Purdue

RICHMOND - Danny Hope followed a legend at Eastern Kentucky. According to several published reports, he may be following another longtime coach in the near future. Hope, who just completed his fifth season as successor to legendary Eastern coach Roy Kidd, reportedly will take over for Purdue coach Joe Tiller in two years. Eastern athletics director Mark Sandy told the Lexington Herald-Leader this morning that he couldn't confirm or deny the rumors. "If there's something that's happening with Purdue, then it has to come from them," he told the paper.

Offensive lineman Jorge Gonzalez of Tampa has given a verbal commitment to Kentucky. "I just felt it was the right place for me, especially since my parents liked it so well, too," Gonzalez said. The 297-pound Gonzalez had drawn interest from Auburn and Mississippi recently. He had visited Georgia Tech, Purdue and Alabama-Birmingham. Gonzalez said he was recruited the most by UK assistant Ron Caragher. "I really liked coach (Rich) Brooks, too," Gonzalez said.

Derek Willis of Bullitt East, a top-35 player in the class of 2013, will announce Friday whether he'll play college basketball at Kentucky, Louisville, Indiana or Purdue. The 6-foot-8 Willis originally committed to Purdue as a sophomore before changing his mind and re-opening his recruitment. Family friend Kevin Veeley has known Willis since he was 6 years old and was his Little League baseball coach. “My son was best friends with him until we moved to Shelbyville three years ago, and they still talk all the time,” Veeley said.

The recruiting interest continues to grow, but Bullitt East junior Derek Willis won't be in a hurry to make a second verbal commitment, and he definitely wants to know more both Kentucky and Louisville. The 6-9 Willis, who averaged 13.5 points and 9.5 rebounds as a sophomore and helped his team reach the state tournament semifinals, recently de-committed from Purdue after earlier giving a verbal commitment to coach Matt Painter. Since then he's taken unofficial visits to both Kentucky and Louisville.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky men's basketball has added Tracy Webster as its third and final assistant coach, coach Billy Gillispie announced today. "I'm extremely happy that we were able to hire Tracy Webster," said Gillispie. "I've known him and observed him for a long time. He gets along with everyone. The players he has recruited over the years speak highly of him, because he develops relationships. "He was a good player, and as an assistant he's been on the bench during the NCAA championship game, which is the goal we are all working toward.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky women's basketball coach now has four McDonald's All-Americans on his roster - a first for the Wildcats. In addition, coach Matthew Mitchell has also added former Scott County and Purdue standout Ukari Figgs to his coaching staff as UK continues its quest to build a consistent winning program in the Southestern Conference. Mitchell offered these observations on his McDonald's All-Americans and on Figgs: Question: What does it say about the program that McDonald's All-Americans Samarie Walker of Connecticut and DeNasha Stallworth of California have transferred to Kentucky in the last seven months or so?

Kentucky landed its second high-profile quarterback commitment today when Morgan Newton of Carmel, Ind., confirmed that he would sign with the Wildcats in February. The 6-4, 215-pound Newton is rated as a five-star prospect -- the highest rating possible -- by www.scout.com . He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds and last year he threw for 1,883 yards and 25 scores and ran for 750 yards and 11 touchdowns. Newton, who is only 17, said today that his final choices actually came down to Kentucky and rival Louisville, but he knew UK was the best place for him. "When we started eliminating schools, Kentucky was in the top 10," said John Newton, the quarterback's father.

Kentucky landed its second high-profile quarterback commitment Thursday when Morgan Newton of Carmel, Ind., confirmed that he would sign with the Wildcats in February. The 6-4, 215-pound Newton is rated as a five-star prospect - the highest rating possible - by www.scout.com. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds and last year he threw for 1,883 yards and 25 scores and ran for 750 yards and 11 touchdowns. Newton, who is only 17, said today that his final choices actually came down to Kentucky and rival Louisville, but he knew UK was the best place for him. "When we started eliminating schools, Kentucky was in the top 10," said John Newton, the quarterback's father.

He knows it's hard to compare players, but Hamilton Southeastern (Ind.) coach Brian Satterfield has a good comparison for his star player, guard Gary Harris. It's former Indiana prep standout Eric Gordon, who now plays with the Los Angeles Clippers. “The only thing Eric is better at is that he's more consistent with his shot. Gary can get streaky,” Satterfield said. “Eric can step out to 30 feet (and shoot). Gary cannot do that. But if Eric would just concentrate on basketball, that shooting would get better.

Leah Ballinger came into Centre College and started winning conference honors almost immediately. She hasn't stopped, either. Centre's senior setter was named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference co-player of the week two weeks ago after being named the MVP of the Centre College Classic. Ballinger said the awards are nice to have, but they aren't what matters to her. "Seeing this program build up has been great," Ballinger said. "This is the best team we've had in my four years here.

Derek Willis of Bullitt East, a top-35 player in the class of 2013, will announce Friday whether he'll play college basketball at Kentucky, Louisville, Indiana or Purdue. The 6-foot-8 Willis originally committed to Purdue as a sophomore before changing his mind and re-opening his recruitment. Family friend Kevin Veeley has known Willis since he was 6 years old and was his Little League baseball coach. “My son was best friends with him until we moved to Shelbyville three years ago, and they still talk all the time,” Veeley said.

When 6-9 Bullitt East junior standout Derek Willis makes his college choice Friday, that will end his recruitment no matter whether he picks Kentucky, Louisville, Indiana or Purdue. He's already de-committed from Purdue, a choice he made as a sophomore and then had second thoughts about. However, he's now ready to finalize his college choice. “It was more of a surprise to me that he decided to do this now, but this had been weighing on him the last month and was starting to affect him on the court.

He knows it's hard to compare players, but Hamilton Southeastern (Ind.) coach Brian Satterfield has a good comparison for his star player, guard Gary Harris. It's former Indiana prep standout Eric Gordon, who now plays with the Los Angeles Clippers. “The only thing Eric is better at is that he's more consistent with his shot. Gary can get streaky,” Satterfield said. “Eric can step out to 30 feet (and shoot). Gary cannot do that. But if Eric would just concentrate on basketball, that shooting would get better.

The recruiting interest continues to grow, but Bullitt East junior Derek Willis won't be in a hurry to make a second verbal commitment, and he definitely wants to know more both Kentucky and Louisville. The 6-9 Willis, who averaged 13.5 points and 9.5 rebounds as a sophomore and helped his team reach the state tournament semifinals, recently de-committed from Purdue after earlier giving a verbal commitment to coach Matt Painter. Since then he's taken unofficial visits to both Kentucky and Louisville.

Purdue coach Matt Painter was impressed with Kentucky's Darius Miller two years ago when he helped the United States win the gold medal at the under 19 world championship. However, Painter is even more impressed with the UK¿senior now and is glad to have him on the USA team he's coaching in the World University Games. “You can tell he has definitely worked on his body. His body is a lot better,” said Painter, who was an assistant on the United States team two years ago, after practice at the team's training facility in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Purdue coach Matt Painter was impressed with Kentucky's Darius Miller two years ago when he helped the United States win the gold medal at the under-19 world championships. However, Painter is even more impressed with the UK senior now and is glad to have him on the U.S. team he's coaching in the World University Games. “You can tell he has definitely worked on his body. His body is a lot better,” said Painter, who was an assistant on the U.S. team two years ago, after practice at the team's training facility in Colorado Springs, Colo.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky women's basketball coach now has four McDonald's All-Americans on his roster - a first for the Wildcats. In addition, coach Matthew Mitchell has also added former Scott County and Purdue standout Ukari Figgs to his coaching staff as UK continues its quest to build a consistent winning program in the Southestern Conference. Mitchell offered these observations on his McDonald's All-Americans and on Figgs: Question: What does it say about the program that McDonald's All-Americans Samarie Walker of Connecticut and DeNasha Stallworth of California have transferred to Kentucky in the last seven months or so?

Kentucky landed its second high-profile quarterback commitment Thursday when Morgan Newton of Carmel, Ind., confirmed that he would sign with the Wildcats in February. The 6-4, 215-pound Newton is rated as a five-star prospect - the highest rating possible - by www.scout.com. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds and last year he threw for 1,883 yards and 25 scores and ran for 750 yards and 11 touchdowns. Newton, who is only 17, said today that his final choices actually came down to Kentucky and rival Louisville, but he knew UK was the best place for him. "When we started eliminating schools, Kentucky was in the top 10," said John Newton, the quarterback's father.

Kentucky landed its second high-profile quarterback commitment today when Morgan Newton of Carmel, Ind., confirmed that he would sign with the Wildcats in February. The 6-4, 215-pound Newton is rated as a five-star prospect -- the highest rating possible -- by www.scout.com . He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds and last year he threw for 1,883 yards and 25 scores and ran for 750 yards and 11 touchdowns. Newton, who is only 17, said today that his final choices actually came down to Kentucky and rival Louisville, but he knew UK was the best place for him. "When we started eliminating schools, Kentucky was in the top 10," said John Newton, the quarterback's father.

RICHMOND - Danny Hope followed a legend at Eastern Kentucky. According to several published reports, he may be following another longtime coach in the near future. Hope, who just completed his fifth season as successor to legendary Eastern coach Roy Kidd, reportedly will take over for Purdue coach Joe Tiller in two years. Eastern athletics director Mark Sandy told the Lexington Herald-Leader this morning that he couldn't confirm or deny the rumors. "If there's something that's happening with Purdue, then it has to come from them," he told the paper.