KSR Today: Early Entrants, Headband Wonders, I'm Back, and Other Things

Good morning from KSR headquarters where I am excited to make my return to the KSR airwaves with Matt Jones and Ryan Lemond a little later this morning. It’s been two weeks to the day since I’ve been on the show and many of you reached out to ask if I quit or died, but today I’m back to join the conversations. Long story short, an unexpected run of sick days collided with a couple of vacation days in Milwaukee, thus a long break. Milwaukee was a surprisingly fun place by the way. Too many Wisconsin fans, though.

Anyway, before we start the show, I have the morning rundown of news and notes here on Kentucky-Sports-Radio-dot-com. So let’s get to it.

The NBA released its official list of early entries

Early Wednesday, the NBA released the names of all 283 early candidates for the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft. Four underclassmen from Kentucky are among them, including Shaedon Sharpe.

Sharpe, Keion Brooks, and Jacob Toppin have until June 1 to withdraw and return to school. The fourth, TyTy Washington, hired an agent and will follow through with his NBA dreams this summer.

Antonio Reeves Commitment Watch is on hold

Kentucky Basketball was expected to land a commitment from the transfer portal over the weekend with former Illinois State star Antonio Reeves inches from joining the program. Reeves visited Lexington last week, things went well for both parties, and it wasn’t a well-kept secret that Saturday would likely be the day Reeves would make it official. Then the weekend passed without a word from Reeves, and on Tuesday, he put out a list of five schools in consideration. Kentucky made the list with DePaul, Nebraska, Oregon, and Xavier, but it wasn’t a commitment–far from it, actually.

So what happened? Sources Say the 6-foot-6 wing got cold feet with questions of playing time and even NIL opportunities, and now Oregon has his eye with clearer answers to those concerns. Kentucky is still in consideration, but the lock of the weekend is no longer a sure thing, or maybe even a thing at all.

Baylor Scheierman entered the picture

While Kentucky and Reeves take time to see other people, a new name emerged in the transfer portal and Kentucky was quick to make a phone call. South Dakota State’s Baylor Scheierman, the Summit League Player of the Year, announced Tuesday that he would like a new home for his college basketball skills and his phone rang off the hook with offers from major programs around the country.

A 6-6 guard with a 46.9 shooting percentage from 3, Scheierman could fill one of Kentucky’s needs on the wing if things go well in the ongoing conversations. In the meantime, watch the “Headband Wonder” in action for the Jackrabbits.

Adou Thiero begins his visit today

Also in recruiting news, Adou Thiero begins his official visit to the University of Kentucky today. An unranked prospect, Thiero emerged as a potential Class of 2023 pick-up back in March after a visit from John Calipari, who coached Thiero’s dad, Almamy Thiero, at Memphis.

Rob Harris thanked UK and BBN for his time on staff

In staff shake-up news, Kentucky Basketball parted ways with Rob Harris, the team’s head strength and conditioning coach of six years. Harris spent eight seasons in total on UK’s staff and on Tuesday he had this to say about his time in Lexington:

“I want to say thank you to UK athletics and UK fans for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of BBN for the last 8 seasons,” Harris tweeted. “It has been a pleasure working with each player who has come through the program. I have grown tremendously since being a part of UK and I am excited about what this next chapter in my career will bring me and my family. God Bless you all.”

Harris was very popular among the players during his time in Kentucky’s weight room. His personality and energy will be tough to replace.

One more sleep until the NFL Draft

We have another day of reading mock drafts and prop bets before the three-day extravaganza known as the NFL Draft begins Thursday night with round one televised across ESPN, ABC, and the NFL Network. For Kentucky’s purposes, the UK alums should start hearing their names called on Friday in the second and third rounds, likely the third where four former Wildcats are currently projected. There could be as many as seven drafted in total.

To get you ready for the draft, Adam Luckett wrote a very thorough draft preview tailored to Big Blue Nation. Read it: KSR’s Ultimate 2022 NFL Draft Guide

NBA Playoffs continue tonight, but won’t be as good as last night

Last night in the National Basketball Association’s postseason, Ja Morant killed a man to spark the Grizzlies’ come-from-behind Game 5 win against Minnesota.

JA MORANT ON YA HEAD 😤🥷 pic.twitter.com/066juBXfpi

— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) April 27, 2022

Also from that one, our dear friend Karl Towns again looked foolish in the loss for taunting Grizzlies fans moments before his Timberwolves blew the game. It’s the second time this series Towns celebrated too soon and the internet is letting him know about it. To his credit, he had 28 and 12 in the loss.

pic.twitter.com/kyF2afhnKS

— BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) April 27, 2022

In the two other Tuesday night NBA Playoff games, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo combined for 36 as their Heat wrapped up the first-round series against Atlanta, while Devin Booker’s top-seeded Suns fought off the Pelicans without him in Game 5. Phoenix leads, 3-2.

Tonight, Milwaukee hosts Chicago to try to clinch the series in five before DeMarcus Cousins’ Denver Nuggets fight to stay alive in Oakland, down 3-1 to the Warriors.

Kentucky Baseball run-ruled Dayton

In college baseball, Kentucky (23-18) added a non-conference win to its resume Tuesday night with a victory over the Dayton Flyers in Lexington. A five-run first inning put the Cats up early and they never looked back, striking out 14 batters in seven innings in a 12-1 victory. It was a run-rule win in Kentucky Proud Park.

Next on the schedule, Kentucky travels to Florida for a weekend series.

Kentucky Softball got a run-rule win, too

Down the street from Kentucky Proud Park, John Cropp Stadium played host to Kentucky Softball’s run-rule win over Northern Kentucky. The 11th-ranked Wildcats (31-14) needed only five innings to send the Norse back north. Final score, 14-0.

Kentucky hosts Mississippi State for a three-game weekend series beginning Friday at 6 PM.

So long, Mark Emmert

The NCAA will soon have a new president as Mark Emmert begins his retirement process. Emmert will remain seated atop the NCAA’s throne of incompetence until his successor is announced with smoke billowing over Indianapolis, or until June 30, 2023, whichever comes first.

Bye.

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Tune in to KSR at 10 AM

I’m excited to be back!