'm looking forward to you becoming a member of a growing family of subscribers in all 50 states and 13 foreign countries.
And. as always, your criticism and comments are appreciated.
Oscar Combs
Publisher of TCP
Miller unpacks his bags, will stay at UK
By TCP associate editor Nick Nicholas
Last month Derrick Miller was all set to transfer. Miller, Kentucky's lone senior-to-be, had set his eyes on Nevada Las Vegas and Minnesota. His mother, too, was in favor of his departure from Lexington. But a funny thing happened on the way. The fast-pace, run-and-gun-style associated with Rick Pitino was heading to Lexington.
So long, Runnin' Rebels. No way, Gophers. Despite the recent NCAA sactions saddled against the Wildcats, this month Miller announced he would remain at Kentucky.
"There's an old saying that my grandmother and my granddad used to tell me'The grass is not always greener on the other side," said Miller. "That hit home with me.
"Everytime I got between, excuse the expression, 'a rock and a hard place,' I'd say, 'Well, the grass is not greener on the other side. Basically, that's why I stayed. I feel this is the best situation right now for Derrick Miller."
UK's designated three-point specialist, who averaged 13.9 puiuls per g?"ie last season, was impressed in a one-on-one meeting with Pitino. (Continued on page 28)
Derrick Miller is a happy 'Cat
Pitino's 'Cats to play Heels in Louisville
Word out of UK and North Carolina says the 'Cats and Tar Heels will hook up in
Louisville's Freedom Hall next season. Kan-
i
sas, Louisville, Indiana and Notre Dame already are on the 'Cats' nonconference list for the 1989-90 campaign.
Kentucky is in jeopardy of relinquishing its leading win total to UNC. UK enters next season with 1,464 wins, the nation's best. Carolina is next with 1,458 victories.
Northwestern State.
Stardom was quickly predicted for this giant from the West Coast.
In his first season with Kentucky, the native of Tustin, Calif., started eight games and totalled 4.3 points per game. His 14-point performance against Notre Dame at Freedom Hall helped the 'Cats to a 78-69 nationally televised victory. Afterwards, he was named the game's Most Valuable Player.
Ellis' departure leaves only 11 players, at this writing, on the Wildcats' roster.
"It was real tough," Ellis said of the decision. "It takes a long time to think about something like that. I had been thinking about it before the sanctions came out and all the way up until they came out. I just sat down and talked to CM.
"One of my goals is to have a legitimate shot of going to the Final Four and winning a national championship. Goals have always been stressed to me, and I always have done all I could to give myself a fair chance to reach my goals. In order to have a chance to achieve that goal, my only choice is to transfer."
Sean Sutton leaves UK for shot at NCAA title; Mills to play for Arizona
From TCP staff reports
University of Kentucky basketball player Sean Sutton has announced his intention to transfer, mainly because UK has been stripped of postseason competition for the next two seasons. Sutton is a junior-to-be and is eligible to play next season.
"I have had the chance to do what every basketball player in the country dreams of, to wear the Kentucky uniform and to play in front of 24,000 of the world's greatest fans in Rupp Arena," said Sutton, who averaged 5.9 points per game and dished out a team-high 146 assists as starting point guard last season.
"When I was five years old I had a dream to play basketball for the University of Kentucky and help bring them another national title. However, due to the sanctions handed down by the NCAA, this is no longer possible. Still, the greatest moments of my basketball career have been realized playing for Kentucky."
At this writing it wasn't known where Sutton would tranfer. Purdue appears to be the likely spot. But Arizona State, Michigan and Mississippi, at one time, have been interested in his hardwood services.
In other 'Cat news...The 1988-89 Wildcat MVP, Chris Mills, will play for Lute Olson's Arizona team. Mills was declared ineligble to play for UK by the NCAA.
The NCAA believes UK sent $1,000 to Mills' father, Claud. Chris Mills did not ask UK for an appeal, thus his move to the Pac-10 school.
Mills, a member of the SEC's All-Freshman team, was second on the squad in points scored (14.3 ppg.), first in rebounds (8.7 rpg). He also was named third-team All-SEC by the Associated Press.
His most heralded performance came against Austin Peay when he turned in a rare "triple double." In UK's 85-77 win over the Governors, Mills scored 19 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and was credited with 10 assists.
"Arizona recruited me out of high school, but they never recruited me that hard," said Mills in a Lexington Herald-Leader story. "This time the only place I visited, the only place I even considered was Arizona. I knew coach Olson had an outstanding program, and I watched Arizona play on television. I like the style they play. I like the team concept."