Interesting article I found about Tracy McGrady almost coming to Kentucky.

[Son_Of_Saul]

I wonder to what degree the failed singings of the class of 1997 had on Pitino's decision to leave Kentucky. If he lands McGrady, does he turn down the Celtics? Also, it's funny to read references to Hoop Scoop and Zeke Martins in the article.

Title: Recruit puts Kentucky on hold
Peter Brewington USA Today

Kentucky basketball recruiting efforts were frustrated Tuesday when 6-foot-9 star Tracy McGrady of Mount Zion Christian (Durham, N.C.) decided to hold off signing to gauge his NBA potential.

McGrady had planned to sign with Kentucky today.

He is rated the USA's No. 2 player by Hoop Scoop, a Louisville recruiting publication. His stock rose after he was MVP at the ABCD summer camp in Teaneck, N.J.

"How can you tell a kid not to look at it (NBA)," Mount Zion head coach Joel Hopkins said. "We're not telling him to go to the draft, just look at all his options. He wants to get seen by NBA scouts this year. A lot are high on him. He can play point at 6-9 in the NBA."

McGrady's announcement was another recruiting setback for coach Rick Pitino, who has lost elite players Christ Burgess, Elton Brand, and William Avery to Duke. Burgess signed Monday. Brand and Avery say they'll sign in the spring.

Kentucky has recruited two top 100 talents, 6-2 Ryan Hogan (Deerfield, Ill. High) and 6-6 Myron Anthony (Fletcher High, Neptune Beach, Fla.), but hasn't landed a big name.

"Pitino stuck out on a lot players and started to put everything into McGrady," said Zeke Martins, an analyst from Cary, N.C.

Kentucky loses starters Derek Anderson, Jared Prickett and Anthony Epps after this season.

McGrady is described as a "point forward" whose size and skills make him similar in style to NBA star Scottie Pippen. This is his first year at Mount Zion after transferring from Auburndale (Fla.) High, where he averaged 23.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, 4.9 blocks, and 4.0 assists last season.

If McGrady signs, it probably won't be until the season ends. He visited Kentucky, Florida State, and Florida. McGrady wants to meet with his mother to discuss his future. She lives in Auburndale and wants him to attend FSU, Hopkins said.

 

[Wall2Boogie]

Imagine had him and dirk both came here. We would have two more championships

 

[yoshukai]

Zeke Martin, lol ! Now there's a name from the past . Didn't he have a bet with someone on this site about the longevity of Bogans vs Forte's NBA careers?

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Imagine had him and dirk both came here. We would have two more championships

T-Mac would have been on the '98 team, but he would have made our games against Duke, Stanford, and Utah a bit less dramatic!!!

I wish the OAD rule was in place back then. We land Jermaine O'Neal for 1997 and T-Mac for 1998. Pitino potentially wins three straight and then leaves for the league?

 

[kyups01]

The dude that wrote this article needed to do more research because Myron Anthony was a BIG TIME recruit...said they hadn't landed a big name...Anthony was huge..as big as any player named here. He was a Parade All American (huge deal back then) and his Gatorade State POY in Florida which is Mcgradys home state!

 

[bcox13]

I played with and against Tracy many times in high school and AAU.

I’ve mentioned this before but he was the smoothest player I ever played with or against. I played on a team with Vince Carter when he was a senior and he was the most electric I ever saw (for obvious reasons). But I still say he didn’t match the ease with which the game came to Tracy.

To answer the OP, it certainly could have played a role, but I think RP was gone either way. He brought UK back to prominence and the Celtics (and 40 mil) were up next. No way his ego would have allowed him to pass that up (not that he should have).

 

[Smashcat]

 

[Smashcat]

Zeke Martin, lol ! Now there's a name from the past . Didn't he have a bet with someone on this site about the longevity of Bogans vs Forte's NBA careers?

Zeke used to be a pest on UK sites for a long time then just disappeared. Don’t know if he dropped dead or just decided to change his MO.

 

[GonzoCat90]

Zeke Martin. As I live and breathe.

Honestly either Pitino is good at persuading guys to give him lip service (pause for jokes) for the recruiting boost or he's the worst judge of pro/college decisions in history.

Maybe he's the only one dense enough to fully recruit guys everyone else thinks are going pro, but there has to be some reason his list of "I would have played for him if I didn't go pro" is so illustrious.

 

[shaudyshaud]

T-Mac is my favorite player of all-time . Probably the smoothest and most effortless scorer I have ever watched . He made the hesi jumper popular .

 

[bthaunert]

The dude that wrote this article needed to do more research because Myron Anthony was a BIG TIME recruit...said they hadn't landed a big name...Anthony was huge..as big as any player named here. He was a Parade All American (huge deal back then) and his Gatorade State POY in Florida which is McGrady’s home state!

I know this is an old post but McGrady finished his high school career in NC. Anthony would have probably been a 4 star these days. He was 4th team Parade All American, so there were at least 30 guys (10 on each team back then) ahead of him in that recognition. I think you’re misremembering how good he was coming out of high school.

 

[2Adulterers]

On his official visit I was manning the pass gate at Commonwealth Stadium his host was Derek Anderson DA introduced me and I kept nodding my head NO NO!! Being a UK Letterman I am an athletic interest and cannot have any contact with a recruit
Sandy Bell was standing behind me and said “ I need 3 letters to SEC NCAA and UK “explain that I committed a violation and would not repeat it

 

[STL_Cat]

Honestly the most eye-opening takeaway I had from that story was that Ryan Hogan was a top 100 recruit.

 

[SDcatfan13]

I have a question for those who followed recruiting in 1996 and 1997 as I was pretty young at the time. Why did Pitino struggle with landing high level talent in those classes? He had Kentucky rolling at that time and it seems like it'd be an easy sell for elite talent with that exciting system.

 

[bthaunert]

I have a question for those who followed recruiting in 1996 and 1997 as I was pretty young at the time. Why did Pitino struggle with landing high level talent in those classes? He had Kentucky rolling at that time and it seems like it'd be an easy sell for elite talent with that exciting system.

Way too much smoke about him leaving for the NBA every year. It was more of a when would it happen, not if it would happen. Take the Cal rumors and multiply it times 10. It was used against him non-stop during recruiting.

 

[catzfanjim]

On his official visit I was manning the pass gate at Commonwealth Stadium his host was Derek Anderson DA introduced me and I kept nodding my head NO NO!! Being a UK Letterman I am an athletic interest and cannot have any contact with a recruit
Sandy Bell was standing behind me and said “ I need 3 letters to SEC NCAA and UK “explain that I committed a violation and would not repeat it

You should of showed him you’re gun and badge, I’m sure he would of been impressed.

 

[littlecreek]

I have a question for those who followed recruiting in 1996 and 1997 as I was pretty young at the time. Why did Pitino struggle with landing high level talent in those classes? He had Kentucky rolling at that time and it seems like it'd be an easy sell for elite talent with that exciting system.

Pitino’s name was linked to every NBA opening . As a matter of fact, Elton Brand or Chris Burgess, who both went to Duke, point blank asked RP if he was staying at UK and he said “yes”. The player said he could tell RP was lying so they committed to Duke.

 

[Elliott Tim]

I wonder to what degree the failed singings of the class of 1997 had on Pitino's decision to leave Kentucky. If he lands McGrady, does he turn down the Celtics? Also, it's funny to read references to Hoop Scoop and Zeke Martins in the article.

Title: Recruit puts Kentucky on hold
Peter Brewington USA Today

Kentucky basketball recruiting efforts were frustrated Tuesday when 6-foot-9 star Tracy McGrady of Mount Zion Christian (Durham, N.C.) decided to hold off signing to gauge his NBA potential.

McGrady had planned to sign with Kentucky today.

He is rated the USA's No. 2 player by Hoop Scoop, a Louisville recruiting publication. His stock rose after he was MVP at the ABCD summer camp in Teaneck, N.J.

"How can you tell a kid not to look at it (NBA)," Mount Zion head coach Joel Hopkins said. "We're not telling him to go to the draft, just look at all his options. He wants to get seen by NBA scouts this year. A lot are high on him. He can play point at 6-9 in the NBA."

McGrady's announcement was another recruiting setback for coach Rick Pitino, who has lost elite players Christ Burgess, Elton Brand, and William Avery to Duke. Burgess signed Monday. Brand and Avery say they'll sign in the spring.

Kentucky has recruited two top 100 talents, 6-2 Ryan Hogan (Deerfield, Ill. High) and 6-6 Myron Anthony (Fletcher High, Neptune Beach, Fla.), but hasn't landed a big name.

"Pitino stuck out on a lot players and started to put everything into McGrady," said Zeke Martins, an analyst from Cary, N.C.

Kentucky loses starters Derek Anderson, Jared Prickett and Anthony Epps after this season.

McGrady is described as a "point forward" whose size and skills make him similar in style to NBA star Scottie Pippen. This is his first year at Mount Zion after transferring from Auburndale (Fla.) High, where he averaged 23.1 points, 12.2 rebounds, 4.9 blocks, and 4.0 assists last season.

If McGrady signs, it probably won't be until the season ends. He visited Kentucky, Florida State, and Florida. McGrady wants to meet with his mother to discuss his future. She lives in Auburndale and wants him to attend FSU, Hopkins said.

Duke was a thorn in UK's recruting back then too. No Capel to blame back then.

 

[zannmann]

I have a question for those who followed recruiting in 1996 and 1997 as I was pretty young at the time. Why did Pitino struggle with landing high level talent in those classes? He had Kentucky rolling at that time and it seems like it'd be an easy sell for elite talent with that exciting system.

He was in the news everyday saying he was getting NBA offers and it scared kids away.

 

[VA/UK]

Honestly the most eye-opening takeaway I had from that story was that Ryan Hogan was a top 100 recruit.

There’s a blast from the past! Didn’t he have some UK lineage?

 

[ABlockalypseBrow]

He was in the news everyday saying he was getting NBA offers and it scared kids away.

We also had a very good and experienced team already (have the 98 title to prove it), so it’s not like we were bursting with playing time to offer.

 

[bthaunert]

There’s a blast from the past! Didn’t he have some UK lineage?

Kevin Grevey is his uncle

 

[SDcatfan13]

He was in the news everyday saying he was getting NBA offers and it scared kids away.

Interesting, didn't realize how frequently he was flirting with NBA other than his last year.

 

[VA/UK]

Kevin Grevey is his uncle

That’s it! Thank you.

 

[zannmann]

Interesting, didn't realize how frequently he was flirting with NBA other than his last year.

He wasn’t really flirting with the NBA. It was just every time a job came open in the NBA, ESPN would announce him as the top candidate.

 

[kyups01]

...........

 

[kyups01]

Way too much smoke about him leaving for the NBA every year. It was more of a when would it happen, not if it would happen. Take the Cal rumors and multiply it times 10. It was used against him non-stop during recruiting.

This

 

[kyups01]

I know this is an old post but McGrady finished his high school career in NC. Anthony would have probably been a 4 star these days. He was 4th team Parade All American, so there were at least 30 guys (10 on each team back then) ahead of him in that recognition. I think you’re misremembering how good he was coming out of high school.

Nah, I'm not misremembering at all.

"School: Fletcher, 1997.Sport: Basketball.The area’s all-time leading scorer (2,738 points) earned just about every honor imaginable in his career and was one of the most coveted players in the nation when he committed to Kentucky on Oct. 6, 1996. He was also looking at Florida and UConn. Anthony (shown in a 1996 game against Stanton) was coming off a junior season where he averaged 25 ppg and 12 rpg, and finished second in voting for Mr. Basketball; he won the award as a senior. Things didn’t work out at Kentucky for the smooth-shooting forward. He left the school in 1998 and transferred to TCU, although Anthony was later dismissed from the team."

https://www.jacksonville.com/photogallery/LK/20120716/PHOTOGALLERY/307169949/PH/1

 

[LowCountryCat]

Pitino also admitted that he thought the Celtics would get at worst the 2nd pick which meant either Duncan or Van Horn. They got #3 and he felt obligated to draft Mercer.

 

[kyups01]

 

[bthaunert]

Nah, I'm not misremembering at all.

"School: Fletcher, 1997.Sport: Basketball.The area’s all-time leading scorer (2,738 points) earned just about every honor imaginable in his career and was one of the most coveted players in the nation when he committed to Kentucky on Oct. 6, 1996. He was also looking at Florida and UConn. Anthony (shown in a 1996 game against Stanton) was coming off a junior season where he averaged 25 ppg and 12 rpg, and finished second in voting for Mr. Basketball; he won the award as a senior. Things didn’t work out at Kentucky for the smooth-shooting forward. He left the school in 1998 and transferred to TCU, although Anthony was later dismissed from the team."

https://www.jacksonville.com/photogallery/LK/20120716/PHOTOGALLERY/307169949/PH/1

He was not a McDonalds All American, and 4th team Parade All American. Was he a very good high school basketball player? Yes. Was he as big as any player named here as you posted....not even close!

 

[littlecreek]

He wasn’t really flirting with the NBA. It was just every time a job came open in the NBA, ESPN would announce him as the top candidate.

Knowing Pitino’s ego, he probably had his agent put his name out there to be in the spotlight constantly. It got old to us fans, the uncertainty every summer.

 

[IH8BlueDevilsandUNcheat]

Nah, I'm not misremembering at all.

"School: Fletcher, 1997.Sport: Basketball.The area’s all-time leading scorer (2,738 points) earned just about every honor imaginable in his career and was one of the most coveted players in the nation when he committed to Kentucky on Oct. 6, 1996. He was also looking at Florida and UConn. Anthony (shown in a 1996 game against Stanton) was coming off a junior season where he averaged 25 ppg and 12 rpg, and finished second in voting for Mr. Basketball; he won the award as a senior. Things didn’t work out at Kentucky for the smooth-shooting forward. He left the school in 1998 and transferred to TCU, although Anthony was later dismissed from the team."

https://www.jacksonville.com/photogallery/LK/20120716/PHOTOGALLERY/307169949/PH/1

What ever became of his BB career? .... I just remember how excited he was on the bench during our 98 title run.

 

[kyups01]

What ever became of his BB career? .... I just remember how excited he was on the bench during our 98 title run.

He ended up at TCU...was a knucklehead and just fizzled out I believe. But trust me he was a HUGE recruit....regardless of that parade team he was on as a dude stated above. He and I are same age and I followed recruiting just as hard core back then as i do now.