Truth & Rumors > NCAAB

Kentucky wants eighth grader

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One day. Two games. An eighth-grader competing against players 15-years-old and younger. Those factors made for perhaps the most surprising commitment in the history of Kentucky basketball. UK Coach Billy Gillispie noticed Michael Avery, an eighth-grader from Lake Sherwood, Calif., while attending a youth basketball event sponsored by LeBron James last weekend in Akron, Ohio. Less than a week later, Avery accepted Gillispie's offer of a scholarship to play for the Wildcats ... beginning with the 2012-13 season.

Lexington Herald Leader

Billy Gillispie , Jamie Squire/Getty Images Billy Gillispie , Jamie Squire/Getty Images
May 2, 2008  09:40 AM ET

Oh man. Get them while they are young, huh?

May 2, 2008  09:40 AM ET

Will Billy G. even be there by 2012-2013?

May 2, 2008  09:49 AM ET

We all saw this coming. I wonder will I live to see the day my eight-year old grandson is offered a basketball scholarship to a D-1 institution?

May 2, 2008  10:00 AM ET

This gives new meaning to "robbing the cradle".

May 2, 2008  10:03 AM ET

In the old USSR, they were plucking kids out of kindergarten and sending them to "sports schools" to groom them for their futures.

Unless the NCAA grows a pair and sets a minimum age at which you can promise a scholarship, that's where we're going.

May 2, 2008  10:05 AM ET

wow this kid must be damn good

May 2, 2008  10:32 AM ET

Completely understandable. KY men want 8th grade girls to be their wife so why wouldn't the bball coach want an 8th grade bball player? :P

May 2, 2008  10:39 AM ET

watch this kid suffer a career ending injury

May 2, 2008  10:44 AM ET

This is sad and getting out of hand. Going to middle schools to give scholarships? When does it stop?

May 2, 2008  11:02 AM ET

Does Billy Gillispie own a white van? If so kids beware at the playground...

May 2, 2008  11:19 AM ET

Completely understandable. KY men want 8th grade girls to be their wife so why wouldn't the bball coach want an 8th grade bball player? :P
The Warden

You have a good point there Warden. That or they didn't want to risk waiting too long and have him commit to Gardner-Webb so that they could get beat by them again in a few years. Kentucky is pathetic.

May 2, 2008  11:44 AM ET

What is so wrong with this?

In Soccer they do it all te time, you just make sure to "reserve" the talent. You have them commit to you and potentially end up locking in a superstar before your competition can. Smart move!

May 2, 2008  11:52 AM ET

Basketball is different..... unless this guy is a man child, like LeBron, already... 8th graders just haven't physically matured & you can't really tell what they're going to be..... if true, this shows desperation....besides the kid has several years to renege on his "commitment".

May 2, 2008  11:58 AM ET

That is completely against NCAA rules. unless the kid approached Kentucky first and said i will come to your school if offered a scholarship. kentucky can then turn and say yes we will offer you one. Kentucky can not initiate that conversation.

it is for this exact reason parents are so crazy about pushing their kids in sports. meal tickets are being handed out way too young. The sports world needs an hugh adjustment!

May 2, 2008  12:12 PM ET

The kid must have a younger sister he is interested in.

May 2, 2008  12:42 PM ET

no chance of anyone else snagging him up in next 4 years. great job!

(that was sarcasm)

Now if he: gets injured, flunks out of high school, drops out--does he still get scholarship?

May 2, 2008  01:16 PM ET

disgusting, may as well have Sheryl Swoopes and Michael Jordan join forces to seed her eggs and sell them to the highest bidders.

May 2, 2008  01:29 PM ET

I could take that 8th grader out! Give me a freaking scholarship.

May 2, 2008  01:29 PM ET

Hes going to be a BUST!! Ha, You already hyped the kid up to much. He'll be in college for 8 years. That= alot of Puxxy

 
May 2, 2008  01:34 PM ET

And what if his grades are terrible like many athlete's.....
Ridiculeous....

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