No Pittman? He would also be a big edition to the teem. And didn't Brandon Tucker used to play for them?

 

Hey wasn't like he wasn't welcome but according to AAU Rules a team can only add two players after the July 7th registration deadline. The kid has freakish talent. Hope he's playing with someone if not what a shame.

 

Not sure if Ricardo and JJ have been signed and delivered but they have been seen flying high in the rafters at the Fort Thomas Armory at a few Firebird practices and the connection is that Rico and JJ got their first taste of competitive basketball when the Firebirds (Gordon, Collins, McDaniel combined with Ricardo and JJ's NK Tar Heels team to play in their first AAU State tournament back in 03). Ricardo was throwing shots over the backboard but you could tell he was a "gem"... all the hard work the rest speaks for itself.

 

After seeing JJ play in person several times he's arguably a top 5 player in the state and its scary to think that he's 14 months younger than his big bother. Not the shooter that Ricardo is but just as good with the other skills... lazer quick and an explosive leaper.:jump:

Bradley U. is showing interset in him as well.

 

The following year Ricardo, JJ and the rest of the Firebirds qualified for the D-1 12U 2004 Nationals at Virginia Beach they went 2 and 3 that year.

 

 

Ricardo and JJ went on to make their names on the AAU circuit playing with the KY Players while the Firebirds struggled to survive. A little known fact is that the Firebirds hadn't won a State AAU game in two years 2007 and 08 (0-6).

 

They finished at least tied for third in this year's 17U State AAU Championship considering they made the final four along with Central KY Storm, DSAS. and Shining Stars-McFarland. They finished first in their pool that included DSAS

 

Yes the Firebirds are playing D2 but giv'em some love. They lost two of their starters and best players to Highlands football in Grubbs and Grote. They were replaced with two 16U players in Jack Stewart and Conor Crowley of Highlands. Not sure the coach had much choice if they wanted to be competive. Apparently, the Ricardo and JJ thing happened after they declared D-2 and the schedules were published.

They defeated three teams that are playing in the D1 Nat'l Championship - DSAS, Shinging Stars-Bundy, and W. VA AAU State Champs W.VA Reign

 

If Ricardo and JJ do join the team how will they fair at the nationals next week?

 

Possible Roster;

Stephen Gordon, Zach Lother, Corey Dill, Jack Stewart, and Conor Crowley (Highlands) Cody Collins and Casey McDaniel (Newport) Plus Ricardo and JJ Johnson (Holmes)

 

Sorry if I got off task a little with the history lesson because this thread is about Ricardo Johnson IMO Kentucky's 2010 "Mr. Basketball" !!!

 

 

Good Luck to ALL KENTUCKY TEAMS:

DSAS

Shining Stars- McFarland and Bundy

KY Firebirds :ylsuper:

Edited July 25, 200917 yr by CATBIRD

I'm being told he has recently picked up offers from Ohio U and Marshall...

Just yeaterday picked up and offer from Central Michigan as well. This was reported on the AAU National website at Orlando.

With Guys like Vee Sandford going to Gtown and then guys like John Hood going to UK, what would be a good fit for Ricardo. Im thinking he is a SEC/ACC type of player. Maybe a smaller school in one of these conferences but I'd think he's going to be seeing much better offers than Marshall and Ohio correct?

With Guys like Vee Sandford going to Gtown and then guys like John Hood going to UK, what would be a good fit for Ricardo. Im thinking he is a SEC/ACC type of player. Maybe a smaller school in one of these conferences but I'd think he's going to be seeing much better offers than Marshall and Ohio correct?

 

The final evaluators of talent are the coaches making the offers. Big time schools/conferences miss on kids at times but are right more often than not or the coaches don't last or program is at bottom of conference. Bradley in the Missouri Valley conference is a big time offer. MVC has a ton of basketball tradition and has legit top 25 teams. Offers from the MAC are pretty solid as well as far as D1 basketball.

 

These are not lower echelon D1 schools or conferences. While there may be bigger offers from the power conferences down the road there is the possibility that this level is where the coaches see his talents.

Ricardo has recieved offers from Central Michigan and Western Kentucky! Good job Ricardo and the Firebirds who finished fifth at the D-2 natioanls.

Ricardo has recieved offers from Central Michigan and Western Kentucky! Good job Ricardo and the Firebirds who finished fifth at the D-2 natioanls.

 

That's great to hear about Rico. He is a great player and a good young man. Is the AAU web site wrong? It shows the Firebirds finishing 11th in D-2.

Ricardo has recieved offers from Central Michigan and Western Kentucky! Good job Ricardo and the Firebirds who finished fifth at the D-2 natioanls.

 

Western may be a good fit. I wonder how many times they fly a year?

That's great to hear about Rico. He is a great player and a good young man. Is the AAU web site wrong? It shows the Firebirds finishing 11th in D-2.

 

I'm not sure I'm just going by what Ricardo said.

I'm not sure I'm just going by what Ricardo said.

 

According to AAU web site, looks like they finished 11th in the 11th/12th place game by a forfeit.

The final evaluators of talent are the coaches making the offers. Big time schools/conferences miss on kids at times but are right more often than not or the coaches don't last or program is at bottom of conference. Bradley in the Missouri Valley conference is a big time offer. MVC has a ton of basketball tradition and has legit top 25 teams. Offers from the MAC are pretty solid as well as far as D1 basketball.

 

These are not lower echelon D1 schools or conferences. While there may be bigger offers from the power conferences down the road there is the possibility that this level is where the coaches see his talents.

 

I agree with you in the sense that any D-1 offer is a pretty good offer. Also, an offer from Bradley is solid. However, I disagree that Bradley is a big time offer. The MVC is a mid to low major conference on the D-1 level. To me a "big time" offer would be from a BCS type of school. However, like i said previously, any D-1 offer even if its from the MVC and Bradley or anyone else is pretty solid. I would think that Ricardo has the ability to play in the higher conferences like the ACC, Pac 10, SEC, but if not in those, then definitely in a conference like the A-10 or C-USA.

 

I really would like to see him get a big time offer to a higher level conference and school. He has the talent and ability and is a great ball player. Probably the best in KY at his age level. However, if he doesnt, then he can go tear up the MVC and make a name for himself on the college level.

 

Great kid from everything I have ever heard and seen.

I've heard Oklahoma State is in the mix.

I've heard Oklahoma State is in the mix.

 

Now that is good to hear. I believe this is the level of school that would suit Ricardo nicely. IMO of course.

I agree with you in the sense that any D-1 offer is a pretty good offer. Also, an offer from Bradley is solid. However, I disagree that Bradley is a big time offer. The MVC is a mid to low major conference on the D-1 level. To me a "big time" offer would be from a BCS type of school. However, like i said previously, any D-1 offer even if its from the MVC and Bradley or anyone else is pretty solid. I would think that Ricardo has the ability to play in the higher conferences like the ACC, Pac 10, SEC, but if not in those, then definitely in a conference like the A-10 or C-USA.

 

I really would like to see him get a big time offer to a higher level conference and school. He has the talent and ability and is a great ball player. Probably the best in KY at his age level. However, if he doesnt, then he can go tear up the MVC and make a name for himself on the college level.

 

Great kid from everything I have ever heard and seen.

 

Other than Memphis and UAB C-USA is a basketball wasteland. MVC is not a low major conference. I would argue that they would be a high mid major. MVC has more depth than the A-10.

 

I hope the kid gets a some high major offers but it seems at this point that those types of offers are not coming. He has been on the radar for a couple of years so he is not a late bloomer type that could be seen as climbing the charts

Other than Memphis and UAB C-USA is a basketball wasteland. MVC is not a low major conference. I would argue that they would be a high mid major. MVC has more depth than the A-10.

 

I hope the kid gets a some high major offers but it seems at this point that those types of offers are not coming. He has been on the radar for a couple of years so he is not a late bloomer type that could be seen as climbing the charts

 

I agree. I would argue that both conferences were top 10 conferences in all of college basketball.

Ricardo has six offers and several more on the horizon. He has not made any official visits yet....planning his first one in late Aug. He represents himself well always, he is a fine young man and someone will end up with a winner. He is studying his options, including waiting for other schools that may be interested but may not afford immediate playing time. He is being patient and that is a good thing right now.

 

BTW, the Firebirds lost by two in the elite eight, just missing out on the final four.......Rico gave them plenty to look at while he was there.