Advertisement
football Edit

Bledsoe on board with Cats

Wednesday morning five-star prospect Eric Bledsoe made the expected official when he announced at Birmingham (Ala.) Parker High School that he would join Coach Calipari's Kentucky program. He also vaults Kentucky's recruiting class to the top of the rankings.
There will be a new No. 1 at the top of the Rivals.com 2009 team recruiting rankings on Thursday. Bledsoe gives the Wildcats their third five-star prospect along with DeMarcus Cousins and Daniel Orton. Add on four-star prospects Darnell Dodson and Jon Hood and it is a spectacular class.
Advertisement
Now the Kentucky program puts its undivided attention on John Wall, the No. 1 ranked prospect in the Rivals150. Wall, who appears to be down to Duke, Kentucky and Miami, informed Rivals.com on Tuesday that a Bledsoe commitment to Kentucky would have no affect on his decision making.
Certainly Wall is secure in his ability to beat out any competition at his position, and Bledsoe certainly isn't the type to back away from competition. In fact Bledsoe's competitiveness is one of his greatest attributes.
"I don't know what Wall is going to do," said Parker head coach Maurice Ford. "And who says Wall is better? Eric doesn't care if Wall comes or not. He's ready to compete regardless."
And who says the two prospects have to compete for the same spot? If there were ever an offense built to accommodate two point guards on the floor at once, it is the Dribble Drive Offense. Every perimeter player is expected to take his man off the dribble, and if it isn't there, give the ball up. The more playmakers off the dribble the better. The antithesis of the Dribble Drive Offense is one guy pounding the ball until the high ball screen frees him up.
Coach Ford fully expects his point guard to thrive under Coach Calipari.
"Eric is going to fit in well at Kentucky," Ford said. "He is made for the Dribble Drive Offense. It is the type of system that takes advantage of his full abilities. He will flourish in it."
Bledsoe, who averaged 22 points, eight rebounds, six assists per game for 5A state runner-up Parker High, is the No. 23 ranked prospect in the Rivals150.
Advertisement