Kentucky wants eighth grader
Posted: Friday May 02, 2008 09:28AM ET
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.





Comments (51)
Oh man. Get them while they are young, huh?
J. HOVA: ALL FOR THE LOVE | 05/02/08, 09:40 AM
Report Offensive CommentWill Billy G. even be there by 2012-2013?
J. HOVA: ALL FOR THE LOVE | 05/02/08, 09:40 AM
Report Offensive CommentWe 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?
D. SLIQ | 05/02/08, 09:49 AM
Report Offensive CommentThis gives new meaning to "robbing the cradle".
Killbot | 05/02/08, 10:00 AM
Report Offensive CommentIn 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.
Yankee64 | 05/02/08, 10:03 AM
Report Offensive Commentwow this kid must be damn good
N.O. | 05/02/08, 10:05 AM
Report Offensive CommentCompletely 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 | 05/02/08, 10:32 AM
Report Offensive Commentwatch this kid suffer a career ending injury
jbfpack just got NCAA 09 | 05/02/08, 10:39 AM
Report Offensive CommentThis is sad and getting out of hand. Going to middle schools to give scholarships? When does it stop?
jj730 | 05/02/08, 10:44 AM
Report Offensive CommentDoes Billy Gillispie own a white van? If so kids beware at the playground...
Wolverines smell | 05/02/08, 11:02 AM
Report Offensive CommentCompletely 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.
wtnelson | 05/02/08, 11:19 AM
Report Offensive CommentWhat 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!
mltor0806 | 05/02/08, 11:44 AM
Report Offensive CommentBasketball 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".
Sir Robin (as himself) | 05/02/08, 11:52 AM
Report Offensive CommentThat 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!
slapshot27 | 05/02/08, 11:58 AM
Report Offensive CommentThe kid must have a younger sister he is interested in.
GatorBeanCounter | 05/02/08, 12:12 PM
Report Offensive Commentno 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?
elvis | 05/02/08, 12:42 PM
Report Offensive Commentdisgusting, may as well have Sheryl Swoopes and Michael Jordan join forces to seed her eggs and sell them to the highest bidders.
Mr. Pete | 05/02/08, 01:16 PM
Report Offensive CommentI could take that 8th grader out! Give me a freaking scholarship.
El_Stone | 05/02/08, 01:29 PM
Report Offensive CommentHes 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
domepatrol | 05/02/08, 01:29 PM
Report Offensive CommentAnd what if his grades are terrible like many athlete's.....
Ridiculeous....
EYES KNOW IT ALL | 05/02/08, 01:34 PM
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