BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Last year, Kentucky fans learned Tubby Smith could coach. Tuesday night proved he can recruit.
Smith's first UK recruiting class had a spectacular debut, as the five freshmen combined for 35 points in a 99-64 beating of Eastern Kentucky at Rupp Arena. Smith said one, swingman Tayshaun Prince, would become a starter quite soon, and the others served notice they will press the starters for playing time.
"You think he can recruit? Wait 'til next year," senior forward Scott Padgett said, referring to the class Smith just signed which has been ranked the nation's best. "Give 'em two years, and they'll be winning the national championship for sure."
The fourth-ranked Wildcats opened defense of their 1998 national title with an abbreviated lineup. Three players - Jamaal Magloire, Ryan Hogan and Myron Anthony -- sat out, the third of four games (including exhibitions) each will miss for disciplinary reasons.
Sophomore Michael Bradley was making his first career start, and it was just the second UK start for sophomore Saul Smith and the fifth for senior Heshimu Evans.
All of which mattered little. After a timid start, UK raced past the similarly undermanned Colonels (also a 10-man roster) and provided plenty of time for underclassmen auditions.
The 6-foot-8 Prince and 6-foot-10 forward Souleymane "Jules" Camara wowed everyone. Prince scored 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting and had four rebounds, four assists, one steal and no turnovers. Camara made 5-of-8 shots for 10 points and added 11 rebounds, two assists and a steal.
"Those two are very mature," Tubby Smith said. "They've both come from excellent programs, so they've been taught extremely well. They get a lot done, and they're very graceful on the court." Camara, a native of Senegal in West Africa, played at prep power Oak Hill Academy, and Prince prepped at Compton (Calif.) Dominguez High. Both schools were ranked in the USA Today Super 25 last year, and both players traveled extensively and played in numerous all-star games.
"I didn't feel nervous at all," Prince said. "I felt pretty good, and just had my mind set on going out and making shots."
Said Camara: "I tried to let the game come to me. I'm very proud of myself and how we (freshmen) did."
Saul Smith, a natural point guard, started at shooting guard Tuesday, as he had in exhibitions. But he scored just one point, missing all five field-goal attempts.
Prince was the first man off the bench, entering five minutes into the game. In his first 5:16 on the floor, Prince made his first two shots - both three-pointers - and added two rebounds, three assists and a steal. And he helped UK break from a 9-9 tie to a 27-15 lead.
Tubby Smith said Prince had earned a starting spot, though he wouldn't say when the first start would come, and said his son would be returning to the backup point guard spot.
"There's nothing more (Prince) needs to show me," Smith said. "He's doing it all. And I think Saul's going to be better for us coming off the bench and giving us a spark."
The other three freshmen - 6-5 swingman Desmond Allison, and 6-2 guards Todd Tackett and J.P. Blevins - were sharp too. All made their first shot, with Allison totaling nine points, two rebounds, two steals and an assist and the other two scoring three points apiece. "We (freshmen) are showing everyone how the future could be after the upperclassmen graduate," Allison said. "We're trying to jell as a class. We thought we were a little underrated, so we hope we can open some eyes."
Bradley looked comfortable in the center spot he'll soon share with Magloire. He had career highs in points (13), rebounds (seven), assists (four) and steals (four).
UK totaled 26 assists, including a career-high six from Evans. "We passed well," Smith said. "That's a mark of an unselfish team, and that's what I want to see."
UK NOTEBOOK
EASTERN KY (64)
fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
Stukes 30 1-3 6-6 3-7 0 1 8
Mattox 31 3-8 0-0 1-3 2 1 6
Griffin 33 3-14 1-2 3-7 2 3 7
Fitzgerald 20 3-4 0-0 0-1 0 2 9
Acuff 35 5-11 2-3 1-4 2 2 13
Robinson 34 7-18 3-5 1-4 2 1 21
Weir 15 0-4 0-0 1-3 0 3 0
Allison 2 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
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TOTALS 200 22-63 12-16 10-29 8 14 64
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Percentages: FG-.349, FT-.750. 3-Point Goals:
8-18, .444 (Mattox 0-1, Fitzgerald 3-4, Acuff
1-1, Robinson 4-12). Team rebounds: 4. Blocked
shots: None. Turnovers: 23 (Acuff 6, Griffin 5,
Robinson 4, Stukes 2, Weir 2, Fitzgerald,
Mattox). Steals: 7 (Robinson 3, Acuff, Griffin,
Mattox, Weir).
KENTUCKY (99)
fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
Padgett 29 10-17 0-1 6-12 4 2 21
Evans 29 7-11 1-2 2-6 6 1 15
Bradley 25 6-11 1-5 2-7 4 2 13
Smith 19 0-5 1-2 0-1 4 3 1
Turner 22 5-8 1-2 0-1 1 3 11
Prince 19 4-5 0-0 2-4 4 0 10
Camara 23 5-8 0-0 2-11 2 1 10
Allison 13 3-5 2-2 1-2 1 1 9
Tackett 11 1-3 1-2 1-1 0 0 3
Blevins 8 1-3 0-0 0-1 0 1 3
Masiello 2 1-1 0-0 1-2 0 0 3
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TOTALS 200 43-77 7-16 17-48 26 14 99
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Percentages: FG-.558, FT-.438. 3-Point Goals:
6-20, .300 (Padgett 1-5, Evans 0-2, Smith 0-4,
Prince 2-3, Allison 1-2, Tackett 0-1, Blevins
1-2, Masiello 1-1). Team rebounds: None. Blocked
shots: 7 (Padgett 2, Bradley 2, Evans, Turner,
Allison). Turnovers: 15 (Turner 4, Blevins 2,
Evans 2, Padgett 2, Allison, Bradley, Camara,
Tackett). Steals: 14 (Bradley 4, Turner 3,
Allison 2, Blevins, Camara, Evans, Padgett,
Prince).
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Eastern Ky 35 29 - 64
Kentucky 58 41 - 99
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Technical fouls: None. A: 22,080. Officials:
Bruce Benedict, Orlandis Poole, Joe Lindsay.
