It looks like Eric Bledsoe's grade issue may be resolved...or not

Eric Bledsoe/Courtesy: Chris Trotman-Getty Images

We've reported a couple of times about the ongoing issues surrounding former University of Kentucky and Alabama high school star Eric Bledsoe.

Accusations are running rampant that Bledsoe had one of his high school grades changed and that would have made him ineligible to play for Kentucky in 2009. Alabama's ruling high school association hasn't commented on the issue.Kentucky for their part says that the NCAA approved everything involved with Bledsoe's record and that if there is or was a problem, there is no way they could have known about it.

Now comes word that the ruling association in Birmingham has upheld Bledsoe's grade and potentially eliminated any question on the issue. Or did they?

The 4-letter word's Andy Katz has more RIGHT HERE

We have no reason really to believe anyone at this point. A thorough examination of the records on Bledsoe left quite a few questions out there. And those questions really haven't been answered yet. It is pretty clear some grades were changed...but by who? And when? We don't know the answer to those questions...and we may never know. It still sounds a little--no...a lot fishy.

((Also note in the Katz story that there is a link to the document in question))

Where there's smoke there is fire...Eric Bledsoe may still get in trouble...

Eric Bledsoe at Kentucky/Courtesy: flagrantfouls.com

We first told you about this back in May read it RIGHT HERE.

The story, about one of Kentucky's "One and Done's" from this past season in basketball. The player is former Kentucky basketball player Eric Bledsoe.

Bledsoe, though not the lynchpin of the 2009-10 team, contributed and was thought of highly enough to be drafted in the 2010 NBA Draft.

Now comes word that the story in May, may have been on to something. It appears, in a published report today, that there is a rather large question about what...and how Bledsoe acquired a grade he needed in order to qualify at Kentucky.

Al.com has more, read it RIGHT HERE

If we are a part of the Kentucky basketball program, we might be worried right now. It may turn out to be much ado about nothing. But it may not.

There seems to be a pretty big discrepancy about just how Bledsoe finished his time in high school. There also seems to be a strong effort by the people involved at the high school level to not discuss this at any length.

While it is plausible that he made the intellectual leap between his junior and senior years in high school, we, quite honestly don't buy it. If we are John Calipari and the "Big Blue Nation", we'd also be very concerned. There have been several mentions over the years about making deals with the devil, they could very easily come back to haunt you.

Here is what qualifies as big news in Lexington, Bledsoe's agreement to play for Kentucky. Thanks YouTube:

It Begins...NCAA Looking into Eric Bledsoe and Kentucky

You knew that it was only a matter of time. The only question was which player was going to get it started.

The NCAA has started an investigation of Eric Bledsoe, who spent this past season, his one and only, at Kentucky. The issue, as of right now doesn't implicate Coach John Calipari or the University of Kentucky, though it raises questions about signing kids who have zero chance of ever staying in College.

More from the New York Times RIGHT HERE

((Eric Bledsoe, with John Wall and John Calipari//Courtesy: MJ Masotti/Reuters-NYTimes))

Unfortunately, none of these potential violations are surprising. It's no secret that College Basketball lives in its own universe where the rules don't apply...unless you get caught. It also brings up the even dirtier underside of High School Basketball, where if a kid is identified as being an elite player, whatever personal flaws or issues that he has will be taken care of by someone.

That's enough espousing the lack of virtue in basketball. Here is some video of young Mr. Bledsoe playing ball. Courtesy: FoxSports/You Tube:

5 Wildcats Declare For NBA Draft

The HQ honestly thought the number would be that high...

But Kentucky freshmen Eric Bledsoe, DeMarcus Cousins, Daniel Orton and John Wall and junior Patrick Patterson are entering their names into the NBA draft, the school announced in a release on Wednesday.

Bledsoe averaged over 11 points per game. Cousins was second on the team in scoring. Orton was the sixth man. Wall was, well, John Wall. And Patterson was a top-15 player in the country when it came to field goal percentage.

All five players are projected as first-round picks.

“I’ve spoken with all five guys concerning the NBA and have encouraged them to put their names in the draft,” UK head coach John Calipari said. “They’ve all met individually with our compliance office to make sure they have a full understanding of eligibility rules and academic responsibilities. I’m so proud of these five young men, with everything they did for us on the court and the way they represented us off of it. It’s extremely unusual for four freshmen from the same team to have this opportunity, but it’s my job as a coach to prepare these young men for such opportunities.”

Underclassmen have until April 25th to declare for the draft and have until May 8th to withdraw their name from the draft. The draft itself is on June 24th.

Here's an example of what Ashley Judd will be missing next season...
Every point scored by UK in the Tennessee home game...
Well edited by UKWildcatFan92...
((HT: ESPN/NCAA/SEC))