The John Calipari Era at UK has brought mass hysteria to the commonwealth. The talk of top level recruits dreaming of coming here has the Big Blue Nation teeming with excitement of what could be in the next few years.
The names can overwhelm you. Demarcus Cousins, John Wall, Daniel Orton, Xavier Henry, Brandon Knight, Harrison Barnes, Joe Jackson. That is quite impressive. But don't let that overshadow one future CAT that has the potential to be one unforgettable player.
Jon Hood, ladies and gentlemen, is exactly who I'm talking about. At 6'7" and currently close to 200 lbs (what will be ~215 by the start of the season), Jon has the body and game to contribute immediately much like what Darius Miller did, if not more.
He is not your typical player for that size either. Jon can handle the ball like a collegiate level guard already and has a feathery touch from the field. He also knows how to get to the rim, and man does he know how to finish when he gets there with his leaping ability. He is after all the best high-jumper in the state of Kentucky.
Jerry Meyer tends to agree with me in this article from the past. Check the date on the article. This is from a while back where Jon is being held in regard with some of the players mentioned above. So those that know what they are doing see the potential star that we have coming our way.
Not only does Jon have the physical qualities to become an elite player during his time here at UK, but he has the demeanor and drive to maximize those skills. He is a great kid with an uncanny sense of humor.
He knows what he needs to do to improve his game and is doing all that he can to acheive that. He also remembers his mistakes. From that he learns how to improve and those mistakes feed fuel to the fire, the fire that drives him as a competitor.
I recently was talking with Jon and mentioned to him that I was at the game where he faced off against another talented high school star, Scotty Hopson, in an epic showdown in Madisonville. I told him that he played a great game and almost had the highlight of the year in Kentucky high school basketball.
His response: "Yeah, the baseline dunk where I cocked it back to my ankles and hit the front of the rim....Yeah...I remember."
I knew then, that this instance had to drive him to get in the gym and weight room even more than he was already doing.
So in essence UK fans, go ahead and get swept up in the hysteria that coud be about to ensue under Coach Cal. This ride could be of epic proportions and have us talking 40 years from now about how great the times were when Calipari came to town. There will be immense talent heading our way.
Now I'm not saying that the next Kevin Durant is getting ready to graduate in Madisonville, KY here soon. But in all of the hoopla, don't even think about looking over the Kentucky kid that knows what it means to put on the blue and white, and has the game to glorify it. Do not forget Jon Hood.
Brodie Fitzhugh
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