'09 OK PF/C Daniel Orton (Kentucky Verbal)

[osugrad21]

Demling

Daniel Orton a Wildcat

University of Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie has landed his main man.

Oklahoma City (Okla.) big man Daniel Orton has given the Wildcats a verbal commitment and will be holding a news conference soon to make it public.

The 6-foot-10 Orton has been the No. 1 target by the coaching staff for quite a while and now gives the Wildcats three commitments in the Class of 2009.

Orton was on his official visit to UK this weekend when he made his final decision.

Courier-Journal staff writer Brett Dawson will be at the news conference in Lexington this afternoon and will have a full report. Check back here later for updates.

[osugrad21]

Scout--Orton Is UK's Top Recruit!

Scout$--Orton is a Cat

Rivals$--Orton: Fans, title dreams led to UK

[DaytonBuck]

Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie paid Orton?s father, Larry, to speak at camps in Lexington on three separate occasions this past summer.

Let?s be clear. This isn?t against the rules.

I don?t mean to go after Orton here, but this guy isn?t exactly on par with, say, legendary high school coach Bob Hurley.

His background: a couple years of junior college ball, a cup of coffee at Old Dominion capped off at Cameron University in Oklahoma. He?s also an assistant AAU coach on his son?s team.

Jeff Goodman

[LitlBuck]

This is the type of crap that the NCAA should enforce. I almost think that if a high school player's father is a coach his son should not be able to attend a school that has paid his father to speak at a camp or what ever. It is just frustrating.

[DaytonBuck]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

This is the type of crap that the NCAA should enforce. I almost think that if a high school player's father is a coach his son should not be able to attend a school that has paid his father to speak at a camp or what ever. It is just frustrating.

Certainly a reputable program like Kentucky would never bring in Orton's dad just because of his son

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by DaytonBuck

Certainly a reputable program like Kentucky would never bring in Orton's dad just because of his son

I do not think the people at Kansas would agree with you

[Buckskin86]

Oklahoma prep notebook: Daniel Orton might reconsider Kentucky
Published: March 27, 2009

Bishop McGuinness basketball standout and Kentucky signee Daniel Orton has been selected to play in the Wazoo Sports Derby Festival Classic on April 11 at Louisville?s Freedom Hall.

According to his brother and father, Orton might ask for a release from his letter of intent at Kentucky should Wildcats coach Billy Gillispie not be retained.

Orton?s brother, Terrence Crawford, a former McGuinness and Oklahoma State standout, made the comments on The Sports Animal during Mark Rodgers? show Thursday.

Earlier in the week, Orton?s father, Larry Orton, told the Danville (Ky.) Advocate-Messenger that Gillispie?s departure "would be like starting recruiting all over again.?

A decision on Gillispie?s future could come as soon as today. Orton picked the Wildcats over Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas and Ohio State.

http://www.newsok.com/oklahoma-prep-...ne_ou-football

[gracelhink]

Orton picked the Wildcats over Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas and Ohio State.

If I am Thad, I am jumping all over this situation.

With the loss of Mullens, Orton would come in and be a major contributor next year! This would be a huge pickup.

[IronBuckI]

Originally Posted by gracelhink

If I am Thad, I am jumping all over this situation.

With the loss of Mullens, Orton would come in and be a major contributor next year! This would be a huge pickup.

Not sure how college basketball recruiting works, but he's already signed his LOI.

[gracelhink]

Originally Posted by IronBuckI

Not sure how college basketball recruiting works, but he's already signed his LOI.

From the previous article,

Orton might ask for a release from his letter of intent at Kentucky should Wildcats coach Billy Gillispie not be retained.

Seems like the NCAA is becoming more lenient, ruling schools default on their intent if they fire a coach to whom a recruit has committed. This opens the way for a release of the recruit from his LOI and offers the opportunity to sign with another school without sitting out a year.

[IronBuckI]

Originally Posted by gracelhink

From the previous article,


Seems like the NCAA is becoming more lenient, ruling schools default on their intent if they fire a coach to whom a recruit has committed. This opens the way for a release of the recruit from his LOI and offers the opportunity to sign with another school without sitting out a year.

Nice. I would love to see Coach Matta go with more 6'8", 6'9" athletic big men, unless they're just physical freaks like Oden. I want to see the up and down style that we featured the first few years of the Matta era.

[gracelhink]

Here is the site that gives the information on how SA's can appeal for release from their LOI.

National Letter of Intent

The normal penalty for transfer is a loss of one year for the SA, but with either the Athletic Director's permission or an approval by the NCAA for extenuating circumstances, the SA can be eligible the year he enrolls.

[LitlBuck]

A little more onOrton and possibly a PG from the BN free board

By Jeff Rapp

Just to touch upon this on a preliminary basis, I am hearing through a very good source that the Ohio State coaches are very interested in Kentucky signee Daniel Orton, a 6-9 or 6-10 center out of Oklahoma City, as they were before he committed to UK. Of course, Billy Gillispie was fired today, which means Orton, the top-rated big man in the 2009 class, could pull out of his LOI and sign with another school without penalty.

From what I am hearing, though, the OSU coaching staff will go after Orton hard but only if he contacts them first and expresses genuine interest. In other words, if the Buckeyes are on a short list with a fighting chance to get him then they will be aggressive. They want to have at least a 20 percent chance, though, before putting all their eggs in that basket.

Also, as others have speculated, the coaches are clearly in pursuit of a point guard right now, preferably one who can play next year. They were planning to see a prospect play in person this week but I don't have a name as yet.

I will follow up on both of these fronts as soon as I have more concrete details.