Billy really must want Jasper to stay

From ESPN insider-Andy Katz

 Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie said Monday that he's going to Derrick Jasper's hometown of Paso Robles, Calif., Wednesday to see if the sophomore guard still wants to transfer out of Kentucky. Gillispie said Jasper will finalize his decision this weekend, and Gillispie was told that Jasper wanted to be closer to home. Jasper was limited by injuries this past season and didn't play in the first 10 games. He missed one other game during the season and ended up averaging only 4.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 20 games.
"We didn't need to lose Derrick, but he's about 95 percent sure he's going," Gillispie said.
Gillispie said rising junior Jodie Meeks, who had sports hernia surgery after the season, Maybe good to go for Late fall. Like Jasper, Meeks battled injuries and played in only 11 games this past season, his last on Feb. 16. Meeks averaged 8.8 points and 2.6 rebounds for the Cats.
If Jasper leaves, the Wildcats will be down three returning perimeter players. Seniors Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley are gone, and Alex Legion transferred out during the season. Gillispie said reserve Michael Porter will be back, but Gillispie is banking mostly on incoming players, like 6-6 guard Kevin Galloway from the College of Southern Idaho, 6-6 forward DeAndre Liggins from Nevada and Darius Miller, a 6-7 forward out of Mason County High in Kentucky, to be productive.
"We'll be pretty good, not great," Gillispie said of the perimeter. "We're adding some experience with Jodie coming back healthy and Kevin should be a pass-first guy for us."
Meanwhile, the Cats are hopeful that freshman Patrick Patterson comes back from surgery on his left ankle. Gillispie said Patterson, who averaged 16.4 points and 7.7 rebounds a game, got his cast off last week and is in a walking boot. Gillispie said he was told that Patterson is healing well. He said Dr. James Andrews, the surgeon, should be back in town to visit with Patterson again later this week. The Cats also return rising juniors Perry Stevenson and Ramon Harris upfront and added a newcomer in Josh Harrellson.
Gillispie said he's also looking at adding another player or two to the recruiting class for 2008. He may also take on a transfer if Jasper were to leave.
? Kentucky still has return games with Louisville (road), Indiana (home), North Carolina (road) and is looking at starting another home-and-home next season with one possibility being Michigan. The Wildcats are in a tournament in Las Vegas with two guaranteed games at home followed by two in Las Vegas. The three other hosts are West Virginia, Iowa and Kansas State

I think you're spot on, Lou Villian. I think BG is going to California to offer a medical redshirt and the possibility of playing point, where Jasper would rather play. I think those are the last cards he is holding to keep him.

I also think the homesick thing is real. Some kids just don't like it, other kids can't wait to leave. I understand Jasper has relatives/friends in the Las Vegas Valley, and 10's of thousands of Californians make the 4 to 6 hour drive each weekend to LV. Its a pretty standard thing for those from California.

Which ever way it plays out, I hope Jasper makes a choice that works for him, and he comes back strong from his injury. He's a good kid and deserves a shot to play on two good wheels.

First off, props to Lou Villian for posting a quality post and not trying to provoke anything.  Although he is really good at provoking. :) Great post.

Second, why drive when you can fly.  I used to live out there, there is a flight to/from Vegas to LA at least every hour.  It is a 1 hour trip and it cost $80 bucks round-trip on Southwest.  It's packed but who cares.  The west coast is much better on its flight schedules and point to point destinations than the East coast (for obvious reasons).

Third, I don't know if Jasper would ever be a 15 PPG kind of guy but I do think the guy could give 10 and 6 with 5 dishes per game.  If he could do that, he would be one of the premier PG's in the game.

If Liggins doesn't qualify (which is a possibility), we are in a big heap of it at the 1 and the 2.  Now you have Galloway and Meeks with who backing them up (Porter - which I like but he is a role player not a big minute guy, and one of the walkons - probably Slone).  I don't see any of the following playing the 1 or the 2 - Miller or Harris playing the 2 and that is the only other two possibilities. 

So, yes he wants Jasper back badly and I think he will definitely play the point if Liggins is not there but he wants Jasper to play this season and not sit out.  I think that is probably where the contention comes in.  I kind of wish they would have just let him sit out last season so he would already be eligible for the med redshirt.

Hey Tres

 Why the no love in our sweet 16 voteoff I come in peace and share nice knowledge i came accross that was harsh man we were on a run and bam!!  You shot us in the heart vote for the ville man I know you dont like M State