[Batpuff]

By Jerry Tipton

HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

Amid fan anxiety about recent prospects that got away, Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith declined to label the 2006-07 recruiting year that begins today as especially important.

"Every year is important," he said yesterday. "We've not had a non-important year in recruiting."

College coaches begin the July evaluation period today. Prospects will be on display in all-star camps in Indiana, New Jersey and Georgia this week.

Smith called the need to replenish Kentucky's frontcourt as "pretty obvious." Two big men once expected to be part of the 2006-07 team, Shagari Alleyne and Rekalin Sims, transferred. Power forward Sheray Thomas and center Lukasz Obrzut will be seniors.

And, Smith added, "You're always concerned about people leaving early." Junior-to-be Randolph Morris is a free agent in the eyes of the NBA and will presumably investigate his pro value after next season.

Expecting to fill between three and five scholarships this coming recruiting year, Smith said he aimed to add wing players as well as a center.

Kentucky's struggles this past recruiting year to add a forward were well chronicled. In the fall, the Cats figured to get either Brandan Wright or Deon Thompson, then North Carolina signed both.

Thereafter, such forward prospects as Thaddeus Young (Georgia Tech), Tyler Smith (Iowa), Darrell Arthur (Kansas) and Damion James (Texas) chose other schools over Kentucky.

This spring, one-time North Carolina State signee Dan Werner joined the group by committing to Florida.

When asked about the perception of a problem in recruiting, Smith said, "I don't have any comment on that. I think we have pretty good players. I think we're going to be fine in what we're trying to do."

Only three years ago, Smith was the toast of the recruiting world. His haul of three McDonald's All-Americans (Joe Crawford, Rajon Rondo and Morris) tied a school record for a single year.

The UK coach declined to comment on recent criticism except to note that "the Internet is full of a lot of crap."

But Smith stopped short of dismissing Internet chatter that had former assistant Shawn Finney rejoining the UK staff. Finney left UK in 2000 to become head coach at Tulane. He was dismissed in 2005.

"Could be," Smith said of reports of Finney's joining UK's staff. "Could not be."

Smith offered guarded optimism about Kentucky's team next season. The Cats return Morris and Crawford. Bobby Perry scored 45 points in two NCAA Tournament games. Guards Derrick Jasper and Jodie Meeks head the freshman class.

"The goal is the same as it's always been: be the best team we can be," Smith said, "and grow the program the best we can.

"We've got good players."

Smith shied from the automatic assumption that good players translate into a good season.

"We had all the expectations in the world last year," he said, "and had one of our worst teams."

Online
Join Herald-Leader staff writer Jerry Tipton for an online chat about Kentucky basketball Monday from 1-2 p.m.

Pre-register at kentucky.com


These are high school players whose interests have been linked to Kentucky's by recruiting services. (x-Top 25 prospect; y-Top 50):

Point guards

Jai Lucas, 5-9, Houston

B.J. Holmes, 6-0, Houston

Gerald Robinson, 6-0, Nashville

Josh White, 5-10, Baton Rouge, La.

Kamryon Brown, 6-2, Santa Ana, Calif.

Shooting guards

Rodney Haddix, 6-3, Georgetown, Ky.

Dante Jackson, 6-5, Greenfield, Ohio

Eshaunte Jones, 6-3, Fort Wayne, Ind.

x-O.J. Mayo, 6-4, Cincinnati

Steffphon Pettigrew, 6-4,

Elizabethtown, Ky.

Small Forwards

James Anderson, 6-6, Junction City, Ark.

Marshall Moses, 6-6, Kernersville, N.C.

Tyrone Shelley, 6-7, San Diego

Mike Singletary, 6-5, Kingwood, Texas

x-Billy Walker, 6-6, Cincinnati

Power forwards

x-J.J. Hickson, 6-8, Marietta, Ga.

x-Gary Johnson, 6-7, Houston,

Nayal Koshwal, 6-8, Chicago

y-Trevor Mbakwe, 6-7, Mendota Heights, Minn.

Patrick Patterson, 6-7, Huntington, W.Va.

x-Anthony Randolph, 6-10, Dallas

Isaiah Rusher, 6-8, Bellaire, Texas

Josh Southern, 6-9, Saginaw, Mich.

Centers

Aaron Pogue, 6-7, Dayton, Ohio

List compiled by Rivals.com and the Prep Stars recruiting service

Where the boys are

The July evaluation period begins today with three major events at which college coaches can check out the latest crop of high school basketball prospects. These camps run today through Sunday and are followed by several other camps later this month:

• Nike Camp, Indianapolis

• Reebok ABCD Camp, Teaneck, N.J.

• Adidas Superstar Camp, Suwanee, Ga