Despite the fact that many people have said that Indiana is out of the running for 2009 blue-chipper Dominic Cheek, it is now being reported by Adam Zagoria that Tom Crean will have an in-home visit with Cheek tomorrow night. Also, Tennessee fans jumped out of their socks after finding out that Cheek was going to be visiting Knoxville this weekend for the UT versus Florida football game, but they may want to temper that excitement. According to his uncle, Cheek may not be going to Knoxville this weekend afterall.

As reported this past week, Kentucky took advantage of a 'loop-hole' in the NCAA rules and has moved forward their Big Blue Madness a week earlier than technically allowed. The NCAA rules state that a team can practice two hours a week from Sept. 15 to the official start of practice on Oct. 17 (which is the traditional date of "Midnight Madness"). According to Andy Katz, Gillispie said the Wildcats can use the time for a scrimmage since it's two hours to do whatever they want on the 10th.

This not only sets Kentucky apart, but it also allows for them to bring in other highly recruited players to their version of "Midnight Madness" that might otherwise already be visiting another school's event. Now that Kentucky has stepped outside of the box, will there be another school to follow?

Well, Dan Wolken posted in his blog yesterday afternoon with the following:

In a move that most should have seen coming from a mile away, the NCAA deemed that the "supposed" Memphis basketball recruiting violation involving FedEx president and CEO Dave Bronczek and Oseye Gaddy (Abdul Gaddy's mother) was a secondary violation. The University is not sure of the punishment but such violations do not result in lost scholarships, probation, or serious penalties.

With school back in session for most (if not all) high school athletes, many have begun to pack their bags and head to universities across the country. That football "chill" is soon to be in the air and recruiting for the 2009 class is about to really heat up.

Only fitting since football is in the forefront of everyone's mind on a day like today (with the over-hyped "Collision at the Coliseum" set to kickoff tonight), USC has a bonanza of visitors on campus to watch the game. Noel Johnson, Kenny Boynton, Jordan Hamilton, Shaunessy Smith, Tyler Honeycutt, Jeremy Tyler, Renardo Sidney, Terrence Boyd, Josh Smith, Gary Franklin, Derrick Williams, Anthony Brown and Kyle Caudill will all be sitting in the Coliseum tonight and touring the campus this weekend. Talk about casting out a wide net! Geez.

Other schools with big weekends include Arizona (Abdul Gaddy), Duke (Andre Dawkins, Tyler Thornton, Josh Hairston and the Plumlee brothers), Notre Dame (Ryan Kelly) and Xavier (Chris Braswell and Kevin Parrom).

Bill Self is one coach that is doing the opposite of the above. He, instead of making a player come to him, is heading to Thomas Robinson's home for an in-home visit today (Saturday, September 13th).

* Image of Robinson courtesy of i95ballerz

I would like to say sorry to those who come here to read my blog. I have had very little activity over the last few weeks due to travel and sickness. The sinus-bug has really jumped up and gotten me over the last week. Now that I'm starting to feel a little better, I'll be updating more.

John Wall's mom comes home

As of last night, John Wall's mother is home and doing much better. In a message from Wall, he said that he is "happy his mom is back home" and would like to say "thanks to everybody for praying for her."

A dose a reality came this morning when I found out that John Wall's mother had a stroke. These kids are herded around, every move is monitored, their phones ring off the hook, but in the end they are just kids. "I'm just praying that my mom gets better. She had a little stroke," says John.

So, while everyone is chomping at the bit to get word of John Wall's decision, John will be praying for his mother. I think I'll join him.

Class of 2009 guard Tamir Jackson visited Rice University this weekend. Speaking with him after he returned, Jackson told me, "Yeah, Rice is my number one choice, my leader, at this point. I loved it there."

Looks like Jackson could very well end up in Conference USA like everyone thought, just not at UAB.