Lacey has long been high on the Cats but despite other reports has never been given a legit unconditional scholarship offer from UK. It has been believed in the past that Lacey has postponed his decision announcement because of a lack of a scholarship offer from UK. He has announced a date to make his commitment at least twice and has both times postponed it. All other schools except UK had an offer out there for him to commit to.
There has been several issues that has kept Lacey from receiving an offer. One is eligibility issues. We do not want any player committed, end up playing and then the NCAA finds out academic issues were there and banners are forfeited. The NCAA has proven through the Rose situation, that just because we clear you to play does not mean we can't take that back later and punish you for playing a player we once cleared. It's more of a play each player at your own risk type of mindset. Which forces programs to make certain there is no issues with a player before playing them.
There is also colleges that players could play at that would be easier to get in than UK. There are schools that are tougher to get in as well. So not only is Coach Cal looking out for UK but he is looking out for Lacey as well. He could easily take a commitment, lead him to believe he will get in and then Lacey doesn't and he is stuck frantically looking for what his options are.
Another issue with Lacey is the log jam of talent that UK could possibly have next season. If Knight, Jones, Liggins and Lamb all come back next year, Lacey is likely to see very little minutes. Maybe about as much as someone like Hood did this past season. Is Lacey ok with this or would he come in causing drama not seeing the floor time he could receive elsewhere?
There is also the question of does Cal see Lacey working with the dribble drive system. Lacey is an excellent shooter. He is one of those guys when shooting threes that you just expect the ball to go in. He kind of reminds me of how Jodie Meeks played. Meeks was a great shooter but he was never a player who you saw break ankles as he finished at the rim. The question is, can a player that really can't create his own shot work in the dribble drive? Does Cal believe this is an area that he can teach Lacey to develop in?
I firmly believe that Coach Cal could sell Lacey on UK even if Knight and Jones come back if Cal was to offer. Lacey isn't likely to get a whole lot of minutes right out of the gate either way as a freshman, he would need at least a year of polishing. So Knight and Jones coming back for one more year shouldn't make a difference.
Of course to prevent Lacey from coming here and being upset is Cal being Cal and being real with Lacey. Cal never promises recruits minutes and is very straight forward with him. He tells them the vision and plan he has for them and leaves it up to the player's hands to accomplish their goals. He plays who deserves to play. If you are a walk on and you are beating out the scholarship players, then you will get the minutes.
This is why you do not see Stacey Poole causing any issues with the team or looking to transfer. He begged to receive an offer from Cal and Poole knew coming in that the minutes he would receive was on him to earn it. He didn't earn it and he knew it, so he sat.
So as you can see there are several factors that will determine if Lacey receives an offer. He is set to make his decision after the Derby Festival Basketball Classic in Louisville. Schools that seem in the mix are: UK, Alabama, Auburn and Kansas. KU has recently become bigger in the picture now that Self's team is looking to be the worse it has been in quite awhile thanks to the Morris twins and Selby decking early and little reinforcements coming in. You can't have recruits deck like UK did last year if you don't reload.
UK already has arguably the best recruiting class ever to come in with Davis, Gilchrist, Teague and Wiltjer but Michigan's Fab 5 of course had 5 top guys. Adding another piece to have 5 guys as well who overall is ranked higher than their 5 would make any arguments of "who's was the best?" to be mute.
The bottom line is, if Cal wants Lacey than UK gets Lacey. If Lacey does not end up at UK, we have to faith that Cal knows what he is doing and believes that some recruits in the 2012 class as freshman would be a better option than Lacey as a sophomore.
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