KSR Today: Happy Fourth of July!

Good morning, friends, and happy Independence Day! Most of you have probably been celebrating July 4th for several days now, but that doesn’t make the holiday any less meaningful. Today commemorates the Declaration of Independence, which was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the country that we all know and love as the United States of America. How do we celebrate? Fireworks, food, and frivolity, just as our founding fathers intended. It’s a federal holiday, so you’ve got the day off to indulge in all three.

There are no days off in the world of Kentucky sports, so the KSR team will be here in case you want to check in between cannonballs at the pool or lake, your first and third plates of food at the family cookout, the never-ending Yellowstone marathon, or while you wait for the fireworks to begin (or end).

It may not seem like it, but there is actually news to cover. Let’s get to it.

Football recruiting fireworks?

Kentucky Football had a very good weekend on the recruiting trail, reeling in four-star linebacker Elijah Groves and four-star cornerback Tehryon Nichols. Several more big decisions are on the horizon.

Four-star cornerback Cameron Keys is set to announce between Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and Missouri today. The Tigers are trending as the favorite for the Panama City, Florida native, with an 86.8% chance of landing him per the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. Even if the Cats miss out on Keys, they’ve already landed two cornerback commitments in the 2024 class, Nichols and Jiquavious “Quavo” Marshall.

Three other four-star prospects could also announce soon: EDGE Brian Robinson, wide receiver Hardley Gilmore, and athlete Jalewis Solomon. There’s no word on when those announcements will drop, but we’ll have our ears to the ground just in case they want to create their own fireworks on the Fourth.

Find out the news as it happens. Text KSR to 41372 to have Breaking News Alerts sent directly to your phone.

Day 2 of the Peach Jam

The Peach Jam is underway in North Augusta. KSR’s Jack Pilgrim and Jacob Polacheck won’t be in town until Wednesday, but Brandon Ramsey is already there, sharing his thoughts on the top high school basketball players on KSBoard. All games will be live-streamed through Twitch and can be found through the link here. 

Here’s when Kentucky’s top targets are in action today:

2024 Class

• Tre Johnson (SG, Houston Hoops): vs. AZ Unity | 4:30 PM EST (Court 5)
• Karter Knox (SF, Florida Rebels): vs. Team Durant | 6:00 PM EST (Court 5)
• Boogie Fland (PG, PSA Cardinals): vs. Team Thad | 4:30 PM EST (Court 3/4)
• Jalil Bethea (SG, Team Final): vs. NH Lightning | 4:30 PM EST (Court 1)
• Ahmad Nowell (SG, Team Final): vs. NH Lightning | 4:30 PM EST (Court 1)
• Billy Richmond (SG, NJ Scholars): vs. Drive Nation | 7:30 PM EST (Court 1)

2025 Class

• Cameron Boozer (PF, Nightrydas Elite U16): vs. Mac Irvin Fire | 3:00 PM EST (Court 5)
• Cayden Boozer (PG, Nightrydas Elite U16): vs. Mac Irvin Fire | 3:00 PM EST (Court 5)
• Davion Hannah (SF, Mac Irvin Fire U16): vs. Nightrydas Elite (Boozer twins) | 3:00 PM EST (Court 5)
• Meleek Thomas (SG, New Heights Lightning): vs. Team Final | 4:30 PM EST (Court 1)
• Caleb Wilson (PF, Georgia Stars): vs. MOKAN EYCL | 9:00 AM EST (Court 6)
• Jayden Quaintance (C, Team Thad): vs. PSA Cardinals | 4:30 PM EST (Court 3/4)
• Jalen Haralson (SG, Indy Heat): vs. Kingdom Hoops | 9:00 AM EST (Court 1)
• Darius Acuff Jr. (PG, The Family): vs. Boo Williams | 6:00 PM EST (Court 1)
• Jasper Johnson (CG, Team Thad): vs. PSA Cardinals | 4:30 PM EST (Court 3/4)
• Danny Carbuccia (PG, PSA Cardinals U16): vs. ProSkills | 3:00 PM EST (Court 6)

2026 Class

• AJ Dybantsa (SF, Expressions Elite): vs. Paul George Elite | 7:30 PM EST (Court 5)
• Tyran Stokes (SF, Vegas Elite): vs. Team Takeover | 4:30 PM EST (Court 2)
• Jayden Johnson (SG, Brad Beal Elite U15): vs. The Family | 12:00 PM EST (Court 6)

For more, I’ll direct you to Zack Geoghegan’s preview from yesterday.

Reed Sheppard highlights!

Footage of the current team continues to trickle out from the Joe Craft Center. Watch below as freshman Reed Sheppard makes his dad proud in No. 15.

No. 15 – Reed Sheppard 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/kQ4MP6XJoa

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) July 3, 2023

Kentucky’s social media team shared some pictures from practice too to further scratch that basketball itch.

📈📈📈#GoBigBlue pic.twitter.com/DQeIH7qnWy

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) July 3, 2023

TV info for the GLOBL Jam is still TBD

I’m asked this question a million times per day so I figured I’d share the answer here for everyone: no, we still don’t know the TV information for Kentucky’s games in the GLOBL Jam in Toronto. Sportsnet holds exclusive TV and streaming rights for the event in Canada, but the broadcast rights are still being determined for the United States. I reached out to UK in hopes of getting an update yesterday, but they are also still waiting on word from the event organizers. They assured me that once they know, they’ll let everyone know.

Baylor’s games in the GLOBL Jam were shown on ESPN+ last year, so if I had to guess, I’d say that’s where they’ll land. If all else fails, Tom Leach and Goose Givens will be there to cover it for the UK Radio Network, so you can listen on 630 WLAP, any of the affiliates across the state, or iHeart Radio. Kentucky’s first game is a week from tomorrow vs. Team Germany.

Will Joey Chestnut break his world record at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest?

It’s not July 4th without the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Today at noon, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut seeks his 8th straight yellow mustard belt, 16th overall. Chestnut won last year’s competition by a dozen dogs despite being on crutches and putting a protestor in a headlock. Today, he’s looking to break his world record of 76 dogs. Can he eat 76.5 or 77 in ten minutes? Find out on ESPN2 or the ESPN app at noon. We’ll be watching it together on KSBoard, so come join the really gross fun.

Chestnut just obliterated him🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/dry7Oy8KZK

— jonah block (@JonahBlock05) July 4, 2022

Derek Terry joins the KSR family as a baseball contributor

KSR’s baseball coverage just took a big step forward. Derek Terry used to cover Kentucky for The Cats Pause and Rivals. He left the beat and reclaimed his nights and weekends in 2022 but has been dipping his toe back in via baseball. I’m very excited to announce he’ll be contributing to our baseball coverage moving forward. With Daniel Hager on the beat and Derek adding his analysis and inside information, KSR’s baseball coverage is better than ever.

Derek’s first baseball notebook debuts on the site later today and shares the latest on Kentucky’s injuries following the season and new staff hires. Join me in giving him a warm welcome in the comments, on KSBoard, or on Twitter @DerekSTerry (if your rate limit hasn’t been exceeded).

ICYMI: Season Three of “Listicuffs” premiered last night

“Listicuffs,” KSR’s Family Feud-style quiz show, is back! Last night, we kicked off Season Three with Billy Rutledge and Shannon the Dude. Which KSR Preshow host won out? Did they have to use the new “Phone-a-Ryan” lifeline? You’ll have to watch to find out.

Subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel for press conferences, interviews, original shows, fan features, and exclusive content.

Best fireworks shows in Kentucky

Still looking for the best place to watch fireworks tonight? Drew Franklin’s got you covered. Check out his list of the top fireworks shows across the state. Add the ones he missed in the comments but please, don’t fill your Instagram feed with videos and pictures from them.

Start your holiday with another “Best of” KSR episode

The radio crew does have today off, but we’ve got an excellent “Best of” episode queued up. Tune into WLAP at 10 a.m. to relive the day that the gang spray-painted Ryan’s head in Pittsburg and recapped his thrilling run around the bases at the Little League World Series.

Tomorrow, live shows return with special guest host Matthew Mitchell. Here’s the rest of the schedule until Matt returns on July 12:

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