Scott Brown's SportsBytes on WKDZ

Derrick Jasper headed to UNLV

Derrick Jasper is transferring to UNLV, according to FOX Sports Jeff Goodman.

READ MORE HERE

It's official: Derrick Jasper leaving Kentucky

The long-rumored departure of Derrick Jasper from the University of Kentucky was made official today.

Several reasons, including homesickness and a desire to play closer to home, have been cited as reasons for Jasper to leave the UK basketball program.

Jasper averaged 4.2 points and 5.5 rebounds during an injury-plagued sophomore season.  His departure creates a gaping hole at the point guard position.

Possible destinations for Jasper include UNLV, Cal, and UCLA.

CLICK HERE to read more on Jasper's transfer.

Is Kentucky getting a transfer?

Rumor on the internet is that Matthew Pilgram, a 6-8, 225 pound freshman at Hampton University, is considering transferring to Kentucky.

Pilgram, who is from Cincinnati, could give the Wildcats a physical presence in the paint to go alongside Patrick Patterson.

Click HERE to learn more about Matthew Pilgram

Second grader commits to Kentucky

Just days after receiving a verbal commitment from California eighth grader Michael Avery, Billy Gillispie has received his first commitment from the class of 2018 today as 7-year-old Darrin Brown has announced he will play basketball at the University of Kentucky once he completes elementary school, middle school, and high school (in that order) at Trigg County.

Brown (at right) led his Upward basketball team in scoring, shots, assists, and Little Debbie snacks eaten after each game.  He was also first in the postgame hand shake line more often that any other player.  He also carries a high GPA, having made a 100 on his spelling test this week and a 95 on his units test.

Click here to listen to Darrin's announcement that he will be attending Kentucky to play basketball

Darrin's twin brother Micah (seen dunking below) has announced that he will wait until middle school before he commits to a college.

"Why commit so early?" he said.  "I've got plenty of time before middle school."

Darrin is the first known commitment to Kentucky's Class of 2018.  And no, he has not received any offer from Gillispie or UK.

Kentucky nets two recruits

Kentucky has netted two more college basketball recruits, signing 6-9 forward Josh Harrellson of Southwestern Illinois College.  He will have three years of eligibility left.

High School sophomore Dominique Ferguson has committed to Kentucky.  The 6-8 forward was also being recruited by Kansas and Florida.

Click HERE for the story on both recruits

UK Barnstorming Tour at Christian County Friday

The Kentucky Wildcat Barnstorming Tour will visit Christian County High School Friday night at 7pm for their first stop on their statewide tour.

The latest 'Cats, Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford, will be joined by former Wildcats Lukasz Orbzut, Bobby Perry, and a couple of others.  Former UHA player and UK walk-on Ravi Moss has also been rumored to play in the game.

Tickets at the door are $10.  Tickets can be purchased in advance for $8 at Christian County High School, the Lafayette Road branch of Heritage Bank, the North Drive McDonalds, and the Kentucky New Era.

People can also bring an item to be autographed for $5.

Self recommends BCG to Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State is still looking for a basketball coach, and Billy Gillispie's name is still being mentioned as a possibility to replace Sean Sutton in Stillwater.

Now, the rumors are surfacing in Billy Clyde's old stomping grounds of College Station.

Stay tuned.

Let the rumors begin

There is a basketball coaching vacancy at Oklahoma State, and a couple of Bills are high on their list.

Bill Self, an OSU alum, is their first target and they will throw a lot of money at him.

If he decides to stay at Kansas, there are several who think OK State will make a play for UK coach Billy Gillispie.

While some think it's far-fetched, keep two things in mind.  One, BCG still has not signed a contract to coach at UK.  He has a "memorandum of understanding" but nothing that contractually keeps him at UK.

Two, Travis Ford has been rumored to take the head coaching job at LSU, but that has now been put on hold as LSU just hired an athletic director.  Is Ford waiting to see how the chips fall with Gillispie and OK State? Does he think another job will open up that's more attractive than LSU?  Is there nothing to the Ford to LSU reports?

Stay tuned.

Bill Keightley remembered

Former UK equipment manager Bill Keightley was remembered at a memorial service Thursday night at Rupp Arena, which was broadcast on WKDZ 1110-AM.

Keightley died earlier this week at the age of 81, having worked for UK for 48 years and six coaches.

Here are some of the video highlights of the service.

The Bill Keightley tribute video shown in Rupp Arena

Kentucky head coach Billy Gillispie

Former UK and current Louisville head coach Rick Pitino

Former UK player and current Arkansas head coach John Pelphrey

Mr. Wildcat Bill Keightley dies at 81

Bill Keightley, a long-time manager for Kentucky Wildcat basketball and known simply as "Mr. Wildcat" died today at the age if 81.

Keightley was on a trip Monday to Cincinnati to see the Reds season-opener and suffered a fall. He was taken to University Hospital in Cincinnati, where he died of internal bleeding at 7:45 p.m. EDT.

Doctors apparently found an undiagnosed tumor on Keightley's spine and that the fall was probably due to the bleeding.

Keightley served as the manager for Kentucky basketball for 48 seasons, watching Kentucky win 1,113 games.  He served under six UK head coaches from Adolph Rupp to Billy Gillispie.

He and Cawood Ledford are the only two non-players or coaches to have a jersey retired in the Rupp rafters.