Bilas Expounds on Belief Cal Has No Pro Formula
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LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER | KENTUCKY.COM BASKETBALL A SUNDAY, JULY 1, 2012 C3 UK NOTEBOOK BILAS EXPOUNDS ON BELIEF CAL HAS NO PRO FORMULA Zeller noted how UK beat make roster decisions, work- JERRY UNC 73-72 in Rupp Arena in outs last month for the U.S. BILL KOSTROUN | ASSOCIATED PRESS TIPTON December. Under 17 team showed the Baylor’s Perry Jones III, HERALD-LEADER “We feel we made a few progress James Blackmon Jr. STAFF WRITER once considered a top-10 dumb plays at the end,” he has made in the rehabilitation draft pick, slipped to No. 28 said. “I think we matched up of a torn anterior cruciate because of a knee issue. Whatever you think of well against them.” ligament. him, ESPN analyst Jay Bilas The son of a former UK Who me? NBA does not wait for an oppor- player tore the ACL in his tune time to make a provoca- Self-deprecating humor left knee in February while tive statement. isn’t a regular staple for John playing in an event created On a Tuesday teleconfer- Calipari. But he used it to to showcase players who had Jones says ence, Bilas scoffed at the good effect at the NBA Draft. committed to Indiana. He un- notion that college coaches “I started thinking the derwent surgery on March 6. can develop NBA players. reason we won (the 2012 “I never thought it would he’s glad Two days later, NBA teams national championship) was happen to me,” he said. drafted six Kentucky players, because of me,” he said after “When it first happened, which brought the total of Anthony Davis and Michael it seems like the end of the he fell to UK players drafted in John Kidd-Gilchrist were the first world,” said his father, James Calipari’s three seasons as two players chosen. “I guess Blackmon, who played for Joe Thunder coach to a whopping 15. if you have the first and sec- B. Hall, then Eddie Sutton at That means every starter in ond picks, you should win.” UK in the 1980s. “You have Herald-Leader Wire Services Calipari’s three UK seasons something you love taken OKLAHOMA CITY — has been drafted. Rookie mentality away.” First-round draft pick Perry Surely, Calipari is using The players taken early in The younger Blackmon Jones III doesn’t feel any his familiarity with NBA ways the NBA Draft offered vary- was far enough along in the pressure to prove he’s one of to transform his players into ing thoughts on how boldly rehab to participate in some the missing pieces to turn pros. No, Bilas said, neither they might enter the league. drills with the U.S. Under 17 the Oklahoma City Thunder Calipari nor any other coach When asked if he might team, which began play in into NBA champions. is doing any such thing. convince veteran Eric Gordon Lithuania on Friday. His first goal is just to “The key phrase is ‘devel- JEFF SINER | MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE to stay with the Hornets, When asked why he keep up with the standards oping pros,’” Bilas said the Michael Kidd-Gilchrist posed for a photo with his mother, Cyn- Anthony Davis said, “I’m not participated in the tryouts set by the cornerstones of morning of the NBA Draft thia Richardson, at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C., sure a rookie can do that. I in Colorado Springs while the franchise that he con- on Thursday. “Nobody is a day after the former UK star was drafted by the Bobcats. don’t think I have that much knowing he could not make sidered the most fun to developing pros. power.” the team, Blackmon said, watch in the league. “It implies that coaches But former UK team- “Because it’s a big honor for “The hardest part is choose. ‘I’m going to develop mate Michael Kidd-Gilchrist me. Even though I was hurt, playing to the level of in- a pro.’” sounded ready to take charge I was still selected.” He con- tensity that Kevin Durant Bilas offered two pointed at Charlotte. tinued the rehab with USA and Russell Westbrook questions: “I’m ready to lead the trainers. set. They set the standard ■ “Did John decide not team,” he said. Blackmon, a 6-2 shooting for working hard here and to make Kyle Wiltjer a pro?” Former Kansas star guard in the class of 2014, definitely living up to that Then to extend the logic, Thomas Robinson also is a top-30 national prospect standard; you’ve got to be Bilas envisioned Calipari sounded anything but shy. He according to ESPN’s recruit- able to bring it every day,” thinking, “I’ll wait. I’ll make said he’d bring a winning at- ing service. Rivals has him in Jones said Saturday at his him a pro later.” titude to Sacramento, which the top 50 and Scout in the introductory news confer- ■ Why didn’t Calipari had a lottery pick for a sixth top 70. ence. develop more than five first- straight year. His father, who also is his It took a surprising slide round picks during his nine “No matter how old I am, coach at Bishop Luers High for the 6-foot-11 Jones to seasons as Memphis coach? a rookie or not, I’m not let- School in Fort Wayne, said fall all the way to the Thun- He matched that total in ting nobody relax,” he said. he worked with his oldest der at the No. 28 pick. He his first season at UK. After “It’s not cool to lose.” son. Two other sons — BiJay, was considered a top-10 three seasons, there have 14, and Jalen, 10 — also play talent and possibly even a been 11 UK players taken in Draft leftovers basketball. candidate to be the No. 1 the first round. ■ New Orleans taking “As a parent, you defi- pick before he decided to Bilas contends that these Austin Rivers marked the nitely don’t want to force it return for his sophomore players would be drafted no KERRY MALONEY | ASSOCIATED PRESS 11th straight NBA Draft in on a kid,” the elder Blackmon year at Baylor. matter what uniform they Anthony Davis, the No. 1 overall pick, is one of 15 John Calipari- which at least one son of a said. Then, news that he had wore (think: Larry Bird, Indi- coached players at UK to be drafted in the last three years. former NBA player was se- The younger Blackmon trouble with the meniscus ana State). lected. The others were Mike credited his father for making in one of his knees appar- “Anthony Davis was a pro the ESPN analyst said. “We Marc Gasol, Trevor Ariza and Dunleavy (2002), Luke Walton him a good player. “He basi- ently scared more teams no matter where he went to all laugh about it. Funny how Landry Fields. (2003), Jackson Vroman cally taught me everything I away. coaches at bigger schools on school,” Bilas said. “That’s UK-UNC (2004), Sean May (2005), know about basketball,” he “Everybody knows that I true of most of them.” TV have more pros.” Ronnie Brewer (2006), Al said. wasn’t supposed to slide as One of the many subplots , Bilas likened any school ‘A blessing’ Horford (2007), Patrick Ewing In comparing their games, far as I did but, to be hon- or coach claiming credit for at the NBA Draft involved Jr., (2008), Stephen Curry, father and son agreed that est, I’m happy I did. This developing pro players to a Fairly or not, to be a the evergreen UK-UNC Gerald Henderson and Austin the younger Blackmon is the is a great organization. I modeling agency saying it second-round NBA Draft pick rivalry. Daye (2009), Ed Davis (2010) better pure shooter. mean, it’s the perfect spot,” created, say, Kate Moss or carries a stigma. No hand- When a reporter noted and Klay Thompson and Nolan James Blackmon Jr. com- Jones said. Christy Turlington. shake with David Stern. More how some fans openly rooted Smith (2011). mitted to Indiana in Sep- General Manager Sam “Either you’re the real importantly, no guaranteed for UK to have four or more ■ Cleveland point guard tember, 2010, when he was Presti said the knee issue thing or you’re not,” the contract. players drafted before UNC, Kyrie Irving hugged Dion Wait- starting his freshman year of existed even before Jones ESPN analyst said. But the key is this: If Tyler Zeller laughed. ers as he left the stage after high school. He’s expected to played the last two seasons In rejecting the idea that taken in the second round, “It’ll definitely be interest- being taken by the Cavaliers be fully recovered by the time at Baylor and it shouldn’t any coach can develop pro you can consider yourself ing to see how that plays with the fourth pick of the next season begins. keep him out next season, players, Bilas cited his alma one of that year’s 60 best pro out,” he said, diplomatically, first round. or even during summer mater, Duke. prospects in the world. the day before the draft. ■ Anthony Davis became Happy birthday league. Presti even called “Does anybody believe “I’m not disappointed,” “They have five or six (play- the third SEC player taken To former UK star Tom Jones’ straight-line speed Kyrie Irving played 11 games Brian Miller said when asked ers in the draft). They defi- with the first overall pick.