KSR Today: Happy July 3rd-Independence Day Eve

Today’s weird. Is it a holiday, not a holiday? It’s an awkward Monday, July 3, between a weekend and the 4th of July celebrations. Many of you made it a five-day weekend, but here at KSR, we are not holiday-ing, so you can expect a full day of content from my colleagues and me. (Tomorrow, too. What’s a day off?) After all, we’re staring down four Kentucky Basketball exhibition games next week and more summer announcements that could shape the future of Kentucky Football.

Let’s jump right into what’s topical today.

Everyone still got their fingers?

In my neighborhood, several proud Americans began celebrating the 4th of July last Friday night around 11 o’clock-ish. They’re very patriotic, those neighbors of mine. In their America, Independence Day runs from June 30 until they’re out of Black Cats, Boom Towers, and Freedom Fountains (usually around July 7-10) or in the emergency room. We have yet to see an ambulance this year, but it sounds like we’ve added many new dogs to the block. Hoping for a safe Night 4 of fireworks here and wherever you celebrate. Let’s all wake up with 10 fingers on Wednesday morning.

Kentucky Football landed a huge Sunday commitment

On Sunday, the University of Kentucky added a new piece to its 2024 football recruiting class with a commitment from Terhyon Nichols, a cornerback out of Cincinnati with a four-star On3 Industry rating. The No. 188 overall player in the On300, Nichols attends Winthrow High School and chose to play his college ball an hour south of the river in Lexington, picking the ‘Cats over the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and others.

“It was pretty tight as I was just trying to find that fit,” Nichols told On3. “I feel like Kentucky just sealed the deal for me. It came down to me just thinking over it after taking all of my official visits. I went home and thought about the pros, cons and where I can achieve my goals of making it to the NFL and get a degree. Kentucky checked all of my boxes.”

At 5-foot-10, 185, the highly-touted corner is among the highest-rated secondary gets in the Mark Stoops era, and another recruiting win out of talent-rich Cincinnati. He is the twelfth member of the class, and the second-highest-rated of the bunch behind prized QB commit Cutter Boley.

Get to know Nichols’ game a little better in KSR’s Film Room breakdown. When you’re done there, rewatch the moment he pledged his commitment to Kentucky Football.

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Tre Mitchell made his practice debut

Also on Sunday, the newest member of Kentucky Basketball, Tre Mitchell, joined his new teammates for his first official practice as a Wildcat. The former West Virginia Mountaineer can be seen in the No. 4 jersey in the brief highlight reel from Sunday’s practice.

First practice for @tre_mitch33 ☑️ pic.twitter.com/vad9SuLaNR

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) July 2, 2023

Last Friday, John Calipari said of Mitchell, “What happened with Tre was fate. If Hugs doesn’t have his issue — that kid loved Bob Huggins. He wasn’t leaving. Then all of a sudden, it’s like, ‘Wait a minute, what’s happened? I’m out.’ That’s fate. And what I’m saying, if it wasn’t him, it probably would have been someone else.”

Mitchell committed to Kentucky on June 26 out of a quick stop in the transfer portal. He will compete with the team next week in Toronto.

NBA Offseason Madness continues; Herro out of Miami?

For fans of the Association, it’s the exciting time known as the summer free agency window, and several big-name players already signed new deals since Friday. Moving forward, Tyler Herro is the former Wildcat to watch because it is rumored he could be leaving Miami in a deal for Damian Lillard. Herro scrubbed references to the Miami Heat from his social media profiles.

One other, Kevin Knox, is now a free agent.

A new week of KSR guest hosts

Today and tomorrow are company holidays over at the iHeart Media studios, so Shannon The Dude dialed up two best-of episodes until the live shows resume Wednesday morning. Today, I think he has a sad one queued up. It’s the last time Jared Lorenzen was on the show.

On Wednesday, Matthew Mitchell will lead off five more days of guest hosts until Matt Jones returns from vacation for Kentucky Basketball’s exhibition games next week.

Here is the remaining schedule of summer guest hosts:

Monday, July 3: Off
Tuesday, July 4: Off
Wednesday, July 5: Matthew Mitchell
Thursday, July 6: Sources Say Podcast at Peach Jam
Friday, July 7: Myron Medcalf

Monday, July 10: Laura Rutledge
Tuesday, July 11: Brandon Walker

“Listicuffs” coming back to KSR’s YouTube channel

Remember Listicuffs? It’s coming back. The Bramblet boys have been working hard in the lab to get us ready for Season 3 of KSR’s old game show. The first episode debuts today with a KSR Preshow showdown between Shannon and Billy. Subscribe to KSR’s YouTube channel so you don’t miss it.

We weren't joking, it's actually returning! Doing some editing of Listicuffs S3E1 – @ShannonTheDude vs @BillyRsports! It will drop on the KSR YouTube Page (https://t.co/PTyB6dMuPS) on Monday, July 3! pic.twitter.com/DdKJf90ZJ3

— Richmond Bramblet (@rbramblet) June 29, 2023

Have a happy and safe 4th of July holiday.

Whatever you do today, tonight, and tomorrow, don’t let your drunk uncle near the fireworks and think twice before you get behind the wheel if you’ve had a couple. It’s a time to have lots of fun and celebrate America, but don’t do anything dumb or put anyone in harm’s way. We want you around for many more 4th of Julys, too.

God Bless America and Go Cats.