[kywldcat01]

From Jody Demling's blog:

Kentucky Sweet 16 MVP Ricardo Johnson of Covington Holmes picked up his second firm schoalrship offer when he received one from Ohio University. Ohio U. joins Bradley as the two frontrunners for the services of Johnson.

http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/demling/blog.html

[kywldcat01]

The Holmes' 6-foot-5 wing that led them to a State Championship received his second offer Friday night.

Johnson called me around 10:30 to alert me that Ohio University had contacted him earlier in the night and offered him his second Division-I scholarship.

The first to offer was the Bradley Braves.

Notes:
- Johnson flat out played himself into this offer. He created a buzz with his play at the Adidas Take 5ive when he dominated in the final day.
- This is about what level you would expect Johnson to end up at with the chance to move up based on his play this season.
- Expect this to trigger some more MAC offers from local schools such as Kent State and Akron. They will battle it out for the services of Johnson.

http://nkysportsblog.blogspot.com/2009/0...offer.html

[tezzy859]

It's great to see Rico get another D-1 offer. I see Pittman is still without an offer. Any news on that. I hear all of the Mac schools are recruiting Pittman and Johnson.

[goodguy]

Congratulations to an outstanding young man and basketball player. Before it's all over, there will be many more offers.

[Stardust]

Congratulations to an outstanding young man and basketball player. Before it's all over, there will be many more offers.

Agreed, there will be lots of offers forthcoming for this young man

[goodguy]

It's great to see Rico get another D-1 offer. I see Pittman is still without an offer. Any news on that. I hear all of the Mac schools are recruiting Pittman and Johnson.

From what I hear, Pittman will probably go the JUCO route to begin with.

[Spud6]

Congratulations to an outstanding young man and basketball player. Before it's all over, there will be many more offers.

:Thumbs:

No doubt, he will have more college offers.

[tezzy859]

Will the KY Players be playing in Orlando?

[kywldcat01]

Will the KY Players be playing in Orlando?

Welcome to the site Tez :Thumbs:

The KY Players won't be playing at nationals in Orlando this year. I did speak with Ric though and he said both him and his brother, JJ, will be playing with the NKY Firebirds down there.

The NKY Firebirds will take the following team down there:

6'5 Ricardo Johnson- Holmes
6'5 Jeremiah Johnson- Holmes
6'5 Tyler Grubbs- Highlands
6'4 Cory Dill- Highlands
6'1 Steven Gordon- Highlands
5'8 Zach Lother- Highlands
6'2 Brandon Tucker- Newport
6'4 Casey Mcdaniel- Newport

I'm pretty sure there's a few more players, possibly from Campbell Co or Newcath, but not sure who they are.

[tezzy859]

Welcome to the site Tez :Thumbs:

The KY Players won't be playing at nationals in Orlando this year. I did speak with Ric though and he said both him and his brother, JJ, will be playing with the NKY Firebirds down there.

The NKY Firebirds will take the following team down there:

6'5 Ricardo Johnson- Holmes
6'5 Jeremiah Johnson- Holmes
6'5 Tyler Grubbs- Highlands
6'4 Cory Dill- Highlands
6'1 Steven Gordon- Highlands
5'8 Zach Lother- Highlands
6'2 Brandon Tucker- Newport
6'4 Casey Mcdaniel- Newport

I'm pretty sure there's a few more players, possibly from Campbell Co or Newcath, but not sure who they are.

Good to hear that. Looking for JJ to breakout and open some eyes. He really seems to be flying under the radar.

[birds3pete09]

Welcome to the site Tez :Thumbs:

The KY Players won't be playing at nationals in Orlando this year. I did speak with Ric though and he said both him and his brother, JJ, will be playing with the NKY Firebirds down there.

The NKY Firebirds will take the following team down there:

6'5 Ricardo Johnson- Holmes
6'5 Jeremiah Johnson- Holmes
6'5 Tyler Grubbs- Highlands
6'4 Cory Dill- Highlands
6'1 Steven Gordon- Highlands
5'8 Zach Lother- Highlands
6'2 Brandon Tucker- Newport
6'4 Casey Mcdaniel- Newport

I'm pretty sure there's a few more players, possibly from Campbell Co or Newcath, but not sure who they are.

Grubbs won't be going to Orlando. It's football season.

[goodguy]

Grubbs won't be going to Orlando. It's football season.

If this is true it will hurt the Firebirds, Grubbs is their big!

[kywldcat01]

Good to hear that. Looking for JJ to breakout and open some eyes. He really seems to be flying under the radar.

JJ was very impressive in the semi's and finals of the Adidas It Takes 5ive Classic.

Ricardo was obviously the best player on the floor both games, but several scouts and coaches came away impressed with JJ as well and were surprised at how much his offensive game has improved since last year.

JJ split time with Rico at the point a lot and showed a great ability when handling the ball. I, too, look for him to break out this year. He needs to improve his outside shot, but 17 feet and in, he was automatic and got to the rim whenever he wanted. I'd even go as far as saying he was more impressive handling the ball than Rico.

Rico is really tough though and can get to the rim with ease because of his strength. BTW, for those who haven't seen him over the summer, they're going to be surprised when they do...his arms have gotten noticably bigger and you can tell he's been hitting the weights hard.

[tezzy859]

JJ was very impressive in the semi's and finals of the Adidas It Takes 5ive Classic.

Ricardo was obviously the best player on the floor both games, but several scouts and coaches came away impressed with JJ as well and were surprised at how much his offensive game has improved since last year.

JJ split time with Rico at the point a lot and showed a great ability when handling the ball. I, too, look for him to break out this year. He needs to improve his outside shot, but 17 feet and in, he was automatic and got to the rim whenever he wanted. I'd even go as far as saying he was more impressive handling the ball than Rico.

Rico is really tough though and can get to the rim with ease because of his strength. BTW, for those who haven't seen him over the summer, they're going to be surprised when they do...his arms have gotten noticably bigger and you can tell he's been hitting the weights hard.

I like JJ's game a lot. He has good handles, great rebounder{maybe the best rebounder on Holmes team}, and he is easily Holmes fastest player. KyWildcat where do you see J.J ranked with the top players of his class in the state? I would say 10 - 12 range.

[kywldcat01]

I like JJ's game a lot. He has good handles, great rebounder{maybe the best rebounder on Holmes team}, and he is easily Holmes fastest player. KyWildcat where do you see J.J ranked with the top players of his class in the state? I would say 10 - 12 range.

JJ is the best rebounder for Holmes...hands down. He crashes the boards hard and I think this is what separates him from a lot of other players in his class. I'd expect him to land at a mid major...probably in the MAC conference.

As far as where he should be ranked, IMO he is easily a top 10 player in the c/o 2010. What has hurt him is he plays with the two best players in the state (Pittman, R. Johnson) so he often gets overshadowed and lost in the offense because he was the 4th option for Holmes last year and this year he'll be the third option.

[qryche11]

Welcome to the site Tez :Thumbs:

The KY Players won't be playing at nationals in Orlando this year. I did speak with Ric though and he said both him and his brother, JJ, will be playing with the NKY Firebirds down there.

The NKY Firebirds will take the following team down there:

6'5 Ricardo Johnson- Holmes
6'5 Jeremiah Johnson- Holmes
6'5 Tyler Grubbs- Highlands
6'4 Cory Dill- Highlands
6'1 Steven Gordon- Highlands
5'8 Zach Lother- Highlands
6'2 Brandon Tucker- Newport
6'4 Casey Mcdaniel- Newport

I'm pretty sure there's a few more players, possibly from Campbell Co or Newcath, but not sure who they are.

I believe the updated roster is below.

6'5 Ricardo Johnson- Holmes
6'5 Jeremiah Johnson- Holmes
6'1 Conner Crowley (jr)- Highlands
6'4 Cory Dill- Highlands
6'1 Steven Gordon- Highlands
5'8 Zach Lother- Highlands
6'2 Cody Collins- Newport
6'4 Casey Mcdaniel- Newport
6'6 Jack Stewart -Highlands (JR)

You take Grubbs and George Grote out of the mix who are original members and replace them with a couple of jr's at Highlands who really lack big game experience and they may have their hands full in the 17U Nationals.

Good luck to the Firebirds regardless.

[nkysportsblog]

What's the Stewart kid's story from Highlands? I don't remember him playing last year on JV or Varsity... Did I just miss him?

[goodguy]

I believe the updated roster is below.

6'5 Ricardo Johnson- Holmes
6'5 Jeremiah Johnson- Holmes
6'1 Conner Crowley (jr)- Highlands
6'4 Cory Dill- Highlands
6'1 Steven Gordon- Highlands
5'8 Zach Lother- Highlands
6'2 Cody Collins- Newport
6'4 Casey Mcdaniel- Newport
6'6 Jack Stewart -Highlands (JR)

You take Grubbs and George Grote out of the mix who are original members and replace them with a couple of jr's at Highlands who really lack big game experience and they may have their hands full in the 17U Nationals.

Good luck to the Firebirds regardless.

Actually they should do very well, they are not playing Division 1 they are playing Division 2. With the roster they have, I'd be dissapointed if they don't at least make it to the final four if not win it all. By looking at the pools none of the top 17U teams are playing D2. All the top teams go D1 because that's where the competition is and that's where the college coaches go to watch and scout.

If college coaches know Rico and JJ are on the team they may specifically go to their games to see them, but if someone doesn't contact them they won't know that they are even on that team.

Good luck, they should represent KY well.

[goodguy]

Just looked at the pools again.
Division 1 has 164 teams in it.
Division 2 has 72 teams in it.