INSIDE THIS ISSUE. An indepth look at Kentucky s 2017 football signees. Region 13 Basketball Schedules. Championship level cheerleaders

Transcription

1 Volume 13 Number 1 INSIDE THIS ISSUE An indepth look at Kentucky s 2017 football signees Region 13 Basketball Schedules Championship level cheerleaders Kentucky basketball info Super Bowl LI matchups MORE...

2 An indepth look at the Kentucky Football 2017 signees Abule Abadi Fitzgerald, Defensive Lineman, 6 6, 260, Fr HS, Lakeland, Fla. (Victory Christian Academy) Recorded 24 tackles, along with two sacks and 13 quarterback hurries in 2016 for coach Tommy Lewis at Victory Christian Academy Named second team All County and Florida All State Class 2A honorable mention as a senior in helping the Storm finish 10 2 overall Named to the Southeast Super Region Team by the National Christian School Athletic Association Transferred to Victory Christian after playing at Dade Christian Also a star player on the basketball court Named second team All Dade as a junior after averaging 19.5 points and 10.0 rebounds a game at Dade Christian Originally from Otuan, Nigeria Chose Kentucky over Florida, Florida Atlantic and Florida International Coach Stoops says: Abule has tremendous upside, with great length and the ability to set the edge. He s been through a lot, we re proud of what he has accomplished and what s ahead of him. Tyrell Ajian, Defensive Back, 6 0, 190, Fr HS, Mansfield, Ohio (Madison Comprehensive) Combination athlete in high school, playing defensive back and wide receiver Four star prospect by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN Rivals ranks him the No. 10 overall prospect in the state of Ohio and the No. 23 athlete in the class of 2017 ESPN has him as the No. 8 safety in the country Scout says, He has the size college coaches desire in their defensive backs and is very athletic and has a nose for the football First team OCC All Conference and honorable mention second team All Northwest Ohio in 2016 Nominated for the 2017 U.S. Army All American Bowl Had three interceptions and 54 tackles as a junior, along with 783 receiving yards, 551 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns OCC Offensive Player of the Year and first team Offense All Northwest Ohio in 2015 Also excelled on the basketball court, becoming a member of Madison s 1,000 point club during his senior season Coached by Jamie Masi Chose Kentucky over Michigan State, Tennessee, West Virginia and Notre Dame. Coach Stoops says: Tyrell is a versatile athlete who can play every position in the secondary and has shown great leadership. His awareness and instincts have been evident on the football field and basketball court. Josh Ali, Wide Receiver, 6 0, 180, Fr HS, Hollywood, Fla. (Chaminade Madonna) Three star prospect by all major recruiting services Scout.com ranks him the No. 32 wide receiver in the talent rich state of Florida Scout says He gl ides and moves effortlessly when navigating the open field and does a good job of sticking his foot in the dirt when getting into his breaks and making cuts, and really keeps defenders on their toes by not giving away his route Caught 43 passes for 805 yards and four receiving TDs in 2016 in helping lead the Lions to a 10 5 overall record and an appearance in the Class 3A state championship game Named first team All County Also had one kickoff return for a touchdown Hauled in 56 passes for 896 yards and 15 scores as a junior at University School in Ft. Lauderdale Coached by Dameon Jones at Chaminade High school teammate of fellow 2017 signee Chris Whittaker Chose Kentucky over Central Florida, South Florida, Utah, Cincinnati and West Virginia Coach Stoops says: Josh is a very polished wide receiver and an explosive athlete with the ball in his hand. He has the skills to play both as an inside receiver and an outside receiver. Quinton Bohanna, Defensive Lineman, 6 4, 320, Fr HS, Cordova, Tenn. (Cordova) Three star prospect by all the major recruiting services Ranks as the No. 45 defensive tackle in the 2017 class Rivals says His explosive power is impressive, as are his first couple of steps. He gets off the ball with the kind of quickness you rarely see in an interior defensive lineman of his size, at his age, and he is very fast in pursuit A three time member of the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Class 6A All State team Named 2016 American Family Insurance All USA Tennessee Football FirstTeam Defense Picked for the Autozone Liberty Bowl High School All Star game Had an impressive 91 tackles (52 solo) his senior season with 24 tackles for loss and 19 sacks in helping lead Cordova to a 12 2 overall record and an appearance in the TSSAA 6A semifinals Coached by Anthony Jones CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

3 An indepth look at the Kentucky Football 2017 signees Chose Kentucky after offers from Louisville and Memphis. Coach Stoops says: Quinton has the size to play the nose position but also the length and athleticism to play multiple spots. He ll be a force in the middle with his massive wingspan. Lynn Bowden, Athlete, 6 1, 190, Fr HS, Youngstown, Ohio (Warren Harding) Considered to be one of the most dynamic playmakers in the country A four star prospect by all the major recruiting services Ranked one of the top 100 players in the 2017 class by ESPN and Scout Ranked as the nation s No. 5 athlete by 247Sports Scout lists him as the No. 60 overall prospect in the class Drawing comparisons to former UK athlete Randall Cobb as he played quarterback in high school but can also play wide receiver and several other positions on offense and special teams Scout recruiting analyst Bill Greene said, He s a threat to score every time he touches the football and when he gets in a college system where he s not the focal point of the defense, he could really be dangerous then Another Scout analyst said, Everybody s goal was to stop him, and he ran right through everybody Ended his senior season throwing for 1,366 yards, rushing for 2,277 yards and accounting for 57 total touchdowns Named the 2016 Division II Offensive Player of the Year, the Northeast Ohio Inland District Offensive Player of the Year and Trumbull County Player of the Year Runner up for Mr. Football in Ohio Helped lead the Raiders to an 11 2 overall record and a trip to the Division II Regional Championship Owns or shares 16 school records and is Ohio s sixth all time rusher with 7,387 yards and 10th in rushing touchdowns with 91 Also excels in basketball, averaging 24.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game as a senior. Picked Kentucky after offers from Penn State, Indiana, Michigan State, Michigan and others. Coach Stoops says: Lynn is one of the most explosive high school athletes we ve signed at Kentucky. He s extremely dynamic with the ball, a play maker who can play multiple positions. Yusuf Corker, Defensive Back, 6 0, 190, Fr HS, McDonough, Ga. (Woodland) Four star defensive back andreceiver at Woodland High School in Stockbridge, Ga., where he was coached by Steve Davenport... The nation's No. 26 cornerback by ESPN and Scout The No. 1 cornerback in the state of Georgia by Scout.com... ESPN says "Has lock down skill set, can play on an island. Makes great reads on the underneath pass with precise timing and anticipation. Transitions fluidly with limited wasted motion in and out of his pedal... Was timed at 4.63 in the 40 Made 26 tackles, including 23 solo, along with three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and two blocked punts on defense in Offensively, had 20 receptions for 447 yards and four touchdowns for a 23.0 yards per reception average Helped lead his team to a 10 3 overall record and the 4 5A playoffs as a senior... Two time member of the Atlanta Journal Constitution s All Metro Team Named to the AJC s All State Defensive Team as senior Chose Kentucky over South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Penn State and Michigan State. Coach Stoops says: Yusuf is a strong, physical defensive back. He is very dedicated to his craft and a strong leader. Sebastien Dolcine, Offensive Tackle, 6 4, 300, Fr HS, Hollywood, Fla. (Miramar) Offensive line prospect who only began playing football in high school and shows plenty of potential 247Sports ranks him as a three star prospect and the No. 78 offensive guard in the nation ESPN scouting report says, Tough, physical OL prospect displays excellent functional strength and good initial quickness in ability to set Helped Miramar finish 8 3 overall Coached by Pierre Senatus Picked Kentucky over Central Florida, Wake Forest, South Florida and N.C. State. Coach Stoops says: Sebastien has great punch and is very athletic. He has a high ceiling in the weight room and on the field. Austin Dotson, Offensive Tackle, 6 6, 310, Fr HS, Belfry, Ky. (Belfry) A three star prospect by ESPN and 247Sports Ranks as the No. 2 offensive tackle in the Commonwealth by ESPN A three year starter for Coach Phillip Haywood, who said, He s a very physical blocker. He s one of these guys who would really get after you and stay after you until the whistle blows. And if we score a touchdown, he d be the first one down there in the end zone patting the guy on the back or tossing him in the air. He just loves playing on the line CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

4 An indepth look at the Kentucky Football 2017 signees Named to The Courier Journal s 2016 All State Football Team as a first team selection after being a second team member as a junior Also named to the AP All State First Team Played right tackle on a massive offensive line that helped the Pirates average rushing yards and 44.1 points per game Helped Belfry win its sixth overall, including fourth straight Class 3 A State championship with a win over Central in 2016 Member of the Kentucky squad in the Best of the Bluegrass All Star Game Chose Kentucky over Charlotte, Eastern Kentucky, Florida Atlantic and Marshall. Coach Stoops says: Austin has great size and comes from a program that won four straight state championships. He plays with the aggressiveness you need at that position. Isaiah Epps, Wide Receiver, 6 2, 185, Fr HS, Jenks, Okla. (Jenks) A big, talented wide receiver who had a breakout senior season for Coach Allan Trimble at Jenks Set a Jenks receiving record with 1,209 yards in 2016 with 59catc hes and 12 touchdowns, along with 10 rushes for 76 yards and a score Helped lead the Trojans to an 11 1 overall record with their only loss coming in the 6AI semifinal playoff game Earned District 6A 1 Offensive Player of the Year Named third team All State by The Oklahoman Rivals lists him as a three star wide receiver and ranks him as the 21st best wide receiver in Oklahoma Rivals.com Justin Rowland says, Epps is a fascinating prospect because he was a basketball guy for most of his life and is really new to football. You would expect him to be a really raw player but he has taken to the sport very quickly and has proven himself a natural athlete and pass catcher. He comes from a real powerhouse program at Jenks out in Oklahoma and his coaches were convinced that if he had played for longer and gotten more exposure then he would have had offers from almost everybody. There's a little Keenan Burton in his game Also lettered in basketball and track & field at Jenks Older brother, Carson, is currently a wide receiver at Iowa State Chose Kentucky over offers from Illinois, Missouri State and Kansas State. Coach Stoops says: Isaiah comes from one of the top programs in the state of Oklahoma. He showed great hands in high school and has huge upside. Phil Hoskins, Defensive Lineman, 6 5, 280, So JC, Toledo, Ohio (Whitmer/Highland CC) Strong junior college prospect Was a three star recruit by all of the major recruiting services out of high school before going to junior college Among JUCO players, Scout ranks him 77th overall, while ESPN ranks him the No. 11 defensive tackle in the nation Redshirted the 2016 season Had 25 tackles his freshman season at Highland (Kan.) with eight TFL and four sacks in playing multiple positions along the defensive line Named Three Rivers Athletic Conference (TRAC) All Conference honorable mention as a senior in 2014 at Whitmer, playing for coach Jerry Bell Has a wing span of 84 inches Has three years of eligibility remaining Chose Kentucky over Arkansas, Baylor, Mississippi State, Houston and Oklahoma State. Coach Stoops says: Phil has great size and length. He has shown the ability to rush the passer. We re excited that he comes in as a junior college player with three years of eligibility remaining. Alex King, Outside Linebacker, 6 3, 225, Fr HS, Mason, Ohio (William Mason) Known as one of the most explosive pass rushers off the edge in the Midwest A three star prospect by all four major recruiting services Rivals.com ranks King as the No. 19 prospect from Ohio, while Scout.com ranks him as the No. 2 defensive end from Ohio Second on the team in tackles with 40, including six sacks Also had one forced fumble and one fumble recovery Ranked third overall in sacks in the Greater Miami Conference which earned him a first team All Southwest Ohio and first team All GMC selection, his third straight All GMC first team honor Scout s scouting report says, (King) is a great athlete who runs well and chases down quarterbacks and ball carriers with his speed. Gets off the ball well, has the agility to change direction and in with finesse as a pass rusher. Can still get stronger and improve his general pass rush technique, but athletically, he has the goods Head coach was Brian Castner Helped lead Mason to a 7 5 overall record and the second round of the Division 1 playoffs om 2016 Nominee for the 2017 U.S. Army All American Bowl Also a talented basketball player Picked Kentucky after considering Maryland, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Coach Stoops says: Alex has the athleticism you look for in an outside linebacker. He can defend the run and rush the passer. He also has great passion for the game. Michael Nesbitt, Defensive Back, 6 0, 185, Fr HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Boyd Anderson) A three star recruit by all the major recruiting databases ESPN ranks him the 43rd best cornerback in the state of Florida ESPN scouting report says, (Nesbitt) is a skilled athlete with upside given his room for continued physical development. Scheme versatile as he plays both safety and corner and is versed in most schemes Rivals Justin Rowland says, Nesbitt is one of the top corners in Florida. That always saying something but especially this year. He has a great combination of the right size, ball skills and athleticism and has demonstrated an ability to play press, man coverage. He has faced elite competition and matched up well with some of the state s top receivers Coached by Quincy Woods Helped lead Boyd Anderson to a 7 3 record in 2016 In eight games played, he had 80 tackles, two forced fumbles, 18 pass breakups and two interceptions, one returned 71 yards for a touchdowns Named second team All County Also ran track at Boyd Anderson, competing in the 100m, 200m, long jump, and 4x100 meter relay Picked Kentucky after offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Louisville, South Carolina and Central Florida. Coach Stoops says: Michael has big play making ability. He has cover corner skills with the versatility to also play safety. Josh Paschal, Outside Linebacker, 6 3, 270, Fr HS, Olney, Md. (Our Lady of Good Counsel) A four star defensive end prospect by all the major recruiting services Scout ranks him the No. 28 defensive end nationally and No. 2 defensive end from the state of Maryland in the 2017 class 247Sports classifies him as the No. 11 strongside defensive end in the country ESPN scouting report says, A high motored DL with good, straight line speed. Shows good initial burst and quickness to get up field and make plays in the opponent's backfield. Works well to maintain his point and shows good overall leverage vs. the run Recorded 64 tackles as a senior, including nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks Also had four quarterback hurries Named first team All Conference defense by the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) Earned first team All Sentinel by The Sentinel Newspapers Coached by Bill Milloy Older brother, TraVaughn, played for the Wildcats from High school teammate of fellow 2017 signee Naasir Watkins Picked Kentucky over Notre Dame, Penn State and Oklahoma. Coach Stoops says: Josh is a disruptive force with great quickness off the snap. We believe Josh has the ability to be an impact player at a young age. Javonte Richardson, Wide Receiver, 6 4, 230, Fr HS, Maple Heights, Ohio (Maple Heights) Four star recruit who thrived as a wide receiver and safety for Coach Devlin Dulliver at Maple Heights ESPN.com ranks him the 12th best player in the state of Ohio and 24th best wide receiver in the 2017 class ESPN scouting report says, (Javonte) is tall with great length and good bulk. Possesses good foot quickness. Very good route runner who can separate in man and find soft spots in zone. Has strong hands, good leaping ability and the body control to make difficult catches. Fearless over the middle and powers through arm tackles. Willing blocker in the run game Rivals ranks him as the No. 84 recruit in the entire class of 2017 and the No. 2 recruit in Ohio Rated as the 31st best wide receiver in the class of 2017 by 247Sports Compiled 1,190 all purpose yards with eight touchdowns as a senior Also returned kicks Three time Lake Erie League all star Nominated for the 2017 U.S. Army All American Bowl Finished with 38 receptions for 504 total yards and seven TDs as a junior despite battling a back injury Also had eight interceptions on defense Earned honorable mention to the AP Northeast Ohio Lakes District Team in 2015 An all around athlete who also lettered in track and basketball at Maple Heights Chose Kentucky over offers from Michigan and Michigan State. Coach Stoops says: Javonte has physicality and speed. He also has the size and aggressiveness we look for in an SEC wide receiver. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

5 An indepth look at the Kentucky Football 2017 signees Naasir Watkins, Offensive Lineman, 6 5, 300, Fr HS, Laurel, Md. (Our Lady of Good Counsel) A three star offensive line prospect by all four major recruiting services Played tackle and tight end in high school as he possesses an uncommon level of athleticism for a high school lineman Ranks as the No. 19 recruit in the state of Maryland and the No. 92 overall offensive tackle in his class according to 247 Sports ESPN.com lists Watkins as 94th best offensive tackle in the nation ESPN.com s scouting report says, Watkins is a prospect with some raw ability and upside. Good height and bulk with a frame and build that can still be reworked some to carry and better maximize more mass. Displays good strength though room to improve and while good sized he still looks to have youthful type build Earned second team All Sentinel by The Sentinel Newspapers Named second team All Conference defense by the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) Coached by Bill Milloy Chose Kentucky over offers from Bowling Green, Ohio, Dartmouth and Coastal Carolina High school teammate of fellow 2017 signee Josh Paschal. Coach Stoops says: Naasir has good size and the ability to change directions quickly. He loves playing the game and has a bright future. Chris Whittaker, Defensive Lineman, 6 3, 260, Fr HS, Hollywood, Fla. (Chaminade Madonna) A three star recruit Scout lists him as the 12th best defensive end in the state of Florida Listed as the 55th strongside defensive end in the nation and the 148th best prospect in Florida in the 2017 class, according to 247Sports ESPN ranks him the 213th best prospect in Florida and the 106th best defensive end in the class of 2017 ESPN scouting report says, Whittaker has adequate length and overall size with limited upside to continue growth. Has good power and short area burst. Continued development of his strength will benefit. His high athletic ability gives him upside for quick development Rivals Justin Rowland says, Whittaker is built like a traditional 4 3 defensive lineman in the making but his ability to stand up and rush off the edge is a testament to his athleticism. He's one of several players in this class who make Kentucky bigger on the edge and better at getting after the quarterback Coached by Dameon Jones Helped Chaminade Madonna to a 10 5 overall record and an appearance in the Class 3A state championship game Compiled 77 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 22 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries during his senior campaign High school teammate of fellow 2017 signee Josh Ali Picked Kentucky over offers from Central Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, Notre Dame, and Georgia. Coach Stoops says: Chris has the ability to play multiple positions. He has shown the ability to get in the backfield and be a disruptive pass rusher. Jordan Wright, Outside Linebacker, 6 5, 250, Fr HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Dillard) Dual sport standout in football and basketball. A three star football recruit Rivals ranks him as the 25th best defensive end and the 80th best prospect in Florida, while 247Sports has him as the No. 28 weakside defensive end in the country and the No. 67 player in the state of Florida Is the 46th best defensive end in the class of 2017 by ESPN who says, Wright is a tall, lean defender with some good tools and upside, especially as pass rusher Coached by Lorenzo Davis Compiled 25 sacks as a senior Doubled as a tight end in the red zone, catching six touchdowns, including a critical score against Boynton Beach in the District 15 6A three team tiebreaker to lead Dillard to the district title Earned Sun Sentinel's All Broward first team defensive honors in helping the Panthers finish 6 4 overall As a shooting guard, was a back to back preseason Fab Five selection and was an All County pick Led the Panthers hoops team to a Class 6A state title as a junior Chose Kentucky over offers from Central Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, Notre Dame, and Georgia. Coach Stoops says: Jordan s success in multiple sports shows his athleticism. He has great length and speed off the edge. He could be another player who could contribute at a young age KENTUCKY FOOTBALL MID- YEAR SIGNEES Danny Clark, Quarterback, 6 2, 230, Fr. HS, Columbus, Ohio (Archbishop Hoban) Rated among the top 15 pro style quarterbacks nationally in the 2017 class Four star recruit by ESPN and Scout Ranked as the 26th best QB overall and No. 2 in the state of Ohio by Scout A three star prospect 247sports and Rivals Four year letter winner and starter who played his freshman and sophomore seasons at Massillon High School before transferring to Archbishop Hoban Led the Knights to back to back Division III state titles Coached by Tim Tyrrell at Hoban... Helped lead Hoban to a 14 1 record in 2015 with a Division III state title Followed with another championship in 2016 by defeating Trotwood Madison 30 0 in the finals Completed 7 of 10 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns, and also ran for a 34 yard score in the title game Finished his senior season 117 of 213 passing for 2,122 yards and 15 TDs Named secondteam MaxPreps/JJHuddle All Ohio and was an All League selection Elected captain at Hoban as a junior and senior Became the first freshman to start a varsity game at Massillon. Left handed Picked UK over Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama, Miami and Florida State. Personal: Born in Columbus, Ohio... Son of Jeff and Tiffany Clark Major is undecided. Coach Stoops on Clark: Danny is an exceptional leader, competitor and winner, having led his team to two state championships. Jamin Davis, Linebacker, 6 4, 210, Fr. HS, Ludowici, Ga. (Long County) Considered one of the nation s top 50 outside linebackers by 247Sports Has been clocked running a yard dash, and has a 38 inch vertical leap Finished his senior season with 126 tackles, with an impressive 89 solo tackles Averaged 14.0 tackles per contest (nine games) Also had four tackles for loss, a sack, a hurry and a fumble recovery which he returned to the opponent's three yard line Forced two fumbles and blocked both a punt and a field goal Offensively, he had 11 carries for 50 yards, along with 12 receptions for 151 yards and three scores Had 131 tackles as a junior and 45 tackles as a sophomore, totaling 302 career tackles in his prep career Just the second player in Long County High School history to sign with a Division I football program A four year letter winner and hree year starter at Long County for coach Eric McNair McNair said, If I had to sum up Jamin Davis, it would be role model. Gridiron Now says, He can fly to the football and is a fierce hitter. Not only can he bring the wood, Davis shows excellent wrap up fundamentals. He has excellent speed, plays with tremendous aggression and makes plays all over the field. Davis also shows the ability to get up field and after the quarterback and make plays in space. Named Class AAA All State honorable mention by the Atlanta Journal Constitution Three time All Region II selection, earning first team honors in 2015 and 2016 Father, James Davis, played football at Bethune Cookman, while a cousin, Attiyah Henderson played football at San Diego State Chose UK over Louisville, Georgia Tech, Purdue and N.C. State. Personal: Born in Honolulu, Hawaii... Son of Tanga Davis and James Davis Plans a major in mechanical engineering. Coach Stoops on Davis: Jamin is a prototype will (weakside) linebacker, a very athletic player with great length. He is an exceptional person and leader. Cedrick Dort Jr., Defensive Back, 5 11, 170, Fr. HS, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (Dwyer) Rated a three star recruit by 247sports, ESPN and Scout as the No. 42 cornerback in the 2017 class As a senior, named first team All Area by the Palm Beach Post and first team All County by the Sun Sentinel after recording 40 tackles, 14 pass breakups and six interceptions, returning one for a touchdown Played a key role in helping Dwyer finish 10 1 overall in 2016 with its second straight appearance in the Class 7A regional semifinals Did not allow a TD pass, a first down pass or a pass over five yards during the regular season Did not miss a tackle all season and battled against six receivers who are expected to sign Division I scholarships Named one of ESPN s top seniors in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast Was All Area honorable mention in 2015 after helping lead the Panthers to an 11 2 overall record, a district championship title and a berth in the 7A regional semifinal Helped Dwyer shut out two opponents and held six others to 14 points or less A three year letter winner in basketball as a combo guard Has a huge upside as he played only two years of high school football Coached by Jack Daniels Chose UK over Wisconsin, Virginia Tech, Minnesota, Colorado and USF. Personal: Born in Palm Beach, Fla.... Son of Clevette Wiggins and Cedrick Dort Sr. Major is pre management.coach Stoops on Dort: Cedric is a great cover corner. I ve been familiar with that school for a long time and Cedric comes here from a winning program. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

6 An indepth look at the Kentucky Football 2017 signees Lonnie Johnson Jr., DB, 6 3, 215, Jr. JC, Gary, Ind. (Garden City CC) Rated by 247sports as a four star prospect, the No. 2 safety and No. 43 overall player in the junior college ranks In 2015, selected 2nd team All Kansas Jayhawk CCConference after totaling 35 tackles, including 28 solo at Garden City CC (Kan.) Also recorded five interceptions and one fumble recovery Had 66 tackles, two interceptions, two blocked field goals and a blocked punt, while catching 40 passes for 772 yards and 14 touchdowns at West Side HS Also charted 253 rushing yards on 22 carries with five TDs An extremely talented athlete who also excelled at track and field, helping Gary West Side win the 2014 state championship with individual titles in the long jump and 4x100 relay Chose UK over Georgia and West Virginia Two years of eligibility... Son of Nora and Lonnie Johnson. Coach Stoops: We re very excited to add Lonnie. He has great size and athleticism, and versatility to play multiple positions. Bryant Koback, RB, 6 0, 200, Fr. HS, Holland, Ohio (Springfield) A three star recruit by 247Sports who is rated the No. 37 running back in 2017 Was set to have a standout senior season, even rushing for a school record 375 yards and six touchdowns in a win over Perrysburg, before suffering a season ending leg injury the following game Prior to the injury, Koback had rushed 93 times for 1,096 yards and an impressive 21 total touchdowns (19 rushing and two receiving) in four games Also had seven catches for 154 yards and two scores Rushed for 2,015 yards and 31 touchdowns on 194 carries as a junior Named Div. II first team All State by The AP in 2015 Compiled over 100 yards in every full game he played, totaling more than 400 all purpose yards a game Overall, totaled 57 career touchdowns and over 4,400 all purpose yards in his prep career A four year letter winner and three year starter at Springfield who was elected team captain as a junior and senior Also lettered two seasons in track and field Chose UK over West Virginia, Georgia and Northwestern. Son of Mary Koback Coach Stoops: Bryant is a great kid and home run threat on the field. He is an electric runner, with excellent vision and top end speed. Clevan Thomas Jr., WR, 5 11, 190, Fr. HS, Miami, Fla. (Flanagan) Three star recruit who is ranked as one of the nation s top 100 receivers by every major scouting service Scout says, Thomas is a pass catcher that flashes a great burst when getting in and out of his breaks. Contributed at several positions for the District 12 8A champs and regional semifinalist Falcons in 2016, playing DB, WR and TE Named to the Broward Football 8A 6A Offense First Team as a receiver Caught nine TD passes as a junior in helping lead the Falcons win the 2015 Class 8A state championship A three year letter winner and starter Father, Clevan Thomas, was a defensive back at Florida State in the 1990s Chose UK over Michigan, Louisville and Syracuse. Son of Yera and Clevan Thomas. Coach Stoops: Clevan is an exciting wide receiver, an extremely tough competitor who has shown the athletic ability to play multiple positions. His father was a great player at Florida State and I see a lot of the same qualities in Clevan. Walker Wood, QB, 6 0, 190, Fr. HS, Lexington, Ky. (Lafayette) Three star recruit by every major recruiting service Rated as the No. 24 dual threat quarterback in the 2017 class by Rivals Completed 203 of 321 passes (63.2 percent) for 3,047 yards and 30 touchdowns in leading the Lafayette Generals to a 13 2 overall record and an appearance in the Class 6 A championship game for the second straight year Also rushed for 1,321 yards and 31 touchdowns and averaged 6.6 yards per carry Received the Hornung Award, given by the Louisville QB Club to the state s top player and was a 1st team All State selection by the Courier Journal Lexington Player of the Year by the Herald Leader All USA Kentucky Football Offensive Player of the Year and First Team honors by USA Today Candidate for Kentucky s Mr. Football Named 3rd team All State by The Courier Journal as a junior after totaling 43 touchdowns (22 rushing, 21 passing) and leading Lafayette to the Class 6 A state final Saw varsity action as a freshman and finished his career with 8,230 passing yards and 74 touchdowns, along with 4,199 rushing yards and 73 touchdowns Elected team captain as a junior and senior High school teammate of current UK offensive lineman Landon Young Chose UK over Louisville, Ohio and Wake Forest. Son of Tom and Wesley Wood Coach Stoops: Both of the QB s in this class have similar qualities Walker is an exceptional leader, competitor and winner. He s a dual threat quarterback who can be the most dangerous when a play breaks down. ~END~

7 Super Bowl LI: Two teams. One game. It all comes down to this. On Sunday, February 5, the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons will meet in Super Bowl LI (6:30 PM ET, FOX) at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. It s an honor to get to go and play in this game, says Patriots wide receiver JU- LIAN EDELMAN, who is the franchise postseason leader in both catches (84) and receiving yards (937). This is what you fight for. This is what you train for. It s to get an opportunity to play in this game. Super Bowl LI will feature the NFL s top-scoring team Atlanta (540 points, 33.8 points per game) against the club which allowed the fewest points in the league New England (250 points, 15.6 points per game). It marks the sixth time since the 1970 merger that the Super Bowl showcases the team that led the NFL in scoring against the club that allowed the fewest points. This is a really special team, says Falcons fullback PATRICK DI MARCO. We have so many playmakers on offense, defense and special teams. This is a special time for this organization. I am super proud and super excited we are going to be playing in Houston. The ultimate goal is to win the Super Bowl not just get there and we still have a game ahead of us. We still have one more game to win. New England advanced to its NFLrecord ninth Super Bowl by defeating Pittsburgh Atlanta defeated Green Bay to earn its second ever trip to the Super Bowl. Patriots head coach BILL BELICHICK and quarterback TOM BRADY will be making their seventh Super Bowl appearance together, the most NFL title games for any head coach and starting quarterback duo in league history. Belichick and Brady have won four Super Bowls together, tied with Pittsburgh head coach CHUCK NOLL and quarterback TERRY BRADSHAW for the most by a head coach and starting quarterback combination. I m proud of this team, says Belichick. They all deserve this. It s a good, hard-working group. Belichick is tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Noll for the most Super Bowl victories by a head coach with four. Brady, who is making his NFL-record seventh career Super Bowl start, is tied with Pro Football Hall of Famers Bradshaw and JOE MONTANA for the most Super Bowl wins by a starting quarterback with four. You never know if you ll get these opportunities in life and fortunately this team has got the opportunity, says Brady about advancing to the Super Bowl. Now we ve got to do something and go try and take advantage of it. Brady and Montana are the only players in NFL history to be named Super Bowl MVP three times. Brady, who was the MVP of Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII and XLIX, can become the first player ever to win Super Bowl MVP honors four times. Brady enters Super Bowl LI already holding numerous Super Bowl passing records, including attempts (247), completions (164), yards (1,605) and touchdown passes (13). He s the best quarterback to ever play the game, says Patriots running back LE GARRETTE BLOUNT about Brady. He s obviously, in my opinion, the best ever. The Patriots have won nine consecutive games and advanced to the Super Bowl with a victory over Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. In that contest, Brady passed for 384 yards and three touchdowns, including two scoring strikes to wide receiver CHRIS HOGAN. Hogan finished the game with nine catches for a franchise postseasonrecord 180 yards and two touchdowns. I m just happy to take advantage of this opportunity and be a part of this team, says Hogan. This whole team has worked so hard starting in April in OTAs. We ve grinded through this entire year. This is what we worked for and this is what we wanted to get to. Patriots running back Blount, who led the NFL with a club-record 18 rushing touchdowns, added a rushing TD against the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. Including the postseason, Blount s 19 rushing touchdowns are tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer CURTIS MARTIN (1996) for the most by a Patriots player in a single season. The Falcons advanced to the Super Bowl for the second time in franchise history (Super Bowl XXXIII, 1998 season) with a win over Green Bay in the final game at the Georgia Dome. Atlanta, which led the NFL with 540 points scored, has won six consecutive games and is averaging 39.0 points per game over that span. The Falcons are the first team ever to advance to the Super Bowl by scoring at least 30 points in each of the club s previous six games. I m happy for everybody in our organization, says Falcons quarterback MATT RYAN. We ve worked hard to get to this point but the challenge is still in front of us. What we set out to accomplish is still in front of us. It s really difficult to get to this point, and we will enjoy the process leading into it, but our ultimate goal is still in front of us. Falcons head coach DAN QUINN, who is in his second year with the team, will be making his third Super Bowl appearance in the past four seasons. Quinn was Seattle s defensive coordinator in Super Bowls XLVIII (2013 season) and XLIX (2014). I am excited for the opportunity, but more importantly, I m excited for these players, says Quinn. It ll be a great challenge. Atlanta quarterback Ryan, who led the league with a franchise-record passer rating, has continued his stellar play in the postseason with a passer rating. Over the team s six-game winning streak, Ryan has thrown 18 touchdown passes and no interceptions for a passer rating. MVP, says Falcons wide receiver JULIO JONES when asked how to describe Ryan. He s a great player. He s a great leader on this team and he s my brother. Ryan has thrown at least three touchdown passes in four consecutive postseason games, the first player in NFL history to accomplish the feat. In this year s playoffs, Ryan has seven touchdown passes and no interceptions. The Falcons have spread the ball out as Ryan threw a touchdown pass to 13 different players in the regular season, the most ever in a season in league history. Among his favorite targets is Jones, who led the NFL averaging receiving yards per game this season (1,409 yards in 14 games). He s a beast, says Ryan about Jones. He s an absolute stud. I ve been so lucky to play with him as long as I have. Jones had nine catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns in the NFC Championship Game against the Packers. It marked his second career postseason game with at least 180 receiving yards and two touchdowns and he is the only player in league history to accomplish that feat in multiple playoff games. In five career postseason games, Jones has 552 receiving yards and five touchdown catches. His average of receiving yards per game is the highest in NFL postseason history (minimum five games). Defensively, the Falcons are powered by VIC BEASLEY JR., who led the NFL in sacks (15.5), and a quartet of rookies safety KEANU NEAL, cornerback BRIAN POOLE and linebackers DEION JONES and DE VONDRE CAMPBELL. All four rookies started in the NFC Championship Game and Atlanta can become the first team ever to start four rookies on defense in the Super Bowl. Jones (106) and Neal (105) led all NFL rookies in tackles this season. Every day, we are just trying to get one percent better for the guy next to us, says Poole. Every play, we are go ing to give it all we ve got and not let our teammates down. We re going out there trying to play ball and let people know that what we ve got is serious. Beasley, who is in his second year, had a career-high 15.5 sacks and is the first Falcons player to lead the league in sacks. During the team s current six-game winning streak, Atlanta has allowed just 19.3 points per game (27.6 points per game in the team s first 12 games). We feel like we have the potential to be a great defense, says Beasley. Early in the season, we weren t playing as well but we have come a long way and now we re going to the Super Bowl.

8 De Aaron Fox Among 10 Finalists for Bob Cousy Award Tyler Ulis became Kentucky s first winner of the award a season ago SPRINGFIELD, Mass. Kentucky floor general De Aaron Fox is among 10 finalists for the 2017 Bob Cousy award, which annually honors the nation s top point guard, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Monday. Fox is one of four freshmen to make the list of 10 finalists, joining NC State s Dennis Smith, UCLA s Lonzo Ball and Washington s Markelle Fultz. Faced with the unenviable task of replacing the 2016 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year award winner, Tyler Ulis, Fox has filled his shoes admirably and made his own mark as one of the nation s fastest and craftiest players. Fox is currently averaging 15.9 points, 5.7 assists and 1.6 steals. His 5.7 assists per game ranks 23rd in the country, fourth among all freshmen and first in the SEC, while his 2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio is third in the conference. His 120 assists are slight behind where Ulis (124) sat through the first 21 games last season when he went on to break the school s single-season assists record. Fox already has a team-leading four double-doubles by way of points and assists, which includes his historic triple-double against Arizona State the second tripledouble in school history and first since Chris Mills did it Dec. 27, The Houston native has 10 games of six assists or more this season. He is also among the players listed for the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Oscar Robertson Trophy and the Wayman Tisdale Award for the nation s player and freshman of the year, respectively. The Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award is named after Hall of Famer and former Boston Celtic and Holy Cross guard Bob Cousy. The award is in its 14th year of recognizing the top point guard among Division I players. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates in October and the same committee trimmed the list to the midseason list of 10 finalists. The winner will be announced at the ESPN s College Basketball Awards show on April 7. UK Sports Photo

9 February 1 Harlan Boys at Jenkins February 2 OBI Boys at Pineville Leslie County Boys at Williamsburg OBI Girls at Buckhorn Pineville Girls at Knox Central South Laurel Girls at North Laurel Barbourville Girls at Lynn Camp February 3 Middlesboro Boys at Bell County Jackson County Boys at Clay County Harlan Boys at Harlan County Lynn Camp Boys at Model South Laurel Boys at North Laurel OBI Boys at Red Bird Corbin Boys at Whitley County Middlesboro Girls at Bell County Jackson County Girls at Clay County Williamsburg Girls at Frankfort Harlan Girls at Harlan County Knox Central Girls at Leslie County OBI Girls at Red Bird Corbin Girls at Whitley County February 4 Paris Boys at Corbin Pikeville Boys at Harlan County OBI Boys at North Laurel Tates Creek Boys at Knox Central Jackson County Boys at Red Bird Sayre Boys at South Laurel Pineville Boys at Thomas Walker, VA Shelby Valley Boys at Harlan Clay County Girls vs. Livingston Acad, TN Jackson County Girls at Buckhorn Middlesboro Girls at Barbourville Williamsburg Girls at Lynn Camp OBI Girls at North Laurel Pineville Girls at Thomas Walker, VA Pulaski County Girls at South Laurel February 6 Leslie County Boys at Knox Central Lynn Camp Boys at OBI Whitley County Boys at Williamsburg Harlan County Girls at Letcher Central Barbourville Girls at McCreary Central Leslie County Girls at OBI Thomas Walker Girls at Red Bird Whitley County Girls at Williasburg February 7 Bell County Boys at Harlan Corbin Boys at Harlan County South Laurel Boys at Dunbar Lynn Camp Boys at North Laurel Clay County Boys at Knox Central Pineville Boys at Middlesboro Jackson County Boys at Rockcastle County Barbourville Boys at Cumberland Gap, TN McCreary Central Boys at OBI Williamsburg Boys at Jellico, TN 13th Region Boys & Girls Varsity Basketball Schedule Barbourville Girls at Cumberland Gap, TN Bell County Girls at Harlan Williamsburg Girls at Jellico, TN Clay County Girls at Knox Central South Laurel Girls at Madison Southern Pineville Girls at Middlesboro February 8 Middlesboro Boys at Thomas Walker, VA Middlesboro Girls at Thomas Walker, VA Jackson County Girls at Lynn Camp February 9 Knox Central Boys at Jackson County Harlan Boys at Pineville OBI Boys at Clay County Barbourville Boys at Whitley County Owsley County Boys at Red Bird Barbourville Girls at Bell County OBI Girls at Clay County Whitley County Girls at Pineville February 10 South Laurel Boys at Bell County Corbin Boys at Pineville Lynn Camp Boys at Burgin Jackson County Boys at Powell County Red Bird Boys at Middlesboro Berea Girls at Barbourville Lynn Camp Girls at Harlan Corbin Girls at Harlan County Red Bird Girls at Middlesboro Knox Central Girls at North Laurel Pineville Girls at OBI February 11 North Laurel Boys at Barbourville Knox Central Boys at Paintsville Clay County Boys at Lexington Catholic Wayne County Boys at Whitley County OBI Boys at Buckhorn OBI Girls at Berea Clay County Girls at Corbin North Laurel Girls at Harlan Perry Central Girls at Lynn Camp Barbourville Girls at Middlesboro Williamsburg Girls at Model Whitley County Girls at Taylor County Whitesville Trinity Girls at OBI February 13 Pineville Boys at Harlan County South Laurel Boys at Madison Central Lynn Camp Boys at Corbin Cordia Boys at Knox Central Cumberland Gap Boys at Barbourville Jackson City Boys at OBI Lee County Boys at Red Bird Williamsburg Boys at Middlesboro Cumberland Gap, TN Girls at Barbourville Pineville Girls at Corbin Jackson County Girls at Lee County Williamsburg Girls at Middlesboro Clay County Girls at South Laurel Knox Central Girls at Whitley County February 14 Bell County Boys at Barbourville Corbin Boys at North Laurel Red Bird Boys at Pineville Lynn Camp Boys at Harlan Leslie County Boys at Clay County Jackson County Boys at Middlesboro Whitley County Boys at Rockcastle County Knox Central Girls at Bell County Leslie County Girls at Clay County Red Bird Girls at KY School for Deaf Jackson County Girls at Pineville February 16 Harlan County Boys at Cordia Model Boys at Jackson County South Laurel Boys at Rockcastle County Williamsburg Boys at Pineville McCreary Central Boys at Barbourville Red Bird Boys at Jenkins Whitley County Boys at Madison Southern Leslie County Boys at OBI Owsley County Girls at Clay County Perry Central Girls at Jackson County North Laurel Girls at Leslie County Model Girls at Lynn Camp Pineville Girls at Red Bird South Laurel Girls at Rockcastle County OBI Girls at Wolfe County February 17 North Laurel Boys at Knox Central Corbin Boys at Harlan Middlesboro Boys at Lynn Camp Red Bird Boys at Leslie County Whitley County Boys at McCreary Central McCreary Central Girls at Barbourville Corbin Girls at Harlan Middlesboro Girls at Lynn Camp Williamsburg Girls at Owsley County OBI Girls at Pineville Harlan County Girls at Knox Central Cordia Girls at Red Bird Bell County Girls at Whitley County February 18 Riverside Christian Boys at OBI Frankfort Girls at Barbourville MCCreary Central 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10 Leaders around the 13th Region entering the final month of the regular season Individual Scoring Peyton Broughton-North Laurel Andrew Taylor-Corbin 32.6ppg 28.6ppg Individual Scoring Blair Green-Harlan County Jordan Brock-Harlan 23.1ppg 22.8ppg Individual Field Goal Percentage Matt Walker-Jackson County 65.6% Individual Field Goal Percentage Summer Parker-Clay County 72.9% B O Y S Individual Free Throw Percentage Sochi Onouha-Oneida Baptist 87.3% Individual 3-Point Field Goals Corey Johnson-Whitley County Team Scoring Knox Central Team Scoring Defense Bell County Team Margin of Victory Knox Central per game 79.5ppg 52.6ppg 21.4 points Individual Free Throw Percentage Jordan Brock-Harlan 89.9% Individual 3-Point Field Goals Jordan Brock-Harlan Team Scoring Harlan County Team Scoring Defense Pineville Team Margin of Victory Harlan County per game 69.3ppg 41.8ppg 20.7 points G I R L S Team Field Goal Percentage North Laurel 53.4% Team Field Goal Percentage Clay County 50.0% Team Free Throw Percentage Corbin 74.3% Team Free Throw Percentage Harlan 79.4% 13th Region Basketball Won-Loss Records entering February Girls Basketball Harlan County 21-2 Harlan 19-6 North Laurel 18-7 South Laurel 17-5 Pineville 16-5 Whitley County 16-8 Lynn Camp 15-8 Clay County 13-8 Barbourville Corbin Williamsburg 8-12 Bell County 8-14 Middlesboro 6-12 Jackson County 6-14 Knox Central 6-14 OBI 3-15 Red Bird 2-11 Boys Basketball Harlan County 23-2 South Laurel 20-4 North Laurel 19-5 Corbin 17-4 Knox Central 17-5 Pineville 14-6 Lynn Camp 14-8 Clay County Harlan 11-9 Jackson County Barbourville Bell County Red Bird 8-13 Whitley County 8-15 OBI 5-12 Williamsburg 4-15 Middlesboro 3-17

11 Former Kentucky men s basketball national champion Bobby Watson dies Watson was the fifth 1,000-point scorer in program history UK Photo OWENSBORO, Ky. Bobby Watson, a key member of the Kentucky men s basketball 1951 national championship team and the fifth 1,000-point scorer in program history, died on Tuesday. He was 86. Watson, originally a walk-on, earned a scholarship under legendary head coach Adolph Rupp and lettered in three seasons for the Wildcats from A two-time All-Southeastern Conference First Team selection (1951 and 1952), Watson averaged 10.4 points and 2.5 rebounds for UK s 1951 national championship team. In , he was named an All-American by Athletic Publications after averaging 13.2 points and 2.5 rebounds. Watson played in 96 career games for the Wildcats and scored 1,001 points. He was the fifth player to join the prestigious 1,000- point club. He also played tennis for UK during the season. Watson was selected by the Milwaukee Hawks in the 1952 NBA Draft and played one season with the Hawks during the season, but his career was cut short by injury. A veteran of the United States Air Force, Watson served during the Korean Conflict. Following his lone season in the NBA, Watson became the head coach of Owensboro High School in 1957, a position he held until Under Watson, Owensboro High School won 18 district championships, 14 regional championships and two state titles (1972 and 1980). He was later inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletic Hall of Fame, the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame, the Owensboro Hall of Fame, the Owensboro High School Hall of Achievement, the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame and the Owensboro Walk of Fame. Survivors of Watson include his wife of 60 years, Diane Hunt Watson; his daughter, Shawn Watson Martin; and his son, Ted Watson. I know I am constantly growing as a hunter and fisherman. All I have to do is look back at last year and I know there's room to get better. One young man was being interviewed for a new position. The interviewer asked, "What do you wish to gain by your employment here?" To which the applicant replied, "I wish to gain experience." Well, there's one thing that's for sure, he will gain experience. It may be a good experience or a bad experience but he will gain experience. Each hunt offers much of the same. Hopefully, most of the days will bring good experiences but undoubtedly some will bring a painful one. Last year I bragged about my 55 yard shot on a double bearded gobbler but a few days later I missed another bird at only 15 yards. Now I may have thought I had arrived as a hunter after such a long, and might I say impressive, shot. But missing at such a short distance brought me back to the truth that I am an incomplete hunter. The truth is, as long as I continue to pursue this passion of mine, I will forever be learning and growing. It's sometimes amazing that we can deal Outdoor Truths with Gary Miller with these faux pas' when it comes to hunting or fishing but we are quick to give up when it comes to something like our Christian life. We tell ourselves if we cannot do it completely, perfectly, and wholeheartedly, we'll just not do it at all. And thus we let our incompleteness determine our worth as a child of God. Did you know Michelangelo started 44 sculptures and fourteen of them were never completed? I wonder what the value of those 14 might be. You see, our worth to God is not based upon how many successful Christian days we have notched in our belt. It's based solely on the initiative of God to love us, even while we were unlovable. And God's determination to continue to love us is not based upon our ability to be lovable. It is based upon His desire to accept us even though we are an incomplete work. So, my friend, giving up will never be a problem if you never start with the idea that success is the goal. Gary Miller gary@outdoortruths.org Woolum signs with Western Carolina University. Pineville s Tucker Woolum will continue his academic and athletic career at Western Carolina University. He recently signed with the Catamounts in a ceremony at Pineville High School. Pictured are PHS assistant coach Chris Murphy, head coach Bart Elam, mother Martha Woolum, Tucker Woolum and father Tuck Woolum. Courtesy Photo

12 Championship-level cheerleading! University of Kentucky ~ National Cheerleading Champions The University of Kentucky cheerleaders recently won their 22nd national championship at the Universal Cheerleaders Association competition in Orlando, Fla. Competing among Division IA Coed squads, the Wildcats claimed the crown with an amazing score, 97.8 out of a possible 100 points. It was a night for Southeastern Conference excellence as Alabama and Ole Miss finished second and third, respectively. UK Photo Pineville High School ~ All A Classic Boys State Tournament Cheerleading Champions Front: Olivia Webb, Jenah Helton, Autumn Short, Kallee Gambrel, Kameron Jackson, Tessa Caldwell, Hannah Robbins, Faith Long Back: Allie Browning, Reece Foley, Sarah Elliott, Hannah Daniels, Lillie Kelley, Mackenzie Bowles, Elayne Fortner. Coach Tammy E. Jones Not pictured is Gabby Patterson. Courtesy Photo