Jerry Tipton on UK basketball

UK Coach Billy Gillispie was expected to be in Weatherford, Texas, Wednesday night to meet with junior college All-American Roderick Flemings.

Flemings, a 6-foot-7 wing, averaged a double-double — 20.6 points and 11.7 rebounds — for Weatherford College this past season. He also averaged 2.7 steals and 1.5 blocks while making 56.2 percent of his shots.

Weatherford Coach Mark Osina said Flemings was the best player he had coached in 18 seasons at the school.

“He’s a great natural talent,” said Osina, who noted Flemings as a long and athletic player.

Flemings was named the conference’s Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year this paset season. He became Osina’s first junior college All-American.

Flemings, a native of DeSoto, Texas, visited Hawaii last weekend. Osina said that Flemings planned to make a recruiting visit to Kentucky.

When asked what schools had expressed interest in Flemings, Osina said, “I can’t think of a school which hasn’t called. He likes Kentucky. I keep hearing that from the kids. Who wouldn’t?”

Big man prospect Maurice Sutton is being patient when it comes to Kentucky. He doesn’t object to the perception that UK is the leader for his services.

“You could say that, if you want,” he said on Monday.

However, UK does not have a scholarship to offer.

“I’m just being patient,” he said. “Praying every day. Keeping my faith up.”

Sutton, a 6-10 center from Upper Marlboro, Md., lauded UK Coach Billy Gillispie for being honest.

“He said I was a high-priority player, but there’s no scholarship to offer,” Sutton said. “Coach Gillispie was real honest. He said a scholarship might open up. You never know. Just be patient.”

Sutton plans to visit Seton Hall next weekend. He’s also considering such schools as Boston College, Villanova, Syracuse and Kansas State.

Earlier Monday, new Indiana Coach Tom Crean called and offered a scholarship, Sutton said.

Sutton scored 17 points in the Derby Festival Basketball Classic last weekend.

UK’s recruiting aim remains to get players, not to fill specific needs, Coach Billy Gillispie said at a Thursday news conference.

“We need to get faster, bigger . . .,” he said. “We’re still trying to get multi-dimensional players who are aggressive.”

Gillispie described UK’s latest signee, Kevin Galloway of the College of Southern Idaho, as fitting that bill.

“Multi-dimensional,” Gillispie said. “Tall. Big. Athletic. He will give us a guy with speed, an ability to pass the ball, experience. He’s a multi-dimensional guy who can put stats up in a lot of areas.”

Galloway, who began his college career at Southern Cal, needs to work on his shooting, Gillispie said.

UK will have another junior college player in for a visit this weekend. He’s Josh Harrellson of Southwestern Illinois College.

Gillispie said he preferred not to recruit junior college players, but UK’s present situation made that a necessary option.

“I’d prefer to do it all (with) high school players,” the UK coach said before adding, “I don’t think we’re in that situation. We need immediate help.”

Gillispie also suggested that the junior college class this year might be better than the high school class.

UK signed two highly regarded high school seniors in the fall: Darius Miller of Mason County and DeAndre Liggins of Chicago.

Liggins, a top 25 national prospect, has not yet gained his academic eligibility. Gillispie declined to discuss how much confidence he had in Liggins gaining his academic eligibility except to say most high school seniors have yet to complete the academic requirements for eligibility.