When the subject turned to freshman Alex Legion, UK Coach Billy Gillispie seemed to indicate that the player was no longer on the team.
“We dealt with that last week,” the UK coach said more than once as reporters asked about Legion at a news conference on Thursday.
During a news conference last week, Gillispie noted that Legion had asked to return to the team. Gillispie’s response was, “We’ll talk,” he said.
If player and coach talked, they reached the conclusion that Legion would look for a new school.
When asked about any public relations setback in having a high-profile player leave after one semester, Gillispie said, “You try to do what’s best for the individual and what’s best for the team, and hope everyone prospers.”
When asked if he had released Legion to play for any team, Gillispie returned to his pat answer. “We dealt with that last week,” he said.
Legion is reportedly considering Illinois, Notre Dame, Michigan and Arkansas as a new basketball home.
Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald- Leader has covered Kentucky basketball since the 1981-82 season. That time includes five coaches, five Final Fours, four athletic directors, two interim athletic directors and many memories. Before coming to Lexington, Tipton worked eight years for the Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch. He covered Marshall’s basketball team for two seasons before coming to the Herald-Leader.
Alex Legion was gone, when he first asked for a transfer. Whether or not he ever reconsidered is a moot point. I can see UK giving him a release, but excluding teams UK would face in the regular season and
most certainly any SEC school, for three years. It would be interesting to see what UK’s policy, as well as that of the SEC is, with respect to such matters. I would think, as a matter of future policy, UK should require incoming players to sign a national letter of intent. This would tend to reduce instances of “Legion Disease” by narrowing their options. The loss of a year’s eligibility would likely cause some to reconsider, the rest are gone anyway, but at some cost to their careers.
UK fans had just as well get it in their minds that Legion is gone
and support his replacement, whoever he may be. Until the talent pool is rebuilt to “top 5″ standards, deficiencies will exist which bodes ill for the UK faithful. The talent pool eroded away on Tubby’s watch for the last 3 or 4 years. Poor recruiting, and too many “project players” make a poor foundation, and we are seeing that this year.
Until the talent pool is rebuilt with players suited to Billy G.’s
style, we will continue to see that. Patience is called for here, not
panic. GO CATS!!
players should be held to the same transfer rules as coaches who sign contracts but can seemingly go anywhere they want in search of a new job.. if coaches don’t have to sit out a year after running out on a contract.. neither should players..
and as far as the talent pool being shallow at UK right now.. that’s ridiculous.. crawford and patterson were both all-americans.. and you have other 4-star recruits on that roster.. tubby would not be 4-4 with that team.. no way!
instead of billy g trying to run these guys into the ground on game days trying to force feed a system down their throats.. maybe he should be like most great coaches and leaders.. and craft a system and individual game plans to give your current team the best chance to win!!