Provo, UT – In a stunning turn of events, Brigham Young University’s men’s basketball program, led by head coach Mark Pope, has extended an unprecedented offer to NBA superstar LeBron James.
Sources close to the program reveal that BYU has offered James a comprehensive “Dream Package” that includes:
– A guaranteed $10 million donation to James’ philanthropic foundation
– A state-of-the-art, LeBron-branded training facility on campus
– A customized academic program allowing James to pursue his degree while playing for the Cougars
– A special “LeBron James Scholarship” fund for underprivileged students
“We’re thinking outside the box,” Coach Pope said in a statement. “LeBron is a once-in-a-lifetime talent, and we’re willing to push the boundaries to make this happen.”
James, who has been vocal about his commitment to education and philanthropy, is reportedly intrigued by the offer.
While the chances of James leaving the NBA to play college basketball remain slim, insiders say BYU’s innovative approach has sparked serious consideration.
Kentucky men’s basketball coach Mark Pope announced Friday that the program will host an open tryout later this month for potential walk-ons for the 2024-25 season.
The Wildcats, a preseason top-25 team, are asking interested players to submit their height, weight, position and contact information for their high school basketball coach.
The tryout is open to all academically eligible, full-time Kentucky students. According to the announcement, the team will narrow its list of potential walk-ons and invite preferred candidates to the tryout Aug. 30.
One of the players who is the hardest to project on this Kentucky basketball roster is Amari Williams. Last season at Drexel, he averaged 12.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. Coach Mark Pope recruited Williams to come in and be an elite rim protector and passer, which is what he will do.
Isaac Trotter of 247Sports predicted the role of all of the Kentucky transfer portal additions, and he believes Williams is going to be the Wildcats starting center.
Trotter had this to say about what Williams’s role will be for Kentucky this season, “Skilled size is everything for Pope’s offense, and a center who can be a playmaker on the perimeter is vital. Williams is not a 3-point shooter, but he can clear open space with screens and dribble hand-offs. He’s also an adept passer who had a 17% assist rate this past season at Drexel. Kentucky will also rely heavily on Williams to protect the rim and scoop up boards. The 6-foot-10, 265-pound big man has enough bricks in his britches to handle one-on-one coverage against just about any big man, so Kentucky won’t have to send double teams. Playing with Brandon Garrison might be a blessing in disguise for Williams. Kentucky can keep him fresh, out of foul trouble and his motor should be revving for the 20-to-25 minutes he’s on the floor.”
Williams is going to have a big season in Lexington, where he will help the team by being one of the best defending bigs in the SEC. He also has offensive upside, whether scoring around the rim or passing out to open shooters.
The seven-footer also has a massive wingspan, which will help him swat shots away for the Wildcats this season. He might not average 12 points a game this season, but Williams is going to have a massive impact on the game with his ability to pass the basketball and slow opposing bigs from scoring.
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Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball to hold open tryout Aug. 30
Myron Medcalf, ESPN Staff Writer
Aug 2, 2024, 10:52 PM ET
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Kentucky men’s basketball coach Mark Pope announced Friday that the program will host an open tryout later this month for potential walk-ons for the 2024-25 season.
The Wildcats, a preseason top-25 team, are asking interested players to submit their height, weight, position and contact information for their high school basketball coach.
The tryout is open to all academically eligible, full-time Kentucky students. According to the announcement, the team will narrow its list of potential walk-ons and invite preferred candidates to the tryout Aug. 30.
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Though an open tryout is rare for a blue-blood college basketball program, Kentucky is not the first to hold one.
Just last year, Louisville coach Kenny Payne held such a tryout and asked the public to send walk-ons “our way” because the team was desperate to add more talent during a challenging season.
In women’s basketball, TCU was forced to add four walk-ons last season through an open tryout after multiple players were sidelined with injuries.
To be clear, Kentucky is not in such a situation.
The Wildcats will be led by transfers Jaxson Robinson and Lamont Butler, along with a collection of talent that Pope — who as a player helped Kentucky win a national title in 1996 — has assembled for his first year coaching in Lexington.
Kentucky men’s basketball coach Mark Pope announced Friday that the program will host an open tryout later this month for potential walk-ons for the 2024-25 season.
The Wildcats, a preseason top-25 team, are asking interested players to submit their height, weight, position and contact information for their high school basketball coach.
The tryout is open to all academically eligible, full-time Kentucky students. According to the announcement, the team will narrow its list of potential walk-ons and invite preferred candidates to the tryout Aug. 30.