I bring you both good and bad news, BBN. Let me start with the latter. Originally scheduled for tonight, our interview with Mark Pope on the Sources Say Podcast has been postponed. No exciting preseason content on this beautiful Thursday, unfortunately. The good news? It’s only being pushed back a day and it was postponed because the Kentucky head coach is working tirelessly on the recruiting trail — his meeting ran long before practice got started, throwing his schedule off.
So that’s going to anchor the day on Friday, an opportunity we’re unbelievably grateful and excited for. Until then, we’ve got plenty to get us through today’s edition of 4-Point Play. Let’s dig in, shall we?
The Rookie of the Year favorite isn’t doing anything to hurt his case going into the year, making plays all over the floor for the Rockets ahead of preseason action — that starts Monday, Oct. 7 for Houston.
With training camp well underway, the franchise shared a 50-second clip on Thursday showing off Sheppard knocking down a pull-up jumper before grabbing a steal, tossing an assist, and blocking a shot leading to a bucket the other way.
It’s an unreal sequence, just like most things we see out of the London, KY native.
Jasper Johnson apologizes for his poster dunk
Johnson was named a top standout from the Wootten 150 Camp out in Las Vegas this past weekend where he “went anywhere on the court and was comfortable quickly taking advantage of space to score while demonstrating his long-range jumper, pull-up game and driving talent.”
“Mark Pope and Kentucky have a homegrown national recruit with advanced scoring talent on the way,” ESPN’s Paul Biancardi said of the future Wildcats.
His biggest highlight, though, came on a ridiculous poster slam that has since gone viral in the recruiting world. Now, we know Johnson actually apologized to the poor defender after dunking on his head, caught on a mic’d up segment with the five-star guard.
“Oh my God. My fault, gang. My fault,” he said.
Shouldn’t have tried jumping with him.
The Boozer Twins will decide on October 10
No, they will not be picking Kentucky — Mark Pope never engaged the top-20 prospects after taking the job. Instead, Cameron and Cayden Boozer will pick between Duke and Miami on Oct. 10, according to Adam Zagoria. Good for either of those schools, but not why we’re here.
What I’m watching closely, however, is Acaden Lewis‘ upcoming official visit to Durham for Countdown to Craziness this weekend. The top-30 point guard is down to three schools — Kentucky, Duke and UConn — with a decision coming ahead of the early signing period in November. His last official visit will be to Lexington, likely announced in the coming days, followed by his commitment.
Meanwhile, Dan Hurley and three assistants were in for Braylon Mullins on Thursday with the Huskies seen as co-favorites to land the sharpshooter alongside in-state Indiana. A decision is coming for the former Kentucky target, as well.
Could the Boozers going to Duke and Mullins picking UConn — who recently added top-25 guard Darius Adams — help push Lewis to Kentucky? Pope certainly hopes so.
Malachi Moreno rocks Kentucky blue in front of Bam Adebayo’s locker
The nation’s top-ranked center said it was “always my dream” to stay home and play for Kentucky the day he committed. Growing up just a few short miles down the road, Moreno has bled blue his entire life — and now we have the photo evidence to prove it.
Posted by Tres Terrell of Cats Coverage, the top-30 prospect was seen rocking Kentucky blue in front of Bam Adebayo’s locker in Lexington during the 2016-17 season — seven long years ago.
Now, he’ll be wearing the same jersey Adebayo did in a matter of months.
