Mississippi State Athletics Photo
New Kentucky coach Mark Pope not only is trying to recruit players but he’s also working to put together a coaching staff.
It seems former BYU assistant coach Cody Fueger could be on his way to Lexington which makes sense since he has now been with Pope for nine years counting the five years at Utah Valley.
Former UK associate coach/Louisville head coach Kenny Payne was approached about joining Pope’s staff but opted Thursday to join John Calipari’s staff at Arkansas. He also had offers to return to the NBA.
So where will Pope go for more staff? Current UK assistant coach Orlando Antigua could be a good fit. He’s a proven recruiter and can provide a connection with Calipari era players.
But why not former UK teammate Scott Padgett? He played one season with Pope at Kentucky and was on UK’s 1998 national championship team. He was a first-round NBA draft pick and played from 1999-2007 in the league.
He was the assistant strength coach at UK during Calipari’s first season and then an assistant at Manhattan and Samford before being named Samford’s head coach in 2014. He’s now an assistant coach at Mississippi State.
Padgett loves Kentucky basketball as much as Pope and the two have remained friends. Padgett has recruited and coached over 30 players who have played professionally. Padgett has also recruited 10 players from Kentucky to play in New York, Alabama and Mississippi. Obviously he knows the high school talent base in the Bluegrass and already has established recruiting connections.
Padgett has an infectious personality much like Pope. He could relate very well to Kentucky fans/boosters.
Padgett’s former UK teammate, Cameron Mills, joined us on WPBK-FM Thursday morning to talk about Pope. However, I asked him what he thought about Padgett as a possible assistant for Pope.
“I am thrilled to hear you say his name,” Mills said. “A lot of my teammates are in coaching but Scott is in a perfect position with the perfect resume and is a Kentucky boy. You do not have to be a great talker to be a great recruiter but he is great at both.
“Scott is also a person who doesn’t forget anything. He has a steel trap of a brain. He remembers every detail of every play we ran in every game. Bring up a game we played and he will tell you the stats of every player.”
Mills readily admits he’s as biased about Padgett being on the staff as he was about Pope being named head coach. Both are friends and former teammates but he also believes both are terrific coaches.
“He would be a perfect assistant for Pope,” Mills said. “I don’t know if our group (of former teammates) has brought Scott up yet to Mark. We all have advice for him. He is expecting it and asked us for advice. I kind of hope he doesn’t listen to us but I do think Scott Padgett would be great for Mark and Kentucky.”
20 Responses
I would get Padgett Pelphrey and Rondo
Good article Larry. Padgett makes a lot of sense, especially at this time. Payne and Antigua are ties to a program that most of BBN had grown tired of. Padgett has ties to what BBN wants Kentucky to become again. Two teammates from a national championship team and NBA resumes would speak well on the recruiting trail, especially here in Kentucky and the surrounding area. Calipari bled green $$$…it was all about him; Mark and Scott bleed BLUE all day long. I think Scott would jump at the chance to come back home. Let’s see if Mark thinks it would be a good idea as well.
You are right … those guys do not bleed green
Hype we get and keep Orlando
We agree-believe Antiqua would be perfect as one of Pope’s Assistant. Great Recruiter !!!
Also, Scott Padgett & Rajon Rondo.
Hope we get Scott and keep Orlando
So do I but not seeming like that with Orlando but things can change
Not shaping up to be a good week for the Popester…most of our targets have either committed or trending elsewhere. This is not a good batting average so far. We need a quality coach/recruiter and not another cheerleader. Pope needs a couple hits next few days.
There is still time to field a decent team, but even if that doesn’t happen, it is worth it to be rid of the FRAUD!
What Mark Pope needs is time to rebuild a program that the fraud decimated over the last many years.
Professor, You are EXACTLY right!
The timing which fits Pope’s plans is what the BBN needs to agree to, adapt to and endorse.
The AD was in no rush to get rid of the mess & instead gave a life-time contract to endorse a declining program.
It takes time to clear out any place decimated into a stockyard filled with BS for years.
I will wait and be pleased when UK is restored!!!
It’s criminal what he did to our program.
Why on earth wasn’t the NBA paying that grifters salary?
Yes. You described it perfectly!
The assistants either were afraid to speak up and call out the many weak areas or were unwilling to risk losing their salary for being yes men without a voice. Either way, don’t keep any of them. Who have they influenced to stay among the players who would truly be wanted – Thiero, Big Z, Burks, Ugo, Jory Hart – the answer is they have not contributed to UK. Antigua may have been good his first time around, but the last 9 years there has not been an assistant other than Payne to contribute to the program.
Make a clean sweep and bring in coaches willing to work & contribute, starting with Padgett & Sheppard. They would provide real coaching for guards & forwards.
Yea bring the boys back who won championship rondo will help guards and he be good recruiter
Believe Antiqua would be perfect as one of Pope’s Assistants. Great recruiter !!!
Also, Scott Padgett & Rajon Rondo.
I remain excited about the emerging Mark Pope era. I defer to his judgment regarding his staff and want his staff to restore the UK basketball program to the gold standard, which means competing for national championships on a sustained basis.
To be very specific, teams that compete for the championship every year for decades have ended the regular season ranking in the top 6 in adjusted net efficiency. That is the bar! That is the criteria! That is the standard.
Time will tell if Mark Pope succeeds and falls short.
With regard to roster building, any program that competes for national championships must have good to great players with sufficient experience and age to have on court maturity. Mark Pope’s success or failure will be determined with how he builds and maintains the roster of the span of time.
He can have 13 scholarship players, and I believe he should not waste any of his available free rides. As we have seen for many years, teams need a solid game rotation of 7 to 9 players, which leave 4 to 6 scholarships players that may not get a lot of floor time. That is also OK.
I do want my UK teams to have a Kentucky connection on the roster, and there are at least 4 spots that should be available on an ongoing basis.
Therefore, I propose that 4 UK men’s basketball scholarships be designated at Kentucky Mr. Basketball seats. Each year, the Kentucky Mr. Basketball should be offered a 4 year athletic grant in aid to occupy one of those 4 Mr. Basketball seats.
If these Kentucky boys only contribute by satisfying the desires of old fans like me to have this Kentucky connection, then that alone would justify this program. And just think, if starting positions and playing time are truly awarded based on demonstrated ability, some of these reigning Mr. Basketballs could shock the basketball world and earn significant playing time, or even a starting position.
I made this suggestion about 15 years ago when it became crystal clear that the fraud did not want Kentucky boys playing on his UK teams.
Great wrap-up of what is needed with some specific needs such as a designated scholarship for every Mr Kentucky Basketball.
The ANE standard needs experienced players to be met. Even with A thing Davis & MKG, the 2012 Champions had something that EVERY UK team with a Title has had – a key player born & raised in the star of KY. Darius Miller is the only player in history with the Mr KY BB title & a KY HS State Champ & a NCAA championship.
History has proven, UK needs genuine Kentuckians to win it all!
Nice article Larry. I hadn’t thought about Padgett, it would be great to have 2-3 alums on the staff. The most important thing though would be cohesiveness between all the coaches and players no matter who Mark chooses. I’m hoping that not hearing much so far about players coming in isn’t a bad sign. The negative fans concern me at times.
I dont want any of caliparis holdovers in terms of assistant cosches..start fresh