06-18-2006, 02:16 AM
Once the supposed king of all it surveyed, Kentucky basketball has now lost a recruiting battle to "flip-flops and sandals."
This latest insult came Saturday when prospect Dan Werner committed to Florida over UK.
His father, Ron Werner, cited the weather advantage Florida enjoyed. For all its Blue-blooded tradition and routine excellence, UK cannot match Gainesville's moderate temperatures in January and February.
"Going to school in flip-flops and sandals eight months of the year was appealing to Dan," the player's father, Ron Werner, said.
Werner, the New Jersey Player of the Year, originally committed to North Carolina State last fall. He sought a new school after Coach Herb Sendek left N.C. State for Arizona State.
Kentucky, which struck out repeatedly on forward prospects (most notably Brandan Wright, Deon Thompson and Thaddeus Young) this recruiting year, seemed an ideal fit. Like all prospects, Werner sought immediate playing time. With Rekalin Sims transferring and Sheray Thomas not yet able to take charge, Kentucky had a clear need at power forward.
By contrast, Florida returns all five starters from a national championship team.
Yet Werner committed to Florida.
"He felt comfortable with what Coach (Billy) Donovan said about playing time and where he fit in," Ron Werner said. Donovan held out the prospect of playing 15 to 20 minutes a game next season, the elder Werner said.
UK Coach Tubby Smith noted Werner's ability to "contribute right away," the player's father said. "Kentucky was very professional. (Dan) was very secure and happy with the entire staff."
At 6-foot-8, Werner is billed as the kind of multi-skilled forward all programs desire: big enough to rebound and play inside while possessing the perimeter skills that create matchup problems for the opposition.
UK and Florida each likened Werner to one of its former stars: Scott Padgett for the Cats, Matt Bonner for the Gators.
Kentucky's tradition dwarfs Florida's (and almost every other school's). But for the average 18-year-old, Dan Issel might as well be Red Grange, a figure off the yellowed pages of yesteryear.
Scarily (from UK's point of view), Ron Werner equated Florida's tradition with Kentucky's.
"In the last five or 10 years, both are very high-level programs," he said. "They'll both probably be in the top 10 next year."
This latest insult came Saturday when prospect Dan Werner committed to Florida over UK.
His father, Ron Werner, cited the weather advantage Florida enjoyed. For all its Blue-blooded tradition and routine excellence, UK cannot match Gainesville's moderate temperatures in January and February.
"Going to school in flip-flops and sandals eight months of the year was appealing to Dan," the player's father, Ron Werner, said.
Werner, the New Jersey Player of the Year, originally committed to North Carolina State last fall. He sought a new school after Coach Herb Sendek left N.C. State for Arizona State.
Kentucky, which struck out repeatedly on forward prospects (most notably Brandan Wright, Deon Thompson and Thaddeus Young) this recruiting year, seemed an ideal fit. Like all prospects, Werner sought immediate playing time. With Rekalin Sims transferring and Sheray Thomas not yet able to take charge, Kentucky had a clear need at power forward.
By contrast, Florida returns all five starters from a national championship team.
Yet Werner committed to Florida.
"He felt comfortable with what Coach (Billy) Donovan said about playing time and where he fit in," Ron Werner said. Donovan held out the prospect of playing 15 to 20 minutes a game next season, the elder Werner said.
UK Coach Tubby Smith noted Werner's ability to "contribute right away," the player's father said. "Kentucky was very professional. (Dan) was very secure and happy with the entire staff."
At 6-foot-8, Werner is billed as the kind of multi-skilled forward all programs desire: big enough to rebound and play inside while possessing the perimeter skills that create matchup problems for the opposition.
UK and Florida each likened Werner to one of its former stars: Scott Padgett for the Cats, Matt Bonner for the Gators.
Kentucky's tradition dwarfs Florida's (and almost every other school's). But for the average 18-year-old, Dan Issel might as well be Red Grange, a figure off the yellowed pages of yesteryear.
Scarily (from UK's point of view), Ron Werner equated Florida's tradition with Kentucky's.
"In the last five or 10 years, both are very high-level programs," he said. "They'll both probably be in the top 10 next year."