Kentucky level guard TyTy Washington is aware of the legend of “World Large Wes’’ and at last bought to expertise it.
On Monday in Tarrytown, the Knicks hosted a heady group of prospects with three anticipated lottery picks amongst them. As a prelude to the exercise, Knicks senior government William Wesley took them out to a Westchester restaurant to observe the NBA Finals on Sunday evening.
“Wes was in there ordering actually all the things,’’ Washington mentioned. “He ordered all the things, just about. Made us all style it.’’
Wesley entertained Washington, G League Ignite level guard Dyson Daniels and Ohio State capturing guard Malaki Branham, together with three different prospects projected as second-round picks.
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Wesley is the Knicks’ mover, shaker and schmoozer – his declare to fame earlier than becoming a member of the Knicks was getting gamers for CAA agent Leon Rose, now the Knicks president. Wesley grew to become embedded within the Kentucky program and is shut associates with coach John Calipari.
The Rose-Wesley tandem led to the franchise incomes nicknames final season because the “Kentucky Knicks” and “Orange and Bluegrass.” These Kentucky roots and Washington being a real level guard is why there’s a typical feeling he could possibly be the Knicks alternative at No. 11 on June 23 on the 2022 NBA Draft. Nonetheless, the Knicks by no means interviewed Washington at Chicago’s mix.
“I’ve recognized him and recognized about him,’’ Washington mentioned. “That’s World Large Wes, so lots of people at my faculty speak about him.
“I bought an opportunity to hold round him after I first landed. It was actual cool catching up with him. He advised me he is aware of considered one of my coaches actual nicely (Ron Coleman), and I can see the similarities in them. Their power match.’’
Wesley made certain the Knicks drafted Immanuel Quickley out of Kentucky within the first spherical of the 2020 NBA Draft. Washington and Quickley have additionally texted a bunch with Quickley giving him the blueprint of a Knicks exercise.
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In 2020-21, the Knicks had 4 Kentucky gamers on their roster and former Wildcats assistant Kenny Payne. However Kevin Knox was traded and Payne moved on to be the top coach at Louisville. They nonetheless have Julius Randle, Nerlens Noel and Quickley. And Obi Toppin’s brother, Jacob, presently performs for Kentucky.
”I noticed Obi,’’ Washington mentioned. “Lots of people on social media are saying, me and Jacob Toppin are Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley 2.0. It was cool seeing Obi, seeing my teammate’s brother.
“When Kenny Payne was right here, simply seeing all of the Kentucky guys over there, me and my teammates within the locker room was like, that’s Kentucky 2.0 up there. So, it’s actually good to see plenty of guys who had been beneath Cal all find yourself on the identical crew.’’
Kentucky football lost a 2025 wide receiver when recruit Ja’kayden Ferguson re-opened his recruitment in mid-November. Now, they have gained a commitment from top 500 receiver Dejerrian Miller to take the open spot.
Miller is a 6’3″, 195 lb receiver out of Missouri. He is rated four stars, and is ranked as the number 379 overall player in the 2025 class in the 247sports composite rankings. He is the 53rd ranked receiver in the class.
Eight options to replace coach Mark Stoops
Coach Mark Stoops and his staff have put together a solid recruiting class for 2025 so far. It’s currently ranked 25th in the country, though it is the 13th best class of the 16 teams of the SEC.
Miller joins Quintin Simmons Jr., Preston Bowman, and Montavin Quisenberry as wide receivers who are committed to Kentucky for 2025. Miller’s size should be an advantage for him as he looks to find playing time. It’s good get for the Wildcats and Stoops, who continues to bring in quality players at the receiver position.
EASTERN KENTUCKY (WYMT) – On Wednesday, President Joe Biden declared that a major disaster exists in Kentucky.
As a result, President Biden ordered federal assistance to supplement recovery efforts. This is locally as well as statewide following the damage left behind by the remnants of Hurricane Helene.
In a news release, federal funding will be available to eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations. This will be on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the remnants of the hurricane.
This includes many counties in our area: Bell, Breathitt, Clay, Elliott, Estill, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Lee, Letcher, Magoffin, Menifee, Morgan, Owsley, Powell, Rockcastle, Rowan, and Wolfe.
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In the announcement, it said federal funding will also be available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the entire state of Kentucky.
Now that the ink has dried and his signing with Kentucky has been made official, Jasper Johnson was finally able to be formally introduced to the Rupp Arena crowd during the Wildcats’ 87-68 win over Western Kentucky on Tuesday night.
Johnson, a class of 2025 five-star point guard born and raised in Lexington, sat courtside with his family to check out his future team in action against the Hilltoppers. During the second half, former Kentucky player Ravi Moss brought out the future Wildcat to midcourt where he was met with a chorus of cheers from the packed crowd of Big Blue Nationites.
After initially committing to Kentucky back in September, Johnson signed the necessary papers to play his college basketball at UK earlier this month. He’s been inside Rupp Arena plenty of times before over the years (and even played here with Woodford County as a sophomore), but never while wearing street clothes as the center of attention in front of over 20,000 screaming fans.
The smile says all you need to know.
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Johnson is one of three signees from Mark Pope‘s first recruiting class as Kentucky’s head coach, joining four-star center Malachi Moreno and four-star point guard Acaden Lewis. The 6-foot-4 guard is ranked No. 14 overall in the nation by the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s currently finishing up his high school career at Overtime Elite as a member of Rod Wave Elite (RWE).
Alongside Tay Kinney, a talented class of 2026 guard who is also from Kentucky and is being recruited by Pope, the two Bluegrass natives form arguably the deadliest backcourt duo in all of OTE. Through five games played this season, Johnson is averaging 19.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per outing while shooting 47.9 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from deep.
This time next year, we’ll hopefully see him do the same thing in Kentucky blue and white.