Daniel Orton -commits to Kentucky ~ Surprised?

When Daniel Orton committed to spend the next four years....err,,, let's start over, when Daniel Orton committed to spend next season at Kentucky, it was NOT a surprise to those who were aware of certain "speaking engagement" payments that were made to Daniel's father, Larry, who also happens to Coach Daniel's AAU team. He received $4,800 for 19 speaking engagements at Wildcat summer camps. Oh, remember Terrence Crawford? Oklahoma HS superstar who played for the Eddie Sutton at Oklahoma State, well, he happens to be the step brother of Daniel Orton. Guess what,,,,, brother Terrence was compensated $ 1,950 for speaking to Kentucky basketball campers.

Ya gotta love Billy G!!! Billy the kid...... Jim Cox, who runs the highly successful Hardwood Productions basketball operations befriended Gillespie when he assisted Bill Self at the University of Tulsa. Cox has stayed friends with Billy G and raves about his recruiting abilities. So does Self. He has proven that "rebuilding" a basketball program can be done in ONE recruiting year. If you don't believe me, google Billy Gillespie UTEP and see what he did there. Then it was on to Texas A&M.

Critics argue it's little more than well-couched payola done within the rules. By hiring Larry Orton, Kentucky basically paid for Daniel's camp appearances, allowing the Wildcats to bring a top recruit on campus before he was allowed an official visit.

"It shouldn't be allowed," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said, "but it is."

Even Gillispie understands the criticism.
"I think the rule -- I've been in favor of the rule being changed for a long time," Gillispie said about being allowed to pay coaches to speak at his camps. "I think that's best for everyone."

But the NCAA has not changed the rule. [Don't they have enough rules already?]

Larry Orton insists that Kentucky did nothing to sway his son's decision. He says he was also paid to speak at camps at Oklahoma State and Kansas and Daniel attended elite camps at Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Connecticut.

Orton is an intriguing project; athletic, graceful, yet his mental toughness and offensive tools need drastic improvement if he is to move on to the LEAGUE in 2,3 , 4 or 5 years.

I just found this little tidbit from Greg Swaim who has a recruiting blog on his website.

Back in April, 2008, he made this statement:
"Carl has a coaching offer from Memphis and is just waiting on the same offer from KU before making a decision. The asking price (that Cal offered) is $250K per year and if OSU wanted him could get him for that as well...UNC will not make that deal."

Wow! $ 250,000 for assisting Calipari!! Let's see if it pans out..


Kentucky had a tough, tough matchup last night at #1 North Carolina.
Things can only get easier Coach!
Goodluck Billy G!!