Headlines: Kentucky Wildcats Hold Open Football Scrimmage

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Saturday, during the annual Nike Hoop Summit, some incoming ‘Cats gave the Wildcat faithful a sample of the action they could see on the court next season.

"Skal Labissiere gave University of Kentucky basketball fans a taste Saturday of what to expect when he arrives on campus next fall. Labissiere, one of three players in UK’s 2015 signing class, scored 21 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked six shots to help lead the World team to a 103-101 victory over the United States in the Nike Hoop Summit at Portland, Ore. The 6-foot-11 Labissiere came off the bench in the nationally televised high school all-star showcase and made nine of 16 shots from the field and three of his four free throws in 28 minutes of action. Labissiere, a native of Haiti, was joined on the World team by 2016 UK commitment Tai Wynyard, who is from New Zealand. The 6-10 Wynyard finished with two points and two assists in 11 minutes. Kentucky’s other 2015 signee in the Hoop Summit was Isaiah Briscoe, a 6-foot-3 point guard from Union, N.J. Briscoe showcased the skills that have some calling him the No. 1 point guard in the 2015 class, delivering nine points, nine assists, four rebounds, two steals and two turnovers in 23 minutes for the U.S. squad. The game featured several uncommitted 2015 recruits that Kentucky Coach John Calipari is targeting for next season to help fill the void left by seven Wildcats who declared for the NBA Draft on Thursday."

Check out these interviews with some of the future ‘Cats (Via BlackTopTV)

As we all know by now, due to the construction under way at Commonwealth Stadium, Kentucky won’t be holding their annual spring game. This doesn’t stop Mark Stoops and his staff from delivering to the fans. Saturday morning, the football team held an open practice/scrimmage just down the road from their home stadium, at the Tim Couch Practice Fields. Kyle Tucker from the Courier Journal has notes from Saturday’s scrimmage.

"1.Patrick Towles was dialed in. Complete statistics were not available, but the 6-foot-5 junior threw an array of impressive passes, including two bombs dropped deftly over the shoulder of his intended target – first Blake Bone for 47 yards, then Thaddeus Snodgrass for 50. The latter set up Towles’ 15-yard touchdown toss to Rashad Cunningham on the final play of the day. Earlier, he found Cameron Fogle over the middle for a 23-yard scoring strike and directed another long touchdown drive against the first-string defense. Like the returning starter that he is, Towles looked totally in control, throwing with zip, on time and on target. He made no apparent major mistakes. As for the deep balls: “He’s been doing that,” coach Mark Stoops said. “We’ve been working on that, taking our shots. We’ve been hitting more and more. It was good to see him throw it. … You’ve got to be able to throw the ball vertical. You’ve got to be able to stretch it when they’re stacking the box in this league. There was times last year when we just couldn’t do that.” 3. Receivers made plays. Although the position was thinned by injury Saturday, those available flashed playmaking ability. Snodgrass piled up 92 yards on just two catches and Bone caught his deep ball from Towles only after winning a jump ball by reaching over a defender’s back to snare a downfield throw from Barker. “That’s what a quarterback needs: for the receivers to come down with some big plays for him,” Stoops said. “Again, we’re getting better.” Speedster Jeff Badet looked highly reliable on short and intermediate routes, catching at least a half-dozen passes Saturday. Sophomore Garrett “Juice” Johnson lived up to his nickname, twice taking short sideline passes and gaining extra yards after juking a defenders out of their cleats. Perhaps most encouraging, though, was the play of Conrad at tight end – a position that has not been a threat in the passing game at UK for years. The rookie snagged several passes, including the long one from Barker while blanketed by defenders. “You guys saw it today,” Stoops said. “The sky’s the limit for him. He made some big plays today and he’s going to be a guy who plays an awful lot of snaps for us.” * Defense coming together. A quick rundown of UK’s first-string defense Saturday: Farrington Huguenin, Melvin Lewis and C.J. Johnson up front with Denzil Ware, Josh Forrest, Ryan Flanningan and Jason Hatcher at linebacker and J.D. Harmon, Blake McClain, A.J. Stamps and Cody Quinn in the secondary. Huguenin, a senior who was stuck in the shadow of Bud Dupree and Za’Darius Smith the last two seasons, had two passes batted down, a key third-down tackle and a fumble recovery Saturday. “I played behind some good players,” he said, “and now it’s time for me to shine.”"

The football team is preparing for perhaps the program’s first bowl appearance in half a decade.

Oct 11, 2014; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats players enter the field before the game against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks at Commonwealth Stadium. Kentucky defeated Louisiana-Monroe 48-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

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