Last year, Champions Blue LLC, the LLC created for UK Athletics, announced the plan to build an entertainment district near Kroger Field to create a new revenue stream. Earlier this week, the school made the next step before the district’s construction, choosing one of four proposals.

On Tuesday, Kevin Locke, UK’s Associate Vice President of planning, design and construction, informed the Champions Blue Board of Governors that the school is moving forward with the “Cooper Connector” plan. This proposal is based on similar districts created near arenas for Ohio State University, Arizona State University, the Green Bay Packers, and the Atlanta Braves.

As an effect of this plan, Bluegrass Community and Technical College will vacate from the school’s original home on Cooper Drive by the end of 2026, a spokesperson told the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Despite BCTC still holding classes, Kentucky originally took control over the property with an agreement in 2008, after BCTC built a new campus at the former site of Eastern State Hospital, which moved to land owned by UK on the Coldstream Research campus.

The “Cooper Connector” plan includes retail and a hotel conference center, but dining will serve as the anchor, as Locke explained to the board on Tuesday.

“Food and beverage, that would serve as the anchor use for this scheme,” Locke said. “This location needs genuine energy, with multiple retail spots creating critical mass, rather than an isolated, one-off destination. And with the right mix of food, entertainment, and access, this corridor will come alive and attract private investors as well as become an asset for the university, staff, and surrounding community.”

With the plan, there are still some final decisions to be made over the coming weeks, including the precise location for the hotel conference center.

Perhaps the biggest decision will be whether to include a multi-use facility that would include a new basketball practice facility into the Kroger Field entertainment district or as part of a district to be built near Historic Memorial Coliseum that will include retail, housing, and parking. A conversation study is needed, set to be complete this summer.

Also posted on A Sea of Blue.

Mark Pope is on an international search to help fill Kentucky’s roster. Already singing Senegalese prospect Ousmane N’Diaye last week, a new target has emerged.

On Tuesday night, following a visit with the top ranked prospect prospect in the 2027 class, CJ Rosser, Pope caught a flight to JFK airport in New York City, and from there to Tel Aviv, Israel to visit 23-year-old Brazilian prospect Marcio Santos. Note, he would be 24 years old at the start of next season.

Santos currently plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Club, a club that plays in the Israeli Premier League and internationally in the EuroLeague. Having won six EuroLeague titles, and sending a number of players to the NBA Draft, including Deni Avdija and Omri Casspi, the club is considered to be one of the best in all of Europe.

In his first season with the club, Santos is averaging 6.9 points, 1.6 boards and 0.6 steals on 40% shooting from deep.

Prior to playing with Maccabi, Santos spent a season with German club Ratiopharm Ulm, averaging 8.4 points, 3.7 boards and 0.8 steals in the German League, helping them reach to the playoff finals.

Santos started his career with Franca in his native Brazil, helping secure three straight Brazilian League crowns. In 2022-23 was part of the side that won the FIBA Intercontinental Cup and BCL Americas titles.

With a 6-8, 250-pound frame, Santos plays currently as a four or a five, being undersized for the latter with taller matchups, leading to rebounding and interior defense struggles. That said, his coach, Oded Katash, loves his versatility.

“He can finish plays near the rim and step outside to shoot,” Katash said. “He plays with passion and enthusiasm, and knows how to show toughness and defensive aggressiveness. He’s a smart physical player who helps the team in many areas of the game. He’s a solid playmaking big man with sharp passing instincts.”

Pope flying to visit Santos shows very real interest, and according to sources, Kentucky has made an offer and are in “advanced talks” with Santos. Signed to a three year deal with Maccabi, earning $600k annually, part of the NIL agreement would be a buyout of his current contract.

The ‘5-in-5’ NCAA rule has been gaining traction over the last couple of weeks, which was believed to systematically grandfather in seniors for an extra year of college basketball.

NCAA President Charlie Baker has been an advocate for the change and allowing this rule to come into play, which would be the most groundbreaking passing by athletics administrators to date – and would bring on the craziest offseason ever.

If you’re not aware of what the current rule entails, college athletes are given five years to complete four years of eligibility. If the ‘5-in-5’ rule is put into play, student athletes will be granted five years to participate in five seasons of college athletics, starting either after their graduation from high school or on their 19th birthday, whichever comes first.

Players like Mark Mitchell or Xaivian Lee could return and make a solid impact on their team if something like this actually happens, sure, but imagine a world where a team’s former superstar could make a return, such as Kentucky’s Otega Oweh.

Obviously any fanbase would love to have a player of that caliber return, but a new formation has turned the odds from “likely” to “we’ll wait and see” for the time being.

On Monday, April 27, the D1 Board of Directors directed the cabinet to advance on with the new rule with Baker stating to ESPN that he’s “pretty optimistic” that it’ll happen. However, a backtrack on the formerly believed information took place, with the change said to be taking place next season, not this season.

“If you’ve used up your eligibility, you’ve used it up,” said Baker when asked about the situation.

With that, there’s layers upon layers of decisions to be made. What will be the final verdict be in May? What will the rules be for players to actually return? Is there interest for Oweh to return and forgo his NBA future? Does the NCAA expect to beat the antagonizing number of lawsuits headed its way if this rule exempts this senior class?

The next couple of weeks, even days, will require immediate focus on making the right call, with the future of college athletics riding on the outcome. No matter what may happen, BBN will hope that it allows them to have one final ride, just one more time, with their favorite player.