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5-star SG Antonio Blakeney decommits from UL over shoes
Posted on 9/15/14 at 10:33 pm
Posted on 9/15/14 at 10:33 pm
Mike Hughes
Louisville Insider - InsideTheVille
Blakeney reopens recruitment
45 minutes ago
Antonio Blakeney reopened his recruitment Monday, ESPN's Reggie Rankin reports. The 247Sports 5-star SG from Florida committed to Louisville earlier this month after making an official visit, picking the Cardinals over LSU, Kentucky and Missouri.
"I don't play up shoe company angle in basketball recruiting but decommitment of Antonio Blakeney from Louisville is shoe company related," 247Sports analyst Jerry Meyer says.
Blakeney plays for E1T1, a top Nike sponsored AAU program. Louisville, of course, is an Adidas program. LSU, Missouri and Kentucky all are Nike sponsored schools. Last week after committing, Blakeney tweeted a picture of Rick Pitino's national championship tattoo, stating he hoped the UofL head coach was ready to get more championship tattoos.
Blakeney's commitment propelled Louisville's class to No. 2 nationally in the 247Sports Composite, but his change of mind will drop the Cardinals in the rankings. Rick Pitino's program still has commitments from Donovan Mitchell, Deng Adel and Raymond Spalding, three top recruits.
Meyer reports that Blakeney is expected to visit Kentucky and LSU in the coming weeks.
Louisville Insider - InsideTheVille
Blakeney reopens recruitment
45 minutes ago
Antonio Blakeney reopened his recruitment Monday, ESPN's Reggie Rankin reports. The 247Sports 5-star SG from Florida committed to Louisville earlier this month after making an official visit, picking the Cardinals over LSU, Kentucky and Missouri.
"I don't play up shoe company angle in basketball recruiting but decommitment of Antonio Blakeney from Louisville is shoe company related," 247Sports analyst Jerry Meyer says.
Blakeney plays for E1T1, a top Nike sponsored AAU program. Louisville, of course, is an Adidas program. LSU, Missouri and Kentucky all are Nike sponsored schools. Last week after committing, Blakeney tweeted a picture of Rick Pitino's national championship tattoo, stating he hoped the UofL head coach was ready to get more championship tattoos.
Blakeney's commitment propelled Louisville's class to No. 2 nationally in the 247Sports Composite, but his change of mind will drop the Cardinals in the rankings. Rick Pitino's program still has commitments from Donovan Mitchell, Deng Adel and Raymond Spalding, three top recruits.
Meyer reports that Blakeney is expected to visit Kentucky and LSU in the coming weeks.
5
Posted on 9/15/14 at 10:38 pm to thunderbird1100
This isn't uncommon in basketball recruiting. Shoe companies run the AAU scene.
Basketball recruiting is a cesspool
Basketball recruiting is a cesspool
Posted on 9/15/14 at 10:42 pm to thunderbird1100
Not exactly over shoes. Goes much deeper than that. Anyway though, Kentucky please continue to pursue Malik Newman and allow us to have Antonio.
Posted on 9/16/14 at 8:19 am to BobBarker
LSU now in the lead! Good friends with Simmons. We thought we had a great shot before he committed to UL.
Posted on 9/16/14 at 8:23 am to Crowknowsbest
quote:
This isn't uncommon in basketball recruiting. Shoe companies run the AAU scene.
Makes me worry how much better Pearl would be able to recruit at AU if they switched from Under Armour.
Posted on 9/16/14 at 9:05 am to Nissanmaxima
quote:
LSU now in the lead! Good friends with Simmons. We thought we had a great shot before he committed to UL.
Slow your roll brother. We don't know if we lead. I doubt Antonio has a leader. Right now everyone is assuming it's Kentucky, but I doubt it.
Posted on 9/16/14 at 11:01 am to BobBarker
Basketball recruiting is unbelievable. Shoe companies. 
Posted on 9/16/14 at 11:26 am to thunderbird1100
Mizzou and LSU certainly haven't been afraid to get their hands dirty lately.
Posted on 9/16/14 at 11:36 am to GatorsGators
quote:
Mizzou and LSU certainly haven't been afraid to get their hands dirty lately.
Daddy Dale taught Jones Well.
Posted on 9/16/14 at 12:01 pm to gatorhata9
quote:I am not an expert on the subject, but I think Under Armour has started to get more involved in AAU basketball. Under Armour probably had zero presence in that field 5 or 6 years ago. Now they at least have some presence
Makes me worry how much better Pearl would be able to recruit at AU if they switched from Under Armour.
This post was edited on 9/16/14 at 12:03 pm
Posted on 9/16/14 at 1:09 pm to auburnphan23
Blakeney set up an OV to Mizzou for October 10th.
Posted on 9/16/14 at 3:26 pm to mosoblkcougar
We have 4 five stars visiting in the next 2-3 weeks, and only 1 spot open.
Posted on 9/16/14 at 3:31 pm to mizslu314
I also hear LSU leads for Antonio would be a nice grab for the Tigers 
Posted on 9/16/14 at 3:51 pm to mosoblkcougar
quote:
Blakeney set up an OV to Mizzou for October 10th.
He hasn't scheduled any new OV's since he decommitted.
Posted on 9/16/14 at 4:43 pm to thunderbird1100
The only way this can be happening is that Nike is paying him. It's the only way they can hold sway over his final say....
Posted on 9/16/14 at 6:35 pm to thunderbird1100
Really hope we land him, would be HUGE with Simmons and possibly Elijah Thomas
Posted on 9/16/14 at 8:02 pm to ConwayGamecock
quote:Probably some basic understanding that Nike would look more favorable on an endorsement deal with him when he turns pro if he attends a Nike school in college
The only way this can be happening is that Nike is paying him. It's the only way they can hold sway over his final say....
This post was edited on 9/17/14 at 8:33 am
Posted on 9/16/14 at 8:42 pm to BobBarker
quote:
Anyway though, Kentucky please continue to pursue Malik Newman and allow us to have Antonio.
KSR reported that the two talked via phone on Sunday (and there's been some rumors floating around that they want to play together).
quote:
Another interesting wrinkle in the story happened Sunday, when Malik Newman and Blakeney spoke via phone. Newman denies this had anything to do with Blakeney’s decommitment, but the two are close and Newman is one of UK’s top targets in 2015. However, Blakeney is also close with Ben Simmons, the number one player in the class who is currently committed to LSU. He’s considered the third best shooting guard in the country, and Cal’s currently laying the groundwork for the 2015 class, so stay tuned…
You can probably say it looks good for either LSU or UK at this point
Anything to make the UofL fans miserable is a win in my book though.
ETA: Regarding the shoe stuff, it really all depends. I've seen Adidas kids commit to UK and so on in the recent past. And as said, it's usually not money directly in the hand as it is a favorable shoe contract after the fact. It's more about the handlers anymore anyway.
This post was edited on 9/16/14 at 8:47 pm
Posted on 9/16/14 at 9:49 pm to GatorsGators
_______________________________
Mizzou and LSU certainly haven't been afraid to get their hands dirty lately.
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The nerve.......a dirty lizard throwing stones from his toilet.
Mizzou and LSU certainly haven't been afraid to get their hands dirty lately.
_______________________________
The nerve.......a dirty lizard throwing stones from his toilet.
Posted on 9/17/14 at 7:33 am to BluegrassBelle
I can't see how Blakeney and Newman would go to the same school since Kentucky already has Ullis at PG and only one will be able to start at SG. I can't see Blakeney coming off the bench. Belle, how many spots do you think y'all will have after this season and who do you see filling them? I
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