Wildcats

Linebacker Chris Frey, like many other Ohio juniors, has a “definite interest” in playing football at Kentucky. “He is very interested in them,” said (Columbus) Upper Arlington High School coach Mike Golen. “They were just here the other day to see him. They talked then like they were right on the verge of offering him (a scholarship).” The 6-2, 215-pound Frey plays both linebacker and running back for Golen. “He excelled at running back, but Kentucky, and other schools, so him as a linebacker,” Golen said.

LEXINGTON - Nerlens Noel is headed to the NBA, and could be the No. 1 pick in the June draft, but he thinks Kentucky has a rising star for next year in center Willie Cauley-Stein. “Another year, Willie can be one of the best big men in the country, definitely. I'm sure he will be. Willie is a freak athlete. He's 7-foot, he's fast, quick, he has all the intangibles to be great,” said Noel. “Next year, I'm sure he's going to dominate the collegiate rankings and move on to bigger and better things.” Cauley-Stein was the last heralded member of UK's 2012 recruiting class, but was ranked as the nation's 10th best high school center by Scout.com and sixth best by Rivals.com.

He's had big-time players recruited by the nation's top coaches before, but Lakota West coach Larry Cox has never had a high-profile player make his college choice as early as running back Mikel Horton has. One of Ohio's best players, and one of the nation's premier backs, ended his college recruitment Saturday when he gave his verbal pledge to Kentucky. “My recruitment is totally shut down. I am finished. My school is picked. I am a man of my word and I am going to Kentucky,” said Horton.

LEXINGTON - Jalen Whitlow says he's more accustomed not only to college football, but also college life and that's one reason his play this spring could have vaulted him to No. 1 in the Kentucky quarterback competition with Maxwell Smith and Patrick Towles. “I think he's learning how to prepare,” offensive coordinator Neal Brown said. “Getting thrown to the fire, it does one of two things for you. It really damages you or you find out what it takes and you come back stronger than ever and I think that's what happened.” Whitlow ran for 49 yards - with a long run of 22 yards - and threw for 193 yards and two scores in Saturday's Blue-White Game to impress coach Mark Stoops.

Kentucky proved it's a state big enough to accommodate two national champions. A year ago, the state was beaming after the Wildcats defeated Kansas to win the school's eighth national championship in New Orleans. It was a moment the program had been yearning for since the Wildcats defeated Utah to capture their last national title in 1998. Kentucky endured two coaching changes during the 14-year hiatus between the two titles and watched as teams such as Southeastern Conference rival Florida, led by former Kentucky assistant coach Billy Donovan, captured back-to-back National championships from 2006-07.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky offensive coordinator Neal Brown thinks a “good crowd” at Saturday night's Blue-White Game to end UK's spring practice would help the Wildcats and also help him gauge how the quarterbacks play in a game-like setting. “I think it will be good for our kids to see the fan base get behind them. I think it's something they deserve. It's our job once the fan base is there to keep them. We've got to put out an entertaining product, and I think more than anything we've got to play hard,” said Brown after Wednesday's practice.

LEXINGTON - While admitting he has never had a more mentally demanding season than last year, Jordan Aumiller says a new coaching staff and a new offense at Kentucky have rejuvenated him and made football fun again. “Change has been really good for me. Just something new. Like they (the coaches) said, you got a clean slate in spring practice and come out and show what you can do every day. It is spring ball and everybody is wanting to show what they can do. It has been fun. It is tough, but I think we are getting better,” Aumiller said.

CHICAGO - Kentucky signee Marcus Lee of California was one of six future Wildcats that played in the McDonald's All-American Game here Wednesday. He had two points and two rebounds in only 12 minutes as he was hampered here by a sore back. During media day Tuesday, he talked about a number of things from a potential unbeaten season at Kentucky to his volleyball career to his teammates: Question: What is goal for the team next year? Lee: “Our main goal is just to mesh as quickly as possible and hopefully not lose a game.” Question: Is 40-0 a goal?

CHICAGO - Kentucky commit Dakari Johnson compares his game to that of Philadelphia 76ers center Andrew Bynum because of his strength, rebounding and low-post scoring prowess. He averaged 17 points, 11 rebounds and 4.3 blocked shot per game for Montverde Academy in Florida this season. He's a New York native but also lived in Lexington for a brief time in junior high before his family moved to New Jersey. He's playing in the McDonald's All-American Game here Wednesday night - one of at least six future Cats in the game on ESPN - and spent time after practice Tuesday talking about UK, his play, future teammates and even ping pong: Question: How excited are you about coming to Kentucky as part of the all-time highest ranked recruiting class?

LEXINGTON, Ky. - University of Kentucky women's basketball senior standout A'dia Mathies was named to the Associated Press All-America second team, it was announced on Tuesday. It marks the second consecutive year Mathies has been selected as an AP All-American.   Mathies once again led Kentucky to one of the most successful seasons in program history as the seventh-ranked Wildcats won a school-record 30 games, including a program-record tying 13 Southeastern Conference contests.