KSR Today: Calipari’s autograph tour continues, recruiting news

Another week has flown by this summer — can you believe it’s already July 15? — and it’s now Friday. One more work day to get you to the weekend where you can enjoy your time out in the sun, maybe splash around in some water or drink a cold one. Your choice, that’s the beauty of summer.

Until then — and even during then — KSR is here to help get you through. What’s going on in the world of UK Athletics? We’ve got you covered this morning.

John Calipari, players head to Somerset

John Calipari’s five-stop autograph tour around Kentucky continues on Friday, this time in Somerset. Partnering with Kroger to provide relief to victims of the devastating tornadoes in western Kentucky this past December, Calipari has already made stops in Louisville, London and Georgetown, with another scheduled for Saturday in Morehead, as well.

Today’s stop will take place at 50 Stonegate Center, Somerset, KY, 42501 between 1:00pm – 2:30pm.

There will be no charge for autographs or pictures, but fans are asked to please consider donating a gift card that can be given to those in need in western Kentucky and help them with the rising cost of gas, groceries, clothing, school supplies, etc. Kroger’s Zero Hunger Zero Waste Foundation will also continue to accept donations that will go directly to local food banks.

“It’s been great to get out,” Calipari said at his stop in Georgetown on Thursday. ”Just the enthusiasm for basketball, you kind of forget what this state is about. Then you come to this, there wasn’t a whole lot of promotion, no bells and whistles, but you show up and the line is around the building. For me, it’s a ball, but also for the players. It gets them to understand, our fans, they’re engaged.”

CJ Fredrick to play in the Bahamas

It’s not just Calipari making his way around the state. Other Kentucky basketball coaches and players are joining the UK head coach on the tour, with Chin Coleman, Jacob Toppin, Sahvir Wheeler and CJ Fredrick all speaking to the media in Georgetown on Thursday. Heck, even Jack ”Goose” Givens made an appearance.

Among the various interviews? An interesting news tidbit from CJ Fredrick, who confirmed he was on track to play in the Bahamas in August after sitting out the entire 2021-22 season with a hamstring injury.

“Yeah (I expect to play),” he told KSR on Thursday. “If we do a two-and-a-half-hour practice, I’m not gonna be doing the whole two-and-a-half hours, five-on-five. I’m just slowly, gradually getting to the point where I can do that, but I’m still doing a lot of things right now.”

What does Fredrick hope to prove when he returns to game action in the Bahamas?

“Well, I hope they see someone that just play super, super hard. Someone that’s gonna make shots and just compete on both ends of the floor, make the right play always. And just help the team.”

Kentucky heads down to the Bahamas from August 9-15 for a four-game exhibition tour. Fredrick expects to make his UK debut.

Ugonna Kingsley schedules official visit to Kentucky

How about some substantial recruiting news for the Wildcats, as well?

Kentucky is set to host 2023 five-star center Ugonna Kingsley on an official visit starting July 20, an important one.

Multiple sources tell KSR that the visit was originally scheduled to take place July 25-27, but has since been moved up. The NCAA dead period technically runs through July 24 — hence the original visit schedule — but official visits may also take place during live periods, thus making this trip legal. The live period is set to begin Wednesday, July 20 at noon ET.

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The trade-off is that coaches hosting official visitors sacrifice valuable time on the recruiting trail to evaluate prospects. With the visit taking place during Peach Jam — the biggest recruiting event of the year — it’s clearly one the Kentucky basketball program feels is incredibly important.

Kingsley is ranked No. 5 overall and No. 1 among centers in the latest On3 player rankings.

G.G. Jackson decommits, likely flipping to South Carolina

The nation’s No. 1 prospect in the 2023 On3 rankings has decommitted from North Carolina, and he’s likely to join the SEC.

Five-star forward G.G. Jackson is expected to reclassify and suit up for South Carolina, flipping his commitment from the Tar Heels to the Gamecocks. He announced his decommitment late Thursday evening.

Gods Plan🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/BRWs2To5Cj
— Gregory “GG” Jackson (@_ggjackson) July 15, 2022

Jackson previously committed to North Carolina back on April 27, choosing the Tar Heels over the Gamecocks, Duke and the G-League, among others. Now, his flip to South Carolina is imminent, where he is expected to play during the upcoming 2022-23 season.

Tayshaun Prince and Ron Artest hang out in Vegas

Let’s close out the morning with some former Wildcat love, shall we? Tayshaun Prince, who played at Kentucky from 1998-2002, hung out with Ron Artest turned Metta World Peace turned Metta Sandiford-Artest at the NBA 2K23 Summer League in Las Vegas on Thursday.

Hard to find two better defenders in the 2000s.

That’s a lotta defense! 🔒 pic.twitter.com/zrFo6ffETe
— NBA (@NBA) July 14, 2022

Over the course of his four-year career at Kentucky, Prince averaged 13.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest, leading the Wildcats to a 97-39 record in that span. He earned SEC Player of the Year honors as a junior (2000-01) and was named AP All-SEC in years three and four.

As a pro, Prince earned four NBA All-Defense honors and won a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004. Now after a successful 14-year career, he serves as the Vice President of Basketball Affairs for the Memphis Grizzlies.