Kentucky

One year ago, Kentucky got the face to its 2012 recruiting class when quarterback Patrick Towles of Highlands gave the Wildcats an early verbal commitment. Now it could happen again after Signal Mountain (Tenn.) High School quarterback Reese Phillips has ended his college search by giving a verbal commitment to Kentucky during an unofficial visit Wednesday. Phillips, who also had scholarship offers from Memphis and Middle Tennessee, threw for 1,895 yards and 21 touchdowns by completing 71 percent of his passes as a junior last season in a wing-T offense.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Attorney General Jack Conway is taking another for-profit college to court, alleging a violation of Kentucky's consumer protection law by making deceptive claims about job placement successes. Conway announced a lawsuit against National College of Kentucky in a Capitol news conference Tuesday afternoon. In the lawsuit, Conway accuses National College - which has campuses in Danville, Florence, Lexington, Louisville, Pikeville and Richmond - of misrepresenting the number of students placed into jobs.

As Kentuckians observe Earth Day 2013, it seems like the perfect occasion to assure consumers American farmers remain committed to preserving the environment for the next generation of food producers. They do this in many ways. Farmers are not scientists, but many possess expertise and insightful knowledge of the environment in which they work. They constantly observe the conditions of their natural resources. Farmers always are on guard to protect the soil and water critical to their livelihood.

HARRODSBURG - Former University of Kentucky basketball stars Josh Harrellson and Patrick Patterson are going to be at the Mercer County Senior High School gymnasium tonight to help fundraising efforts by the Mercer Football Booster Club. Harrellson, Patterson, Jarrod Prickett and Perry Stevenson headline a celebrity team in a game scheduled for 6:30 p.m. tonight, according to school official Todd Davis. Tickets for the event are $7 for adults and $5 for students.

The Advocate-Messenger will publish a souvenir book commemorating the University of Kentucky's eighth national championship, featuring photos by Clay Jackson and Victoria Graff and stories by Larry Vaught and Keith Taylor. The book consists of 128 full-color pages. It should be available at select retailers this weekend, specifically Sam's Club, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, Dick's Sporting Goods, and the UK College Store. You can also order online at triumphbooks.com or call 1-800-888-4741 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. The cost is $14.95 plus $6 shipping and handling.

I do not know who did the survey on Kentucky, but they sure did not ask me. In fact, I find it hard to believe this state was voted 49th as being the worst state in which to live. Sure, I can see why some of the sunnier states received lots of votes, but I for one would not like to live where the weather is the same every day. That is boring to me. Now, we all know the weather can change in an instant in Kentucky, but let's face it, it does make for some good conversation. It is the changing of the seasons that I love about Kentucky.

He has 17 scholarship offers and is ranked among the nation's top 30 tight ends by several national recruiting services, but Westerville (Ohio) South High School standout Darryl Long insists he has a “lot of interest” in Kentucky as he prepares to make his college choice Saturday. His list of offers includes Louisville, Missouri, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt, Illinois, Indiana, Boston College, Purdue and Duke. “I am still looking at all my options, but I like Kentucky,” said the 6-5, 217-pound Long.

On Nov. 30, the University of Kentucky recognized faculty and staff from across campus at the annual Terry B. Mobley Awards ceremony for excellence in furthering UK's development efforts. This year's award winners include Dr. William Lubawy, associate dean for academic affairs, College of Pharmacy; Charlotte B. Rice of Nicholasville, prospect analyst, Office of Development; and Lori Armstrong Wilson, events planning manager, UK Healthcare. Dr. Eli Capilouto, UK president, congratulated the award winners at the ceremony and underscored the importance of private philanthropy for the University.

Laura McKeeman covers the Southeast for Scout.com and specializes in college football recruiting coverage. She was hired by Fox Sports last summer and has attended Southeastern Conference Football media days for three years and covered numerous SEC football and basketball games.   She says she loves “producing a mixture of content either written, on the radio or on television” as part of her job covering recruiting. McKeeman, who will be at the SEC media days later this month in Hoover, Ala., shared some insights on Kentucky football: Question: What is your perception of the Kentucky football program?

Five-star recruit Julius Randle of Plano, Texas, announced today that he will play college basketball at Kentucky. Randle had narrowed his choices to six schools but the consensus for several weeks was that he would either pick Kentucky or Kansas. Randle's coach, Chris Mayberry, said he thinks the 6-9 Plano Prestonwood Christian standout is even better than he's being given credit for. “I think he can play anything from one (point guard) to five (center),” Mayberry said.