2009 Kentucky Wildcats Men's Basketball - 4th edition

[Javy Pornstache]

If that link is about Wall's AAU coach, it's a non-issue, but of course, since it's UK, it will be blown out of proportion. Brian Clifton, Wall's AAU coach, paid for some expenses on road trips with Wall, which is completely normal and common practice for school and AAU coaches to do, buy McDonald's on the way, or whatever. However, because Clifton not only was a coach, but had been previously registered as an agent through FIBA, though he hadn't practiced in a few years, that's what makes this shaky and why it's being brought up. The NCAA and SEC have been reviewing it for a few weeks now; at worst, Wall misses three games because of the technicality. Not a major infraction, but I'm sure that won't be the way it's played.

EDIT: Saw the link, not a couple UK recruits, just about Wall, the second recruit in that article is Mississippi State's Renardo Sidney.

[TeamSelig]

If that link is about Wall's AAU coach, it's a non-issue, but of course, since it's UK, it will be blown out of proportion. Brian Clifton, Wall's AAU coach, paid for some expenses on road trips with Wall, which is completely normal and common practice for school and AAU coaches to do, buy McDonald's on the way, or whatever. However, because Clifton not only was a coach, but had been previously registered as an agent through FIBA, though he hadn't practiced in a few years, that's what makes this shaky and why it's being brought up. The NCAA and SEC have been reviewing it for a few weeks now; at worst, Wall misses three games because of the technicality. Not a major infraction, but I'm sure that won't be the way it's played.

EDIT: Saw the link, not a couple UK recruits, just about Wall, the second recruit in that article is Mississippi State's Renardo Sidney.

No big deal. Surprise, surprise.

[WVRed]

On an unrelated note,

I am doing a survey for a marketing research class and would greatly appreciate any responses. Needless to say, this is about the upcoming college basketball season.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?...ttA8cMQw_3d_3d

[jimbo]

On an unrelated note,

I am doing a survey for a marketing research class and would greatly appreciate any responses. Needless to say, this is about the upcoming college basketball season.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?...ttA8cMQw_3d_3d

I answered "Other" to one of the questions but was told that the question required an answer. Couldn't find a circle to check for "Other," am I missing something?

[Hoosier Red]

I answered "Other" to one of the questions but was told that the question required an answer. Couldn't find a circle to check for "Other," am I missing something?

Same Problem.

[Scrap Irony]

Looks like a couple of UK recruits are - surprise, surprise - facing eligibility issues.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4586311

If Wall is ruled ineligible, so too will everyone Clifton coached. And one of those guys has gone to Duke.

So Wall will be ruled eligible.

[dabvu2498]

If Wall is ruled ineligible, so too will everyone Clifton coached. And one of those guys has gone to Duke. So Wall will be ruled eligible.

Depends. Maybe Clifton didn't pay for Kelley's expenses on trips.

[WVRed]

I answered "Other" to one of the questions but was told that the question required an answer. Couldn't find a circle to check for "Other," am I missing something?

Fixed it. Just made it a non requirement.

[Scrap Irony]

Depends. Maybe Clifton didn't pay for Kelley's expenses on trips.

If it's an AAU tournament, the AAU founder and team pays for all the expenses for the entire team, without much exception. I've never seen an AAU team NOT pay for their team's expenses, anyway. That includes everything from McDonald's to shoes to warm-ups to hotels. Everything.

To single out Wall in this is ridiculous. Every high Division One player does it. All of them. Oden did. James did. Bryant did (and his family was really, really well off.)

Perhaps Kelly was the one guy in all of AAU basketball to pay for all his own stuff. He is, after all, a Duke player and they do no wrong.

[dabvu2498]

If it's an AAU tournament, the AAU founder and team pays for all the expenses for the entire team, without much exception. I've never seen an AAU team NOT pay for their team's expenses, anyway. That includes everything from McDonald's to shoes to warm-ups to hotels. Everything.

To single out Wall in this is ridiculous. Every high Division One player does it. All of them. Oden did. James did. Bryant did (and his family was really, really well off.)

Perhaps Kelly was the one guy in all of AAU basketball to pay for all his own stuff. He is, after all, a Duke player and they do no wrong.

Not every recruit has his AAU coach pay his way on recruiting trips.

And not every recruit's AAU coach in an "agent," no matter how dubious that term may be.

[Scrap Irony]

Only Wall has had an AAU coach pay his way on a recruiting trip?

I find that hard to believe.

No, I find that impossible to believe.

I KNOW AAU coaches. They (or their backers) pay. For everything. Recruiting trips. Shoes. Warm-ups. Clothes.

Whatever.

To somehow insist only Wall is guilty strikes me as obtuse, Dab. Your ati-UK bias is showing.

(This is not to say I think Kentucky is clean. I think all Division I programs cheat. A lot.)

Do I think Wall's taken advantage of the situation? Absolutely.

But so do ALL AAU players. All of them. So do all foreign players who come to America to play. (And talk about professional amateurs!) I don't know a Top 200 basketball player who doesn't play on the AAU circuit at least in the summer.

And their AAU coaches pay for it all.

[dabvu2498]

Only Wall has had an AAU coach pay his way on a recruiting trip?

No. Here's what I said:

Not every recruit has his AAU coach pay his way on recruiting trips.

And their AAU coaches pay for it all.

No. Actually, most AAU coaches drum up sponsorship, etc. to pay for their teams' expenses on the AAU circuit. Most coaches don't pay expenses out of their own pockets.

[dabvu2498]

For the record, I don't think the Wall-Clifton affair is a huge deal. Worst case, he misses 3 games. Clifton screwed up. Should have given up his "agency" before he started coaching AAU.

And actually, I am a UK fan... most of the time. I just try to hold them to a higher standard than most do.

[Scrap Irony]

And, if you read my response earlier, you'd see I said coaches or backers. And, yes, most AAU coaches DO pay much of their teams' expenses out of their own pockets. Many I know have paid for recruiting trips, clothes, and other incidentals.

It's the way business is now done in big-time recruiting.

In-season basketball has become something to keep kids in shape and little more. The real instruction and the real recruiting happens in the summer.

[Scrap Irony]

For the record, I don't think the Wall-Clifton affair is a huge deal. Worst case, he misses 3 games. Clifton screwed up. Should have given up his "agency" before he started coaching AAU.

And actually, I am a UK fan... most of the time. I just try to hold them to a higher standard than most do.

Clifton was an agent when Kelly (and others) played for him, too.

If Wall gets a one minute suspension, it's not fair. But that's been the NCAA modus operandi for years now, so it's nothing new.

I'd just like to see everyone play on the same playing field.

But hey, Kelly is a special case.

He plays at Duke.