Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Antonio Blakeney Says Kentucky Players are Treated Like NBA Guys
Antonio Blakeney’s biggest takeaway from his visit to Kentucky this past weekend?
It seems to be that the Kentucky players are treated like NBA guys.
“What surprised me was just how the players are treated and how the strength coach is all on their butts and the academic are all on them,” the 6-foot-4 Blakeney told Scout.com. “They are treated like they are NBA players. I like that they are treated like NBA players. Not like in a celebrity way, but more making sure they have everything they need.”
Kentucky will need several guards next season when Andrew and Aaron Harrison are expected to leave. The Wildcats are in the mix for Blakeney, Isaiah Briscoe and Malik Newman, among others, but it remains to be soon who will land where. Blakeney and Newman are both expected to commit late, while Briscoe could pop early.
Meantime, Blakeney will visit LSU this weekend along with JaQuan Lyle and 6-8 forward Ben Simmons, an LSU commit. He’s also planning to visit North Carolina and N.C. State.
“I haven’t set a date with them or anything, but I still plan on doing that,” Blakeney told Scout.
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.