Today on KSR: UK Basketball heads to Elizabethtown

The Kentucky men’s basketball team is continuing its satellite camps throughout the state on Friday, this time heading to Elizabethtown for the program’s fourth stop of the week.

John Calipari, Orlando Antigua, Chin Coleman, Jai Lucas, Bruiser Flint and the UK basketball roster will head to Elizabethtown High School to work with kids on passing, shooting and ball handling drills, along with taking pictures and signing autographs with and for those in attendance. And then at the conclusion of camp, Keion Brooks Jr. will be made available to the media to discuss his decision to return to Kentucky for his junior year and the expectations he has for the program in 2021-22.

The trip to E-Town comes after the team’s trek to Ashland on Thursday, where we got our first community service events of the offseason, with Calipari and Lucas making a stop at King Daughters Hospital to greet healthcare workers, sign autographs and take pictures, along with Jacob Toppin, TyTy Washington, Sahvir Wheeler and Brennan Canada checking out The Neighborhood, an outreach facility in Ashland dedicated to providing basic needs, along with educational and employment opportunities in the community.

Jai Lucas also spoke with the media at the conclusion of Thursday’s camp, where he discussed the team’s trip to Ashland, in-person recruiting returning both on campus and on the road at live events and workouts starting for the team, among other topics.

That content will be on the website throughout the day. Stay tuned.

Kentucky has its defensive backs coach

After a long coaching search with several rumored candidates and favorites, Mark Stoops found his new defensive backs coach on Thursday, hiring Georgia State safeties coach and recruiting coordinator Chris Collins. Collins will replace Steve Clinkscale, who took the defensive backs coaching job at Michigan in May.

“Going through the hiring process for this job I talked to several candidates but each time I talked to Chris I came away more and more impressed with him,” Stoops said in a press release. “He brings great energy and enthusiasm to the staff on the field and as a recruiter. We are very excited to have him on board.”

“My family and I are extremely blessed and excited to be a part of the Kentucky football family,” Collins said. “On top of Kentucky being an elite level program known for developing talent, this interview process has shown me a tremendous amount about Coach Stoops, Coach (Brad) White and the rest of the staff. When they say family first, they really mean it. During this interview process my wife and I were having our first child. Coach Stoops readjusted his schedule to accommodate my time with my wife and son. That showed me everything that I needed to know about the men I would be working with.

“Coach Stoops’ knowledge is second to none when it comes to defensive backs. I’m excited to learn and work with him, Coach White and the rest of the staff to continue to elevate this defense.”

Collins will speak to the media at 11 a.m. ET to discuss his move to Lexington.

Devin Booker sends LeBron and the Lakers home

Former Kentucky standout Devin Booker sent home the reigning champions on Thursday, and did so in impressive fashion. In a 113-100 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Phoenix Suns star erupted for 47 points on 15-22 shooting and 8-10 from three to go with 11 rebounds, three assists and one block to secure the series victory in six games (4-2).

On the other side, Anthony Davis was limited to just 5:25 and finished with zero points, one rebound and one assist after being a game-time decision with a lingering groin injury that kept him out half of Game 4 and all of Game 5. The former Kentucky star attempted to give it a go with his team facing elimination, but exited the game in the first quarter.

Booker advances while Davis is sent home.

Elsewhere in the NBA, Denver also eliminated Portland on Thursday, defeating the Trail Blazers by a final score of 126-115 to pull off the 4-2 series victory.

Sahvir Wheeler is officially eligible in 2021-22

The Southeastern Conference officially announced it would allow immediate eligibility for intraconference transfers, meaning Georgia transfer Sahvir Wheeler will be eligible at Kentucky in 2021-22.

Prior to the rule change, intraconference transfers were required to sit out for an entire calendar year or apply for a waiver or immediate eligibility.

“This is an important measure to further support student-athletes throughout the Southeastern Conference,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in the conference’s press release. “While maintaining the expectation that coaches and others avoid improper recruiting, this change will ensure that student-athletes who enroll at an SEC member institution will enjoy the flexibility afforded to other student-athletes across the nation.”

In order for transferring student-athletes to qualify for immediate eligibility, they must declare that they intend to transfer by February 1 for Fall sports, May 1 for Winter sports, and July 1 for Spring sports.

Kentucky has its point guard.

Coach K’s farewell tour already sucks

Mike Krzyzewski’s retirement can’t come fast enough.

Leading up to his press conference to announce his decision to retire as head coach at Duke, the basketball legend danced to “Everytime We Touch” by Cascada as those in attendance attempted to clap in rhythm in easily the cringiest video you’ll see all week.

I don’t know what I was expecting but it certainly wasn’t Mike Krzyzewski entering his retirement press conference dancing to Everytime We Touch by Cascada pic.twitter.com/yfkWgMITcV

— Clara Goodwin (@ClaraGoodwinTV) June 3, 2021

What better way to celebrate 42 years of success at Duke than dancing to a 2005 Eurodance/techno hit at your retirement press conference? Can’t say I’m shocked.

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KSR in an hour. Stay tuned.