May 27, 2025 • 38 mins
Tom talks with Larry Vaught, Darren Headrick, and Lee K. Howard.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good day. Everybody, Welcome into the Leech Report presented by
Bob Can Enterprises. Hope you had a great Memorial Day holiday.
I made a reservation for tea time to play golf
with some friends yesterday and made it about a week earlier,
and then the forecast was talking about all the rain
(00:21):
that was coming and nearly canceled, and fortunately I decided, well,
I'll just wait till the weekend and kind of see
if the forecast holds up. Thankfully I didn't cancel because
we had a great round of golf yesterday. Weather it
was really nice earlier in the day and then overnight
we get more of the rain, but that will pass.
(00:43):
But anyway, was hopefully you got out a chance to
do something fun with maybe go to a party, or
hit the pool, or hit the golf course.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Whatever.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
It was nice holiday weekend. And of course I saw
Mark Pope was visiting Arlington National Cemetery with his family,
and that's always it is always important to remember what
the holiday is about more than just cookouts in the
pool and golf. And I saw you tweeted a picture
(01:14):
from Arlington National Cemetery and that is a powerful place.
I went there a few years ago, Buddy and I
do a baseball trip every summer, and Freddie Maggart had suggested,
if you're going to be in d C, go see
Arlington National Cemetery and I will tell you if you
ever if you have not been, you have the chance
to go when you're in d C. Do so it
(01:35):
is a very powerful place. All right, let's get into
the show coming up today, Darren Headrick will join us
from the UK Radio Network to talk about the UK
baseball team getting an at large bid to the NCAA tournament.
Field was set yesterday. Kentucky is a three seed in
the Clemson Regional. I was glad to see that because
(01:57):
a lot of the projections earlier had Kentucky going out well.
But they'll be in Clemson, and so that will give
Kentucky fans a chance to make the trek down to
South Carolina. Kentucky as a three seed, we'll take on
second seed at West Virginia at twelve noon on Friday
at the Ballpark at Clemson. Darren will have the call
(02:17):
on the UK Radio Network, television on ESPN U, and
then Clemson and USC Upstate and the other matchup, and
then it goes on from there until everybody but one
team has lost twice. So we'll check with Darren and
get the story on what the matchup is looking like
to begin the tournament for Kentucky, Larry Vaught will join
(02:38):
us from your sports edge dot com and Lee K.
Howard from WKYT TV. So that's the lineup today. Wildcat
News of the Day, always presented by just Sepies of Lexington,
mentioned the regional setup for UK baseball a nice achievement
to have three consecutive years of making the NCAA Tournament,
first time that's ever happened baseball program. And as frustrating
(03:02):
as the team was at times this season with not
being able to get that key hit or not holding
onto a lead like we saw in the final regular
season series down at Vanderbilt, it is important to note
that they had a massive amount of losses from their
College World Series team and still made it back to
the NCAA Tournament. And as we'll talk with Darren, Kentucky
(03:27):
I think is a dangerous team because they played the
best teams in the SEC head to head and gave
them a good battle, only swept twice, and that was
toward the end of the season. And they weren't swept
by the best teams that they faced. They found a
way to get at least one win, sometimes two. And
(03:50):
I think they are a team that, if they could
get a few of those key hits, could be dangerous
in a regional How about the Kentucky guys in the
NBA playoffs shake Just Alexander, the NBA's MVP, had forty
last night, his playoff career high, as the Thunder went
up three to one with a one twenty eight one
to twenty six win at Minnesota. And then the night before,
(04:13):
Karl Anthony Towns had twenty in the fourth quarter as
the Knicks had a victory and a crucial Game three
in Indiana. They'll play Game four there tonight at Bainbridge
field House in Indianapolis, and if the Knicks can win
that one, they would go back to Madison Square Garden
even at two something Minnesota couldn't quite get done last
(04:33):
night on its home court. But forty for Shay, big
game for Carl the night before. So those former Kentucky
guys are showing up strong in the playoffs. Links to
the stories that we talk about each day. You can
find those on the bud light Leach Report page at
Tom leachk Why dot com. Head to a Breakdarre Hedrick
join us when we come right back talks with UK Baseball.
(04:53):
Opening segment presented by just Sepies of Lexington. Go to
open table and make a for your next night out
at Giuseppes. Food's fantastic. There's some real special dishes that
they've had on the menu for a long time, like
the sea bass with lobster chili butter sauce or the
purshudo rapped asparagus. The scallops are fantastic with the brisoto,
(05:16):
a lot of different choices, just a really special ambiance.
See you soon at Giseppes of Lexington. We'll be right back.
Biggervan coming to Woodford County next month as Legends of
the LPGA Tour will be playing in the Woodford Legends
Invitational Golf Tournament Saturday June seventh Sunday June eighth at
the Woodford Club in Versailles. Talking about players like Julie
(05:38):
Angster and Pat Bradley and Laura Davies and Jan Stevenson.
They won big events on the LPGA Tour. Great opportunity
to take a young person that's into golf out to
get up close and personal with some legendary players. Go
to Woodford Clubfoundation dot org to get info on tickets.
They cost just fifteen dollars a day. Proceeds benefit KVC Kentucky.
(06:00):
Joining us now on the club blueinil dot com hotline
is Darren Hedrick. He is the voice of UK baseball
and UK women's basketball and he'll be in Clemson, South
Carolina at noon Eastern on Friday, or Kentucky and it's
opener in the NCAA Tournament against second seed West Virginia.
Kentucky's the three seeds at Clemson Regional. Darren, this is
(06:23):
a nice achievement for coach Vinngione and company. You know,
as I said earlier in the opening season, that had
its frustrations with you know, it's just so close to
some a much better record, but they are in the
NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row, for
the first time in program history.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Yeah, exactly right, Tom. It's a great achievement for the
staff and these players. When you think about everything they
lost off the team that went to Omaha last year.
You replace nearly all of your starting lineup, you replease
your entire weekend rotation and your midweek starter. Come into
this season, you have to replay so many key pieces
(07:04):
of your bullpen. So you start with that and fall
practice and odd into the start of the regular season.
And then during the regular season you're plagued by some
injuries here and there. You lose you're starting centerfielder. They
lost a starting dh futility guy at Ethan Hindle, so
you're kind of there were times where they were patchworking
(07:25):
the lineup. They were down to their fourth and fifth
option at third base against Mississippi State. And then you're
also relying on some true freshmen in key roles and
some young players and other roles. And somehow, some way,
this team has done enough. They'd won enough, they'd won
some big games, and man, I'm telling you, they competed hard,
(07:48):
they played tough, they were in every game, and like
you say, they could very easily have some of those
build their way and be hosting. But to make the
tournament has been a fantastic achievement for this program.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
What's the scouting report on the West Virginia team they
will face on Friday afternoon.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Well, you're talking about a group that was a Big
twelve regular season champion. At one point they were thirty
seven and five. They did kind of stumble down the
stretch a little bit and finished forty one. In fourteen,
the Big Twelve tournament was wide open. I think Arizona
ended up winning the tournament coming out of it. But
West Virginia is a solid team. Kentucky's seen them in
(08:28):
the postseason before, hosted them just two years ago, so
Mountaineers will be a tough out down there in Clemson.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
What about from a pitching standpoint, who would we Does
West Virginia have anybody that's a dominant number one guy
that they would throw in that opener.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
I'm sure they do. I haven't really had a chance
to look at their pitching staff yet, but you know,
I know their staff is good. You don't hit the
thirty seven and five without having some solid pitching. But
I know in pre years they've had tough guys. And
I'll be interested to see how both teams approach the
pitching matchups, because sometimes in these regionals you might not
(09:09):
pitch your best guy in that first game. I know
Kentucky in the past, is they their best guy? So
we'll see if Kentucky changes their rotation at all, maybe
starting Cleaver or Nick McKay with having that extra time off,
So it'll be interesting to see how they set up
the pitching. We'll probably find out a little more about
(09:30):
that from coach Menji on later today.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Yeah, they have had obviously plenty of rests, so everybody's
everybody's available to go, and you know, it is a situation.
It seems to me, I mean, you're with a game
any game out, but it seems to me they've got
they don't have a a real weak link among the
three weekend starters. Cleaver's been the best guy, most reliable,
(09:57):
but they've gotten solid outings on you know, more than
just once in a while schedule from the other two.
So you could throw one of those guys and then
try to have Cleaver if you would face Clemson with
a chance to really take control of the regional.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Yeah, that's exactly it, because you, like we were talking
about with Cleaver, here's a guy from the left side
that stuff for hitters to see. He's been dominant at
times this year, and I think this two week break
has been good for him just to rest the arm.
Nick McKay has just been a workhorse for this team.
He has been able to throw up consecutive zeros. And
(10:38):
then Nate Harris, the freshman power arm love his competitiveness,
and you know, Nate is a guy that is in
his first year of just pitching. When he was in
high school, he played both ways, and so he's you know,
a relative. I don't want to tell him a baby,
but he's still relatively young in his pitching career and
(11:00):
he has come a long way this year. So, yeah,
Kentucky's got three terrific options in the week in rotation
to try to win this regional.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
From a health standpoint, everybody good to.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Go, yeah, I would think.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
So.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
I'll probably double check with coach menji On later today
about Ryan Schwartz and his status, but I would think
that Kentucky's close, if not ready, to get back everybody
that they can coming into this regional with that week layoff.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Did you think yesterday going into the show, that was
where the announcement that was going to come with the
bracket that they were safely in or are you sweating
it a little bit? And maybe the coaches and players too.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Well?
Speaker 2 (11:44):
You know, it's funny all week long, I was sort
of bullish that Kentucky was getting in, and I thought
they had done enough. I liked their resume compared to
some of the other bubble teams, but sitting there watching
some more bidstealers jump up there and win conference tournaments
made me a little nervous. And then the trends Sunday
(12:07):
night from some of the publications didn't look good for Kentucky.
And of course they had then the suspense and drama
of waiting for Clemson to be the last regional before
they announced the Kentucky there because you know, the way
baseball works, you can't send an SEC team to an
SEC regional. So when it got down to Clemson being
(12:29):
the last one left, you were having the fingers crossed
and starting to sweat a little bit. But we're glad
they're in, and there's nothing mic postseason baseball. We're ready
to go.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Yeah, and hopefully they have nice weather down there this weekend.
And Kentucky fans really got into the excuse me baseball
postseason run last year, so I was glad, as I
said earlier, they got this Clemson regional rather than going
out west, so they can get some of their fans
down there.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Yeah, no doubt about it, guys. It's only a six
hour ride, so we hope to see a lot of
Big Blue Nation down there. Clemson, I've never been on
their campus, but I've always heard great things about it.
I know the ballpark from singing on TV is a
beautiful ballpark. Can't wait to see it in person. Should
be a fun weekend. And look, it's a regional with
a lot of evenly matched teams Clemson, West Virginia, Kentucky
(13:24):
and then USC Upstate making a regional for the first
time in program history. So it should be a fun
group of teams down there this weekend.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Darren, I have a safe trip down to Clemson, and
hopefully we're talking next week about moving on to I
guess it would likely be Baton Rouge.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Right, Yeah, that's what it sounds like. So Kentucky's been
in that spot before, so why not try again.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
There you go, Thank you, Dared, Thank you Tom. Darren Headrick.
We'll be on the call Friday eleven, five am Eastern
with a pregame for Kentucky and West Virginia on the
UK Radio Network in the NCAA Baseball Tournament. It's the
Lynch Report. We're presented each day by Bobcat Enterprises for
locations around Kentucky. So google Bobcat when you need to
(14:11):
buy or rent a piece of heavy equipment for job.
They will have what you need and fantastic service after
the sale from our good friends at Bobcat Enterprises here
in Kentucky. We'll be right back. It's the Leach Report.
We come to here from the Clarks Pumping Shop studio, Return,
Refresh and Refuel at Clark's. And joining us is Larry Vaught.
(14:33):
You can read him at your sports edge dot com.
Hear him on the Sunday morning sports talk show each week.
And Larry, let's start with the little Kentucky basketball decision
day for otega Oway coming up on Wednesday. I guess
he has until midnight on Wednesday to make the decision
about the NBA Draft. And I'm sure fans are sweating
(14:55):
this because the longer ages they worry that he's going
to stay in the draft. I would think I've heard
nothing to suggest that's the case. Number One, you or
read anything anywhere from any of the people that follow this.
And the other thing is if you're going through the
process to get feedback, then you might as well go
(15:16):
through as much of the process as you can and
set up as many workouts as you can to get
more input from what the NBA scouts want, right.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
I think so, Tom, I mean, I think there's no
doubt that Otega was hoping the evaluations were going to
be to the point that he would be able to
stay in the draft and go forward and start his
professional career. We don't really know what those evaluations are.
I mean, you see the mock drafts, but that's not
the same as what the NBA people might be telling him.
(15:48):
But yeah, I don't think there's any reason to panic.
I've seen nothing to make me believe that he won't
be back, or not heard anything from Mark Pope and
his many appearances and different venues that he's made to
make me think that he believes he won't be back.
I know everybody that I talked to expects Otago way back.
(16:11):
So I think it's just a matter of him, like
you say, getting all the information he can following that
away to hopefully set himself up for a better spot
in the Knicks in the twenty twenty sixth draft.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Mark has talked about how guys typically make a significant
jump in the second year in his system. So, given
what we saw from Otaga last year, if that kind
of a jump happens, Coach Pope talked about two or
three of the things that Otega wants to work on.
You could certainly see him being in a position with
(16:43):
a Kentucky team that would perhaps have a better season,
being able to be in a position where he would
hear what he wants to hear.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
In terms of the first.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Round, Yeah, I think he could have a better season
without his number, maybe even actually being better in some way.
As far as scoring, I think he far exceeded what
most of us thought he would do last year. And
I think he may have more scoring options on the
team with him this year than what he's gonna and
what he had last year.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
And maybe we want to have to play quite as
many minutes.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
But yeah, I think if he comes back, and I
mean more than anything, he just got to become a
more consistent three point shooter if he wants to play
in the NBA, and he's got all summer to keep
working on that. I'm sure he already has been working
on that. And it's not like he's a bad shooter now.
He just needs to become a little bit better shooter.
But I was really interested the David Mark mentioned something
(17:37):
about that he thought Otega could lead the country and steals.
That would be pretty sweet if he could, especially with
some of the defensive players that Mark has brought in
to go along with him.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Talk with Larry Vaughan. You can read him at your
sports edge dot com, voughtsviews dot com for his coverage
of the Cats, and we're gonna continue this conversation here
in just a moment on the Leads Report presented by
Bobcat Enterprises. Leature Park comes to here from the Clark's
Pumping Shop studio. Return refresh and refuel at Clark's and
(18:12):
make sure you download their app for their new loyalty
rewards program. We're talking with Larry vaught from your sports
edge dot com, joining us here on the Club Blue
anil dot com hotline. Larry, you guys on the Sunday
Morning sports talk show this weekend had Jasper Johnson on
as a guest for a segment and he does an
(18:35):
excellent job in those interviews. He has a poise about
him that is beyond his years. You know, you and
I have both been around athletes a lot that comes
through here, and they're not always that composed and poised
and eloquent when they're speaking, you know, takes up a
little while to get more comfortable. Chuck Hayes was one
(18:56):
of those exceptions. Jasper's a guy that handles himself very well.
What else did you take away from the interview since
you already knew that.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
Well, Jastra's guy that's really grown into that in the
last couple of years. He wasn't always quite as outgoing
and interviews as what he is now, but he has really.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Matured into that role.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
I think that's one of the things that the journey
he's taken from Woodford to a prep school to overtime
elite has not only helped him on the court, but
it's helped him off the court as well. So that's
one young man that truly paid off for I was
kind of taken. I was really impressed with how Jasper
talked about the level of talent on the team, but
(19:36):
also how when we asked him about what do you
think about Mark Pope, you know, saying he's going to
be a superstar, or that he was the most dangerous
shooter in high school basketball last season. That's pretty lavish
praise for a young man who isn't going to hear
that from his family. That's not the way the Johnson
family is, and we just kind of wondered what that would.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
Do, but he said, that's basically the same things Mark's.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
Been telling him the whole time, so nothing about it
surprised him. But again, that's pretty heady praised put on
a guy who then he stepped foot on campus yet.
But Jasperdus handles everything with kind of that poise, and
he's pretty unflappable, and I think he's very sincere when
he talks about whatever role Mark has for him, So
that'll be fine for him. And he's been through a
(20:21):
lot of different things and he handles them very very well.
And I think it's also interesting right now, like the
decision he maybe faces with USA basketball that he go
ahead and he's going to go to the tryout because
Mark has encouraged him to go ahead and do that,
because Mark's obviously going to be there, he's one of
the on floor coaches there in the tryouts. But then
(20:42):
if he is in position to make the team, which
he's made USA teams before, do you give up another
three weeks or more that you could be here at
Kentucky training with your future team and working under Mark
Pope and his staff to go off of being Switzerland
and all. So I think it's kind of an interesting
dilemma that he has there. But he said it, Mark's
(21:03):
wholeheartedly embraced if he wants to go and do it,
go ahead and do it and play for Team USA.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
And Malchi Mareno is going to be in those crowds too, right,
and Malachi will be there also.
Speaker 4 (21:12):
So I was saying, assume it's the same type of
conversation that Mark would have had with him, which is
a little bit different than a conversation a few years
ago when a certain end state star just wanted to
play in the Kentucky and Indiana All Star Series and
the coach in the UK said, no, you can't. You
can't miss practice one day to play in that.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Yeah, that is a little extreme.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
Yeah, just a little.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
This is a pretty pretty interesting contrast compared to that.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
Jasper uh Is. He's an interesting spot right for Malachi.
I'm sure he kind of understands as a freshman, he sees,
you know what, what's ahead of him, old, you know,
older guys, and uh, you know, I think he's just
going to do his best to uh make ah, you know,
as much of a statement as he can, to get
(22:01):
as many minutes as he can. I mean, I'm not
in his head. I'm just kind of I guess saying
that more kind of from my standpoint is his. But
for Jasper, I see him, I'm assuming you do too.
Is a guy who certainly could be in the mix for,
you know, a starting spot on this team.
Speaker 5 (22:17):
That's you know, if you look at the the roster
that Coach Pope has put together, you have if assuming
always back we are doing that, he starts, I think
Jalen Lowe starts at the point, some one of the
big guys starts, most likely Brandon Garrison.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
I think maybe Brandon and Jayden Quaintance if they go
that direction, or maybe Brandon and Diabate, but you would
think probably it's you know, a couple of the bigs,
And so that leaves one spot open on the perimeter
for a two or three whatever you want to call it.
And you got Aberdeen and you got Jasper and others,
(23:00):
and so that's an interesting uh. I mean, hey, everybody,
I will get their minutes but it's uh, fans always
like to think about, you know, who's going to be
the starting five, and that's an interesting debate.
Speaker 4 (23:09):
Yeah, it is, because I think at this time a
year ago, or maybe in the June or something, when
I was debating, I kind of thought that Kobe Bria
might start over, will takea oway. Last year didn't play
out that way, and so this year, I mean, I
don't think you really know, but I could see Mark
inserting Jasper in there because, for one thing, everything's already
(23:32):
comfortable with a role coming off the bench because that's
what he did at Florida.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
It's like what Kobe did up there.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
And if a guy can already shown he can handle
that role, maybe that's what you like, let him keep doing.
So I don't know, but it's a lot of really
three pieces that Mark has And like you said, I
think Jast is going to obviously get his minutes. As
I said Sunday, I'm obviously pretty based toward Jasper because
I've known him from the day he was born. But
what a early Mark puts him in, I think he's
(23:58):
going to do really really well.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Yeah, I would think so, And I thought it was
noteworthy that at the news conference Coach Pope did recently.
He in talking about Jasper and all those nice things
he said about and one of the things in particular
he said is that he's a guy that can get
his own shot. You don't have to run something always
for him to do that, and that's a valuable quality
(24:21):
to bring to the mix.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Yeah, that's something he's always been able to do.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
It's been kind of ironic at times he's been criticized
by some folks for not getting enough of his own shots.
I mean, it's not like he's ever not been a shooter,
but sometimes some of the big time analysts that I've
talked to and that watched him play think at times
he's been a little too unselfish on teams. But that's
just the way he has always been on One of
the reasons I think he'll fit in so well in
(24:48):
Mark's offense because if it comes just making a great pass,
he's very able to do that and very willing to
do that. So if he score, war was great. If
he doesn't, he still finds a way to contribute it.
That makes him get into mark southfense even better.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
As we know, you've known that family a long time.
They're over in Harrisburg and that's a football family with
coach Alvis Johnson and Dennis Derek. But did Jasper ever
play which football?
Speaker 3 (25:15):
Yeah? He did.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
He was a really good quarterback and a good athlete.
And that's why when his grandfather, the late grandfather I
was a long time friend of mine, told me one
thing and said, well, get ready to give up football.
And I thought, oh lord, I was was going to
be so disappointed and so upset. This is going to
be a rant. I'm just going to have to listen to.
And I said, well, I guess if that's what he
(25:37):
wants to do, and I was, that's what he should do.
I hear that right, And I was wanted to explain
to me how yes, it's a bright future in football,
and he wasn't the biggest built guy, and I liked
right future in basketball that he just needed to go
on and concentrate on his basketball. And that was before,
in between these freshmen and sophomore year, if I remember right,
or maybe after his sophomore year. I can't remember exactly now,
(26:00):
but Alice is wholeheartedly on board with it, and it's
a decision that in this case, it's certainly worked out
well for Jaster Johnson.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
Larry Vaught as always, thank you much, all right Tom
Larry joining us on the Club blueennil dot com hotline.
They're the official NIL fundraising partner for UK Athletics and
they're introducing a new initiative for kids. It's called Club
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(26:31):
in your life can get a club T shirt, a
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can get signed up for Club Blue Kids or future
Wildcats rep the Blue with pride. We will be right
back with Lee K. Howard from WKYT here at Lexington
(26:54):
Quarter before the top of the hour. It's the Leach
Report presented by Bobcat Enterprises, and we go to the
Club Blue dot Com highline to bring on Lee K.
Howard from WKYT TV. Start with Little NBA Playoffs, Lee
K Shay Gilgess, Alexander goes for forty Last Night He
last week won the MVP Award from the NBA. Thinking
(27:15):
back to his one year at Kentucky, I mean, we
know the story about how he didn't move into the
starting lineup until a month or so into the season,
But I mean, even by the end of the year
when he was going great, did you think you'd see
anything close to what you're seeing now in the NBA.
Speaker 6 (27:34):
No, it's amazing. I mean to see what Shay has
turned himself into. I think he was the sixth ranked
player in that twenty seventeen draft or UK recruiting class.
And I remember that year I actually went to the
McDonald's All American Game and he was not there. He
played in the All Star Game locally here between the
Kentucky and Indiana type All Stars. I mean, it was
(27:56):
crazy to see his progression, as is the thought to
be back up point guard to Klaude Green for Kentucky
to you know, like you said, about a month or
so into the season, like, oh wait, this guy might
should be the starter to you know, even when he
was drafted, he was a high draft pick. I don't
(28:16):
think anyone saw him to be an All Star let
alone the MVP of the league. But yeah, what he's
doing right now, it's so much fun. These NBA playoffs
have been a lot of fun to watch, especially the
conference finals, and you just see how dominant he is.
I've enjoyed watching Cason Wallace. I think Cason Wallace is
(28:36):
really playing well right now in kind of an important
role off the bench of kind of a backup point
guard for the Thunder. And then you've got Julius playing
really well. I think he's really found a groove there
in Minnesota. So you know, it's been a lot of
fun watching the Eastern and the Western Conference finals. But
watching Shaye do what he does and it just looks
so effortless. I think that's the biggest thing that's so
(28:59):
much fun to walk.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
I think back to the game in the SEC Tournament
final out in Saint Louis in twenty eighteen. Tennessee, I
think had beaten Kentucky. I think they've beaten them both
times during the regular season, and they had, you know,
Admiral Scoldfield to Grant Williams, that really good team that
they had, and Kentucky beat him in the conference tournament final.
(29:21):
I think that's the last SEC tournament Kentucky's won and
Jay had thirty if memory serves, and you know, just
kind of in a similar way to how he gets
his points now. I mean, he's not a guy that
throws down the Sports Center dunk on a regular basis.
He just does everything well.
Speaker 6 (29:41):
Yeah, he really does. I just the word I think
of when I think of Shay as just smooth. You know,
it's not flashy. It doesn't look like he should be
able to go. At the pace at which he drives,
it's almost methodical, and I almost think it throwze off
the defenders. He's done it since college. It's like you said,
probably prior to UK in fact, where he just moves
(30:04):
his way through the lane at a pace where he's
never he's never sped up. He's never you know, in
a hurry. He just gets to the hoop and lays
it in. I think last night on the broadcast they
called him the best driver in the NBA, and I
think that's accurate. You know, he's not Anthony Edwards that's
gonna come down and or a John Morant that's going
to come down and elevate and dunk it on your head.
(30:25):
He's just gonna weave his way through the defense and
lay it in and you think as a defender, it's
almost you think, okay, he's going slow enough, somebody ought
to be able to stop him, and yet he gets
his shot every time. So it's it's a skill that
I don't know where he's developed that, but it's it's
something unlike anyone else in the NBA.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
Maybe I don't know if this analogy works a little
like a Tom Brady on the court in that you
know he's he doesn't you know, not gonna you know, wow,
you necessarily with arms strength, but he makes the right
play a higher rate than about anybody else. I think
of a play last night I was watching where he
(31:06):
kind of lets the lane open up one of his
teammates I can't remember who then slides over to the
players right and opens a lane and Shay just blows
by his man and gets an easy layup and you know,
didn't could have been a spectacular dunk, but it was
just an easy layup. And you know that's kind of
who he is.
Speaker 6 (31:27):
Yeah, it really is. And you know, players love playing
with a guy like that because if he's not laying
it in, he's going to find them open.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
You know.
Speaker 6 (31:36):
At this point, you know, I think Oklahoma City has
a really good shot at making the NBA Finals. Although
we've seen how these series have gone, you know, it's
never a for sure win. The road team has won
a lot, but you know, I sure would like to
see Shay and Oklahoma City continue on and get to
the NBA Finals and see what they do. It's been
(31:57):
fun because you know, all the teams besides Indian has
a star from Kentucky on the roster, and that's been
fun to watch. I actually grew up a Pacers fan,
so I kind of cheered for the Pacers as well.
But this this collection of four and and you know,
you've got Shay, you've got Carl, you've got Julius. I
mean it. For Kentucky fans, the the NBA Finals are
(32:20):
are a pretty good advertisement for this this basketball program.
Speaker 1 (32:24):
Yeah, Carl had twenty in the fourth quarter ones. That
was Sunday night in the nixt game where it looked
like they were were dead in the water at one point,
down twenty in the first half and they were gonna
go down three to zero and probably get swept is.
But as a Knicks fan, I was thinking at that time,
(32:45):
and it was Carl who led him back in the
fourth quarter with twenty and based some from you know,
doing it in a variety of ways, the threes and
the drives, and uh yeah, that's that trade. Trades don't
always work out great for both sides, but it seemingly
has for Julius in Minnesota and Carl with the Knicks.
Speaker 6 (33:09):
Yeah, I tell you what I mean, I don't think
there's been a better trade that's been equal for both teams.
I mean, that would be an interesting matchup if it
were the Knicks and the Timberwolves in the NBA Finals.
You know, you think of Carl the thing that I
love about his game that he says he had at Kentucky.
But you know, Cal never let him shoot the three.
But you know he's got that he can step out
(33:31):
and knock down some consistent threes. He hit a big
one on Sunday night, also hit the ground. Almost looks
like he got fouls to have been a four point play,
ended up just being a three pointer. But can you
imagine on that twenty fifteen fifteen Kentucky team with Cal
Perry let him step out and shoot threes. With that group,
I mean, it would have been they were near impossible
(33:52):
to stop as it was if Carl was stepping out
shooting threes on that team as well. I mean you
could probably hang the banner. But no, that that the
Knicks Pacers series has been it's you know, it's a
throwback to my childhood watching the Pacers next. So I mean,
regardless of even the players, just watching those two teams
(34:13):
go at it in meaningful games is so much fun
to watch. And and you know, the Garden has been
electric when you when you see the celebrities and the
people on the sidelines, they're just just loving that New
York basketball is back. So I've thoroughly enjoyed the Eastern
Conference finals as well.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
Yeah, same here. I mean you're talking about the you know,
the Reggie Miller days with the Pacers. You know, they
had great, great battles in the late nineties. Uh, and
it is fun to see it back again. It's it's
just like you, I get to I don't know if
it's the same way for you, but with my personal schedule,
(34:51):
I don't I get to enjoy the NBA more after
I get to this time of year. And so it's
it's fun that these particular and all the Kentucky guys
playing well it's made it extra fun.
Speaker 6 (35:04):
Absolutely, it has, you know, and I'll be honest, I
don't really dial into the NBA until we get deep
into the playoffs. It's just really hard to really stay
in tune to it all season long, and most of
the season I'm I'm still dialed into college athletics, so
you know, I really kind of turned it over about,
you know, midway through the playoffs, especially in the conference
(35:24):
finals and then into the finals. So yeah, it's it's
fun to watch. And like I said, so many Kentucky
players in the league now, and I think that's going
to continue under Mark Pope. I mean, he's he's got
guys now that he's going to be putting into the NBA,
probably off this current roster, and so I think that's
the thing that will continue, and players will continue to
(35:45):
come to Kentucky to go to the NBA. So I
think that that that pathway between Kentucky and the NBA
will only continue. And it's just it's it makes it
so much fun to watch. I don't have a team anymore,
I said, I grew up as a Pacers fan. Really
I just kind of for the Kentucky guys at this point.
So it's this year has been really really nice for
(36:05):
people like me who cheer for those Kentucky guys.
Speaker 1 (36:07):
Kay Howard wky T TV here at Lexington. Thank you
for the time. All right, thanks Tom, quick break and
we'll be right back. It is the Leads Report presented
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and purity at cornbrad Hemp dot Com. Hello Taga. Always
going to make his decision here in a day or two,
(37:13):
but other players are making theirs known already. Kevin Knox
is taking his name out of the NBA Draft. He's
coming back to Arkansas. I told you last week that
Hubbard made the same decision down in Mississippi State, so
he'll be back playing against the Cats next season. Our
Triple Crown coverage always presented by Clayburne Farm doing the
usual unusually well for more than one hundred years, and
(37:35):
the Pimlico Stewards reviewed the tapes to the Preakness and
talked with both jockeys and burto Respieflavi and Pratt and
decided to take no further action against either one. That
news coming out late on Friday since we last talked.
Shuffleban Coffee is the official coffee of the Leech Report
as well as Rubb Arena at the KFC Center. Maga
(37:55):
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Kentucky based Shufflebean Coffee. See you tomorrow.
Good day. Everybody, Welcome into the Leech Report presented by
Bob Can Enterprises. Hope you had a great Memorial Day holiday.
I made a reservation for tea time to play golf
with some friends yesterday and made it about a week earlier,
and then the forecast was talking about all the rain
(00:21):
that was coming and nearly canceled, and fortunately I decided, well,
I'll just wait till the weekend and kind of see
if the forecast holds up. Thankfully I didn't cancel because
we had a great round of golf yesterday. Weather it
was really nice earlier in the day and then overnight
we get more of the rain, but that will pass.
(00:43):
But anyway, was hopefully you got out a chance to
do something fun with maybe go to a party, or
hit the pool, or hit the golf course.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Whatever.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
It was nice holiday weekend. And of course I saw
Mark Pope was visiting Arlington National Cemetery with his family,
and that's always it is always important to remember what
the holiday is about more than just cookouts in the
pool and golf. And I saw you tweeted a picture
(01:14):
from Arlington National Cemetery and that is a powerful place.
I went there a few years ago, Buddy and I
do a baseball trip every summer, and Freddie Maggart had suggested,
if you're going to be in d C, go see
Arlington National Cemetery and I will tell you if you
ever if you have not been, you have the chance
to go when you're in d C. Do so it
(01:35):
is a very powerful place. All right, let's get into
the show coming up today, Darren Headrick will join us
from the UK Radio Network to talk about the UK
baseball team getting an at large bid to the NCAA tournament.
Field was set yesterday. Kentucky is a three seed in
the Clemson Regional. I was glad to see that because
(01:57):
a lot of the projections earlier had Kentucky going out well.
But they'll be in Clemson, and so that will give
Kentucky fans a chance to make the trek down to
South Carolina. Kentucky as a three seed, we'll take on
second seed at West Virginia at twelve noon on Friday
at the Ballpark at Clemson. Darren will have the call
(02:17):
on the UK Radio Network, television on ESPN U, and
then Clemson and USC Upstate and the other matchup, and
then it goes on from there until everybody but one
team has lost twice. So we'll check with Darren and
get the story on what the matchup is looking like
to begin the tournament for Kentucky, Larry Vaught will join
(02:38):
us from your sports edge dot com and Lee K.
Howard from WKYT TV. So that's the lineup today. Wildcat
News of the Day, always presented by just Sepies of Lexington,
mentioned the regional setup for UK baseball a nice achievement
to have three consecutive years of making the NCAA Tournament,
first time that's ever happened baseball program. And as frustrating
(03:02):
as the team was at times this season with not
being able to get that key hit or not holding
onto a lead like we saw in the final regular
season series down at Vanderbilt, it is important to note
that they had a massive amount of losses from their
College World Series team and still made it back to
the NCAA Tournament. And as we'll talk with Darren, Kentucky
(03:27):
I think is a dangerous team because they played the
best teams in the SEC head to head and gave
them a good battle, only swept twice, and that was
toward the end of the season. And they weren't swept
by the best teams that they faced. They found a
way to get at least one win, sometimes two. And
(03:50):
I think they are a team that, if they could
get a few of those key hits, could be dangerous
in a regional How about the Kentucky guys in the
NBA playoffs shake Just Alexander, the NBA's MVP, had forty
last night, his playoff career high, as the Thunder went
up three to one with a one twenty eight one
to twenty six win at Minnesota. And then the night before,
(04:13):
Karl Anthony Towns had twenty in the fourth quarter as
the Knicks had a victory and a crucial Game three
in Indiana. They'll play Game four there tonight at Bainbridge
field House in Indianapolis, and if the Knicks can win
that one, they would go back to Madison Square Garden
even at two something Minnesota couldn't quite get done last
(04:33):
night on its home court. But forty for Shay, big
game for Carl the night before. So those former Kentucky
guys are showing up strong in the playoffs. Links to
the stories that we talk about each day. You can
find those on the bud light Leach Report page at
Tom leachk Why dot com. Head to a Breakdarre Hedrick
join us when we come right back talks with UK Baseball.
(04:53):
Opening segment presented by just Sepies of Lexington. Go to
open table and make a for your next night out
at Giuseppes. Food's fantastic. There's some real special dishes that
they've had on the menu for a long time, like
the sea bass with lobster chili butter sauce or the
purshudo rapped asparagus. The scallops are fantastic with the brisoto,
(05:16):
a lot of different choices, just a really special ambiance.
See you soon at Giseppes of Lexington. We'll be right back.
Biggervan coming to Woodford County next month as Legends of
the LPGA Tour will be playing in the Woodford Legends
Invitational Golf Tournament Saturday June seventh Sunday June eighth at
the Woodford Club in Versailles. Talking about players like Julie
(05:38):
Angster and Pat Bradley and Laura Davies and Jan Stevenson.
They won big events on the LPGA Tour. Great opportunity
to take a young person that's into golf out to
get up close and personal with some legendary players. Go
to Woodford Clubfoundation dot org to get info on tickets.
They cost just fifteen dollars a day. Proceeds benefit KVC Kentucky.
(06:00):
Joining us now on the club blueinil dot com hotline
is Darren Hedrick. He is the voice of UK baseball
and UK women's basketball and he'll be in Clemson, South
Carolina at noon Eastern on Friday, or Kentucky and it's
opener in the NCAA Tournament against second seed West Virginia.
Kentucky's the three seeds at Clemson Regional. Darren, this is
(06:23):
a nice achievement for coach Vinngione and company. You know,
as I said earlier in the opening season, that had
its frustrations with you know, it's just so close to
some a much better record, but they are in the
NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row, for
the first time in program history.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Yeah, exactly right, Tom. It's a great achievement for the
staff and these players. When you think about everything they
lost off the team that went to Omaha last year.
You replace nearly all of your starting lineup, you replease
your entire weekend rotation and your midweek starter. Come into
this season, you have to replay so many key pieces
(07:04):
of your bullpen. So you start with that and fall
practice and odd into the start of the regular season.
And then during the regular season you're plagued by some
injuries here and there. You lose you're starting centerfielder. They
lost a starting dh futility guy at Ethan Hindle, so
you're kind of there were times where they were patchworking
(07:25):
the lineup. They were down to their fourth and fifth
option at third base against Mississippi State. And then you're
also relying on some true freshmen in key roles and
some young players and other roles. And somehow, some way,
this team has done enough. They'd won enough, they'd won
some big games, and man, I'm telling you, they competed hard,
(07:48):
they played tough, they were in every game, and like
you say, they could very easily have some of those
build their way and be hosting. But to make the
tournament has been a fantastic achievement for this program.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
What's the scouting report on the West Virginia team they
will face on Friday afternoon.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Well, you're talking about a group that was a Big
twelve regular season champion. At one point they were thirty
seven and five. They did kind of stumble down the
stretch a little bit and finished forty one. In fourteen,
the Big Twelve tournament was wide open. I think Arizona
ended up winning the tournament coming out of it. But
West Virginia is a solid team. Kentucky's seen them in
(08:28):
the postseason before, hosted them just two years ago, so
Mountaineers will be a tough out down there in Clemson.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
What about from a pitching standpoint, who would we Does
West Virginia have anybody that's a dominant number one guy
that they would throw in that opener.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
I'm sure they do. I haven't really had a chance
to look at their pitching staff yet, but you know,
I know their staff is good. You don't hit the
thirty seven and five without having some solid pitching. But
I know in pre years they've had tough guys. And
I'll be interested to see how both teams approach the
pitching matchups, because sometimes in these regionals you might not
(09:09):
pitch your best guy in that first game. I know
Kentucky in the past, is they their best guy? So
we'll see if Kentucky changes their rotation at all, maybe
starting Cleaver or Nick McKay with having that extra time off,
So it'll be interesting to see how they set up
the pitching. We'll probably find out a little more about
(09:30):
that from coach Menji on later today.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Yeah, they have had obviously plenty of rests, so everybody's
everybody's available to go, and you know, it is a situation.
It seems to me, I mean, you're with a game
any game out, but it seems to me they've got
they don't have a a real weak link among the
three weekend starters. Cleaver's been the best guy, most reliable,
(09:57):
but they've gotten solid outings on you know, more than
just once in a while schedule from the other two.
So you could throw one of those guys and then
try to have Cleaver if you would face Clemson with
a chance to really take control of the regional.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Yeah, that's exactly it, because you, like we were talking
about with Cleaver, here's a guy from the left side
that stuff for hitters to see. He's been dominant at
times this year, and I think this two week break
has been good for him just to rest the arm.
Nick McKay has just been a workhorse for this team.
He has been able to throw up consecutive zeros. And
(10:38):
then Nate Harris, the freshman power arm love his competitiveness,
and you know, Nate is a guy that is in
his first year of just pitching. When he was in
high school, he played both ways, and so he's you know,
a relative. I don't want to tell him a baby,
but he's still relatively young in his pitching career and
(11:00):
he has come a long way this year. So, yeah,
Kentucky's got three terrific options in the week in rotation
to try to win this regional.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
From a health standpoint, everybody good to.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Go, yeah, I would think.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
So.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
I'll probably double check with coach menji On later today
about Ryan Schwartz and his status, but I would think
that Kentucky's close, if not ready, to get back everybody
that they can coming into this regional with that week layoff.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
Did you think yesterday going into the show, that was
where the announcement that was going to come with the
bracket that they were safely in or are you sweating
it a little bit? And maybe the coaches and players too.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Well?
Speaker 2 (11:44):
You know, it's funny all week long, I was sort
of bullish that Kentucky was getting in, and I thought
they had done enough. I liked their resume compared to
some of the other bubble teams, but sitting there watching
some more bidstealers jump up there and win conference tournaments
made me a little nervous. And then the trends Sunday
(12:07):
night from some of the publications didn't look good for Kentucky.
And of course they had then the suspense and drama
of waiting for Clemson to be the last regional before
they announced the Kentucky there because you know, the way
baseball works, you can't send an SEC team to an
SEC regional. So when it got down to Clemson being
(12:29):
the last one left, you were having the fingers crossed
and starting to sweat a little bit. But we're glad
they're in, and there's nothing mic postseason baseball. We're ready
to go.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
Yeah, and hopefully they have nice weather down there this weekend.
And Kentucky fans really got into the excuse me baseball
postseason run last year, so I was glad, as I
said earlier, they got this Clemson regional rather than going
out west, so they can get some of their fans
down there.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
Yeah, no doubt about it, guys. It's only a six
hour ride, so we hope to see a lot of
Big Blue Nation down there. Clemson, I've never been on
their campus, but I've always heard great things about it.
I know the ballpark from singing on TV is a
beautiful ballpark. Can't wait to see it in person. Should
be a fun weekend. And look, it's a regional with
a lot of evenly matched teams Clemson, West Virginia, Kentucky
(13:24):
and then USC Upstate making a regional for the first
time in program history. So it should be a fun
group of teams down there this weekend.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Darren, I have a safe trip down to Clemson, and
hopefully we're talking next week about moving on to I
guess it would likely be Baton Rouge.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Right, Yeah, that's what it sounds like. So Kentucky's been
in that spot before, so why not try again.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
There you go, Thank you, Dared, Thank you Tom. Darren Headrick.
We'll be on the call Friday eleven, five am Eastern
with a pregame for Kentucky and West Virginia on the
UK Radio Network in the NCAA Baseball Tournament. It's the
Lynch Report. We're presented each day by Bobcat Enterprises for
locations around Kentucky. So google Bobcat when you need to
(14:11):
buy or rent a piece of heavy equipment for job.
They will have what you need and fantastic service after
the sale from our good friends at Bobcat Enterprises here
in Kentucky. We'll be right back. It's the Leach Report.
We come to here from the Clarks Pumping Shop studio, Return,
Refresh and Refuel at Clark's. And joining us is Larry Vaught.
(14:33):
You can read him at your sports edge dot com.
Hear him on the Sunday morning sports talk show each week.
And Larry, let's start with the little Kentucky basketball decision
day for otega Oway coming up on Wednesday. I guess
he has until midnight on Wednesday to make the decision
about the NBA Draft. And I'm sure fans are sweating
(14:55):
this because the longer ages they worry that he's going
to stay in the draft. I would think I've heard
nothing to suggest that's the case. Number One, you or
read anything anywhere from any of the people that follow this.
And the other thing is if you're going through the
process to get feedback, then you might as well go
(15:16):
through as much of the process as you can and
set up as many workouts as you can to get
more input from what the NBA scouts want, right.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
I think so, Tom, I mean, I think there's no
doubt that Otega was hoping the evaluations were going to
be to the point that he would be able to
stay in the draft and go forward and start his
professional career. We don't really know what those evaluations are.
I mean, you see the mock drafts, but that's not
the same as what the NBA people might be telling him.
(15:48):
But yeah, I don't think there's any reason to panic.
I've seen nothing to make me believe that he won't
be back, or not heard anything from Mark Pope and
his many appearances and different venues that he's made to
make me think that he believes he won't be back.
I know everybody that I talked to expects Otago way back.
(16:11):
So I think it's just a matter of him, like
you say, getting all the information he can following that
away to hopefully set himself up for a better spot
in the Knicks in the twenty twenty sixth draft.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Mark has talked about how guys typically make a significant
jump in the second year in his system. So, given
what we saw from Otaga last year, if that kind
of a jump happens, Coach Pope talked about two or
three of the things that Otega wants to work on.
You could certainly see him being in a position with
(16:43):
a Kentucky team that would perhaps have a better season,
being able to be in a position where he would
hear what he wants to hear.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
In terms of the first.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Round, Yeah, I think he could have a better season
without his number, maybe even actually being better in some way.
As far as scoring, I think he far exceeded what
most of us thought he would do last year. And
I think he may have more scoring options on the
team with him this year than what he's gonna and
what he had last year.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
And maybe we want to have to play quite as
many minutes.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
But yeah, I think if he comes back, and I
mean more than anything, he just got to become a
more consistent three point shooter if he wants to play
in the NBA, and he's got all summer to keep
working on that. I'm sure he already has been working
on that. And it's not like he's a bad shooter now.
He just needs to become a little bit better shooter.
But I was really interested the David Mark mentioned something
(17:37):
about that he thought Otega could lead the country and steals.
That would be pretty sweet if he could, especially with
some of the defensive players that Mark has brought in
to go along with him.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Talk with Larry Vaughan. You can read him at your
sports edge dot com, voughtsviews dot com for his coverage
of the Cats, and we're gonna continue this conversation here
in just a moment on the Leads Report presented by
Bobcat Enterprises. Leature Park comes to here from the Clark's
Pumping Shop studio. Return refresh and refuel at Clark's and
(18:12):
make sure you download their app for their new loyalty
rewards program. We're talking with Larry vaught from your sports
edge dot com, joining us here on the Club Blue
anil dot com hotline. Larry, you guys on the Sunday
Morning sports talk show this weekend had Jasper Johnson on
as a guest for a segment and he does an
(18:35):
excellent job in those interviews. He has a poise about
him that is beyond his years. You know, you and
I have both been around athletes a lot that comes
through here, and they're not always that composed and poised
and eloquent when they're speaking, you know, takes up a
little while to get more comfortable. Chuck Hayes was one
(18:56):
of those exceptions. Jasper's a guy that handles himself very well.
What else did you take away from the interview since
you already knew that.
Speaker 4 (19:05):
Well, Jastra's guy that's really grown into that in the
last couple of years. He wasn't always quite as outgoing
and interviews as what he is now, but he has really.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Matured into that role.
Speaker 4 (19:15):
I think that's one of the things that the journey
he's taken from Woodford to a prep school to overtime
elite has not only helped him on the court, but
it's helped him off the court as well. So that's
one young man that truly paid off for I was
kind of taken. I was really impressed with how Jasper
talked about the level of talent on the team, but
(19:36):
also how when we asked him about what do you
think about Mark Pope, you know, saying he's going to
be a superstar, or that he was the most dangerous
shooter in high school basketball last season. That's pretty lavish
praise for a young man who isn't going to hear
that from his family. That's not the way the Johnson
family is, and we just kind of wondered what that would.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
Do, but he said, that's basically the same things Mark's.
Speaker 4 (19:59):
Been telling him the whole time, so nothing about it
surprised him. But again, that's pretty heady praised put on
a guy who then he stepped foot on campus yet.
But Jasperdus handles everything with kind of that poise, and
he's pretty unflappable, and I think he's very sincere when
he talks about whatever role Mark has for him, So
that'll be fine for him. And he's been through a
(20:21):
lot of different things and he handles them very very well.
And I think it's also interesting right now, like the
decision he maybe faces with USA basketball that he go
ahead and he's going to go to the tryout because
Mark has encouraged him to go ahead and do that,
because Mark's obviously going to be there, he's one of
the on floor coaches there in the tryouts. But then
(20:42):
if he is in position to make the team, which
he's made USA teams before, do you give up another
three weeks or more that you could be here at
Kentucky training with your future team and working under Mark
Pope and his staff to go off of being Switzerland
and all. So I think it's kind of an interesting
dilemma that he has there. But he said it, Mark's
(21:03):
wholeheartedly embraced if he wants to go and do it,
go ahead and do it and play for Team USA.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
And Malchi Mareno is going to be in those crowds too, right,
and Malachi will be there also.
Speaker 4 (21:12):
So I was saying, assume it's the same type of
conversation that Mark would have had with him, which is
a little bit different than a conversation a few years
ago when a certain end state star just wanted to
play in the Kentucky and Indiana All Star Series and
the coach in the UK said, no, you can't. You
can't miss practice one day to play in that.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Yeah, that is a little extreme.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
Yeah, just a little.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
This is a pretty pretty interesting contrast compared to that.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
Jasper uh Is. He's an interesting spot right for Malachi.
I'm sure he kind of understands as a freshman, he sees,
you know what, what's ahead of him, old, you know,
older guys, and uh, you know, I think he's just
going to do his best to uh make ah, you know,
as much of a statement as he can, to get
(22:01):
as many minutes as he can. I mean, I'm not
in his head. I'm just kind of I guess saying
that more kind of from my standpoint is his. But
for Jasper, I see him, I'm assuming you do too.
Is a guy who certainly could be in the mix for,
you know, a starting spot on this team.
Speaker 5 (22:17):
That's you know, if you look at the the roster
that Coach Pope has put together, you have if assuming
always back we are doing that, he starts, I think
Jalen Lowe starts at the point, some one of the
big guys starts, most likely Brandon Garrison.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
I think maybe Brandon and Jayden Quaintance if they go
that direction, or maybe Brandon and Diabate, but you would
think probably it's you know, a couple of the bigs,
And so that leaves one spot open on the perimeter
for a two or three whatever you want to call it.
And you got Aberdeen and you got Jasper and others,
(23:00):
and so that's an interesting uh. I mean, hey, everybody,
I will get their minutes but it's uh, fans always
like to think about, you know, who's going to be
the starting five, and that's an interesting debate.
Speaker 4 (23:09):
Yeah, it is, because I think at this time a
year ago, or maybe in the June or something, when
I was debating, I kind of thought that Kobe Bria
might start over, will takea oway. Last year didn't play
out that way, and so this year, I mean, I
don't think you really know, but I could see Mark
inserting Jasper in there because, for one thing, everything's already
(23:32):
comfortable with a role coming off the bench because that's
what he did at Florida.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
It's like what Kobe did up there.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
And if a guy can already shown he can handle
that role, maybe that's what you like, let him keep doing.
So I don't know, but it's a lot of really
three pieces that Mark has And like you said, I
think Jast is going to obviously get his minutes. As
I said Sunday, I'm obviously pretty based toward Jasper because
I've known him from the day he was born. But
what a early Mark puts him in, I think he's
(23:58):
going to do really really well.
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Yeah, I would think so, And I thought it was
noteworthy that at the news conference Coach Pope did recently.
He in talking about Jasper and all those nice things
he said about and one of the things in particular
he said is that he's a guy that can get
his own shot. You don't have to run something always
for him to do that, and that's a valuable quality
(24:21):
to bring to the mix.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Yeah, that's something he's always been able to do.
Speaker 4 (24:26):
It's been kind of ironic at times he's been criticized
by some folks for not getting enough of his own shots.
I mean, it's not like he's ever not been a shooter,
but sometimes some of the big time analysts that I've
talked to and that watched him play think at times
he's been a little too unselfish on teams. But that's
just the way he has always been on One of
the reasons I think he'll fit in so well in
(24:48):
Mark's offense because if it comes just making a great pass,
he's very able to do that and very willing to
do that. So if he score, war was great. If
he doesn't, he still finds a way to contribute it.
That makes him get into mark southfense even better.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
As we know, you've known that family a long time.
They're over in Harrisburg and that's a football family with
coach Alvis Johnson and Dennis Derek. But did Jasper ever
play which football?
Speaker 3 (25:15):
Yeah? He did.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
He was a really good quarterback and a good athlete.
And that's why when his grandfather, the late grandfather I
was a long time friend of mine, told me one
thing and said, well, get ready to give up football.
And I thought, oh lord, I was was going to
be so disappointed and so upset. This is going to
be a rant. I'm just going to have to listen to.
And I said, well, I guess if that's what he
(25:37):
wants to do, and I was, that's what he should do.
I hear that right, And I was wanted to explain
to me how yes, it's a bright future in football,
and he wasn't the biggest built guy, and I liked
right future in basketball that he just needed to go
on and concentrate on his basketball. And that was before,
in between these freshmen and sophomore year, if I remember right,
or maybe after his sophomore year. I can't remember exactly now,
(26:00):
but Alice is wholeheartedly on board with it, and it's
a decision that in this case, it's certainly worked out
well for Jaster Johnson.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
Larry Vaught as always, thank you much, all right Tom
Larry joining us on the Club blueennil dot com hotline.
They're the official NIL fundraising partner for UK Athletics and
they're introducing a new initiative for kids. It's called Club
Blue Kids and you can sign up your youngsters at
Club BLUEINIL dot com. If you click on the kids tab,
you'll get the information. The young man or young lady
(26:31):
in your life can get a club T shirt, a
membership card, a lanyard, plus athlete experiences, meet and greets,
access to exclusive events and more. So go to Club
blueil dot com, click on the kids tab and you
can get signed up for Club Blue Kids or future
Wildcats rep the Blue with pride. We will be right
back with Lee K. Howard from WKYT here at Lexington
(26:54):
Quarter before the top of the hour. It's the Leach
Report presented by Bobcat Enterprises, and we go to the
Club Blue dot Com highline to bring on Lee K.
Howard from WKYT TV. Start with Little NBA Playoffs, Lee
K Shay Gilgess, Alexander goes for forty Last Night He
last week won the MVP Award from the NBA. Thinking
(27:15):
back to his one year at Kentucky, I mean, we
know the story about how he didn't move into the
starting lineup until a month or so into the season,
But I mean, even by the end of the year
when he was going great, did you think you'd see
anything close to what you're seeing now in the NBA.
Speaker 6 (27:34):
No, it's amazing. I mean to see what Shay has
turned himself into. I think he was the sixth ranked
player in that twenty seventeen draft or UK recruiting class.
And I remember that year I actually went to the
McDonald's All American Game and he was not there. He
played in the All Star Game locally here between the
Kentucky and Indiana type All Stars. I mean, it was
(27:56):
crazy to see his progression, as is the thought to
be back up point guard to Klaude Green for Kentucky
to you know, like you said, about a month or
so into the season, like, oh wait, this guy might
should be the starter to you know, even when he
was drafted, he was a high draft pick. I don't
(28:16):
think anyone saw him to be an All Star let
alone the MVP of the league. But yeah, what he's
doing right now, it's so much fun. These NBA playoffs
have been a lot of fun to watch, especially the
conference finals, and you just see how dominant he is.
I've enjoyed watching Cason Wallace. I think Cason Wallace is
(28:36):
really playing well right now in kind of an important
role off the bench of kind of a backup point
guard for the Thunder. And then you've got Julius playing
really well. I think he's really found a groove there
in Minnesota. So you know, it's been a lot of
fun watching the Eastern and the Western Conference finals. But
watching Shaye do what he does and it just looks
so effortless. I think that's the biggest thing that's so
(28:59):
much fun to walk.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
I think back to the game in the SEC Tournament
final out in Saint Louis in twenty eighteen. Tennessee, I
think had beaten Kentucky. I think they've beaten them both
times during the regular season, and they had, you know,
Admiral Scoldfield to Grant Williams, that really good team that
they had, and Kentucky beat him in the conference tournament final.
(29:21):
I think that's the last SEC tournament Kentucky's won and
Jay had thirty if memory serves, and you know, just
kind of in a similar way to how he gets
his points now. I mean, he's not a guy that
throws down the Sports Center dunk on a regular basis.
He just does everything well.
Speaker 6 (29:41):
Yeah, he really does. I just the word I think
of when I think of Shay as just smooth. You know,
it's not flashy. It doesn't look like he should be
able to go. At the pace at which he drives,
it's almost methodical, and I almost think it throwze off
the defenders. He's done it since college. It's like you said,
probably prior to UK in fact, where he just moves
(30:04):
his way through the lane at a pace where he's
never he's never sped up. He's never you know, in
a hurry. He just gets to the hoop and lays
it in. I think last night on the broadcast they
called him the best driver in the NBA, and I
think that's accurate. You know, he's not Anthony Edwards that's
gonna come down and or a John Morant that's going
to come down and elevate and dunk it on your head.
(30:25):
He's just gonna weave his way through the defense and
lay it in and you think as a defender, it's
almost you think, okay, he's going slow enough, somebody ought
to be able to stop him, and yet he gets
his shot every time. So it's it's a skill that
I don't know where he's developed that, but it's it's
something unlike anyone else in the NBA.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
Maybe I don't know if this analogy works a little
like a Tom Brady on the court in that you
know he's he doesn't you know, not gonna you know, wow,
you necessarily with arms strength, but he makes the right
play a higher rate than about anybody else. I think
of a play last night I was watching where he
(31:06):
kind of lets the lane open up one of his
teammates I can't remember who then slides over to the
players right and opens a lane and Shay just blows
by his man and gets an easy layup and you know,
didn't could have been a spectacular dunk, but it was
just an easy layup. And you know that's kind of
who he is.
Speaker 6 (31:27):
Yeah, it really is. And you know, players love playing
with a guy like that because if he's not laying
it in, he's going to find them open.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
You know.
Speaker 6 (31:36):
At this point, you know, I think Oklahoma City has
a really good shot at making the NBA Finals. Although
we've seen how these series have gone, you know, it's
never a for sure win. The road team has won
a lot, but you know, I sure would like to
see Shay and Oklahoma City continue on and get to
the NBA Finals and see what they do. It's been
(31:57):
fun because you know, all the teams besides Indian has
a star from Kentucky on the roster, and that's been
fun to watch. I actually grew up a Pacers fan,
so I kind of cheered for the Pacers as well.
But this this collection of four and and you know,
you've got Shay, you've got Carl, you've got Julius. I
mean it. For Kentucky fans, the the NBA Finals are
(32:20):
are a pretty good advertisement for this this basketball program.
Speaker 1 (32:24):
Yeah, Carl had twenty in the fourth quarter ones. That
was Sunday night in the nixt game where it looked
like they were were dead in the water at one point,
down twenty in the first half and they were gonna
go down three to zero and probably get swept is.
But as a Knicks fan, I was thinking at that time,
(32:45):
and it was Carl who led him back in the
fourth quarter with twenty and based some from you know,
doing it in a variety of ways, the threes and
the drives, and uh yeah, that's that trade. Trades don't
always work out great for both sides, but it seemingly
has for Julius in Minnesota and Carl with the Knicks.
Speaker 6 (33:09):
Yeah, I tell you what I mean, I don't think
there's been a better trade that's been equal for both teams.
I mean, that would be an interesting matchup if it
were the Knicks and the Timberwolves in the NBA Finals.
You know, you think of Carl the thing that I
love about his game that he says he had at Kentucky.
But you know, Cal never let him shoot the three.
But you know he's got that he can step out
(33:31):
and knock down some consistent threes. He hit a big
one on Sunday night, also hit the ground. Almost looks
like he got fouls to have been a four point play,
ended up just being a three pointer. But can you
imagine on that twenty fifteen fifteen Kentucky team with Cal
Perry let him step out and shoot threes. With that group,
I mean, it would have been they were near impossible
(33:52):
to stop as it was if Carl was stepping out
shooting threes on that team as well. I mean you
could probably hang the banner. But no, that that the
Knicks Pacers series has been it's you know, it's a
throwback to my childhood watching the Pacers next. So I mean,
regardless of even the players, just watching those two teams
(34:13):
go at it in meaningful games is so much fun
to watch. And and you know, the Garden has been
electric when you when you see the celebrities and the
people on the sidelines, they're just just loving that New
York basketball is back. So I've thoroughly enjoyed the Eastern
Conference finals as well.
Speaker 1 (34:31):
Yeah, same here. I mean you're talking about the you know,
the Reggie Miller days with the Pacers. You know, they
had great, great battles in the late nineties. Uh, and
it is fun to see it back again. It's it's
just like you, I get to I don't know if
it's the same way for you, but with my personal schedule,
(34:51):
I don't I get to enjoy the NBA more after
I get to this time of year. And so it's
it's fun that these particular and all the Kentucky guys
playing well it's made it extra fun.
Speaker 6 (35:04):
Absolutely, it has, you know, and I'll be honest, I
don't really dial into the NBA until we get deep
into the playoffs. It's just really hard to really stay
in tune to it all season long, and most of
the season I'm I'm still dialed into college athletics, so
you know, I really kind of turned it over about,
you know, midway through the playoffs, especially in the conference
(35:24):
finals and then into the finals. So yeah, it's it's
fun to watch. And like I said, so many Kentucky
players in the league now, and I think that's going
to continue under Mark Pope. I mean, he's he's got
guys now that he's going to be putting into the NBA,
probably off this current roster, and so I think that's
the thing that will continue, and players will continue to
(35:45):
come to Kentucky to go to the NBA. So I
think that that that pathway between Kentucky and the NBA
will only continue. And it's just it's it makes it
so much fun to watch. I don't have a team anymore,
I said, I grew up as a Pacers fan. Really
I just kind of for the Kentucky guys at this point.
So it's this year has been really really nice for
(36:05):
people like me who cheer for those Kentucky guys.
Speaker 1 (36:07):
Kay Howard wky T TV here at Lexington. Thank you
for the time. All right, thanks Tom, quick break and
we'll be right back. It is the Leads Report presented
by Bobcat Enterprises. Corn Bread Hemp has a great deal
for you. If you have not tried their products, now's
a good time with spring here. It's a way to
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and purity at cornbrad Hemp dot Com. Hello Taga. Always
going to make his decision here in a day or two,
(37:13):
but other players are making theirs known already. Kevin Knox
is taking his name out of the NBA Draft. He's
coming back to Arkansas. I told you last week that
Hubbard made the same decision down in Mississippi State, so
he'll be back playing against the Cats next season. Our
Triple Crown coverage always presented by Clayburne Farm doing the
usual unusually well for more than one hundred years, and
(37:35):
the Pimlico Stewards reviewed the tapes to the Preakness and
talked with both jockeys and burto Respieflavi and Pratt and
decided to take no further action against either one. That
news coming out late on Friday since we last talked.
Shuffleban Coffee is the official coffee of the Leech Report
as well as Rubb Arena at the KFC Center. Maga
(37:55):
the official coffee of your home. It's the perfect casual
coffee fan or for the true coffee aficionado. They cover
the whole spectrum, with Central Kentucky's Myers Stores the place
to go get it, or through Amazon or at shufflebeing
dot Us. Put some hustle in your shuffle today with
Kentucky based Shufflebean Coffee. See you tomorrow.
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