Donovan not a UK candidate; recruits react to news.Once again, Billy Donovan won't be accepting the vacant head coaching position at the University of Kentucky.
University of Florida spokesperson Fred Demerest told Florida Today, "Billy (Donovan) will not be a candidate for any job that comes open, I can confirm.”
The school is scheduled to release a statement later Friday.
In a statement from coach Billy Donovan, he said, “In response to the rumors circulating about my interest in other jobs, I wanted to address this as quickly as possible," Donovan said. "I am committed to the University of Florida and look forward to continuing to build our program here."
- In other news, the Louisville Courier-Journal reports that top Kentucky recruit Jon Hood is "heartbroken" over the news of Billy Gillispie's firing, but would wait to see who the school brings in before deciding whether to opt out of his national letter of intent.
- The Courier-Journal also talked to the father of G.J. Vilarino, a point guard from McKinney (Texas) and the first recruit that Gillispie signed with Kentucky.
Gerry Vilarino told the newspaper, “It’s a tough day for us because we have known those guys (the staff) for years and they’re like family. We’re hurting today and we feel for them. It’s a difficult day on that side of it.
“But from a basketball perspective – solely – G.J. has had his mind set for a long time. Based on our conversations, it’s going to be pretty hard for him to turn it off now and say he’s not going to Kentucky. He has everything ready to go.”
- Kooner Tucker, the Wildcats' most-recent signee, says he's still committed to Kentucky, but will also wait and see who the school brings in as their next coach.
“(Gillispie) is a great coach and I felt like he was someone I could play for,” Tucker told the Courier-Journal. “I don’t know now. I will have to see who they bring in and what he wants and everything like that."
- Meanwhile, one of Kentucky's most prized recruits, Dominique Ferguson, might re-open his recruiting process, his father said.
Deon Ferguson said his son had a great relationship with Billy Gillispie and his staff.
“He has a lot on his mind right now," Deon Ferguson said. "He’s just trying to figure things out.
Original Source : http://blogs.usatoday.com/bracketracket/2009/03/donovan-wont-be.html
