Billy Likes 'Em Young!

For my first post, I've got to go Kentucky Basketball. I mean, who didn't know this was coming....

I'm not sure I've ever found something so creepy to be so awesome. Billy Gillispie has landed a verbal commitment from an 8th grader to become part of Kentucky's 2012 recruiting class. Apparently, Michael Avery is 6'4 and still growing. He's been playing with a 17-and-under AAU team and doing quite well. Gillispie went to one of his games to watch the older players, and the junior high-schooler from California caught his eye. I suppose Billy then followed him to Cotillion and saw that the kid really does have moves. So, although Avery has literally not yet decided where he's going to high school, he's locked up to play ball at UK. He's ranked in the Top 10 in the nation for his class. Yeah, that's right, there are people out there placing rankings on 8th grade basketball players.

The thing I love about this is that Gillispie is already doing what Tubby Smith never could. He's getting an early jump (I'll say) on these kids and building relationships with them. Tubby always waited around until the last minute, then found himself scrambling to lock up whatever also-ran player hadn't yet found a place to play (See Mark Coury). Gillispie is doing things a bit differently. Since signing on to become Kentucky's coach a year ago, he's gotten commitments from one 2009 recruit, three 2010 recruits (who are all ranked in the Top 20 of their class, by the way), one 2011 recruit, and one 2012 recruit. So, although I find the thought of Billy G. in a junior high locker room a little frightening, I'm glad he's doing it. Let's hope the kid doesn't strain a muscle at his next make-out party.