TheCatsDomain.Com Message Boards: The Daniel Orton Story!

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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 03-21-2010, 11:48 AM:

If you want to know what kind of a person Daniel is, you have to read this complete story!

Instead of reneging on a verbal commitment that he had made to Gillispie, the former coach, Orton kept his word and signed with Calipari, the new coach. All the while knowing that he would not be the “Big Man on Campus,’’ not with Wall and Cousins coming to UK arm-in-arm with Calipari.

“People love his attitude in that he’s dealt with it,’’ Calipari said. “He’s a talented big player who blocks shots, who rebounds, and he’s taken on his role to say, ‘I’m going to do whatever I need to do.’

“Like I told him, ‘at the end of the day, it’s worked out better for you. You’re going to be fine if you choose to (enter the NBA Draft), it’s there for you. If you choose to come back, that’s fine, too.’ ’’

In the end, Orton chose UK over Kansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas, among others.

His signing in the spring of 2009 came on the heels of the death of his mother and after missing most of his senior high school season with a knee injury.

“We have three seniors and we have about three guys who we know are probably going to go on to the next level next year, so that’s six guys who are going to be gone after the season,’’ Orton said. “We all want this real bad, knowing that we’ll never have a team like this and another great group of guys like this. This is something that we all want to do for one another.

“Sometimes on the bus I look around at the guys we have and just start smiling because God really has put this team together. It is truly something special that we have. We all just click really well together and have a great time. I could have gone to other schools when Coach Gillispie left but I wanted to play around a great group of guys.’’

Link

Posted by Ol' Blue (Member # 2317) on 03-21-2010, 11:57 AM:

Great story. Orton is a difference maker in his own way. A glue type player. Thanks for the link.

Posted by Cat Fan In The Mill (Member # 2756) on 03-22-2010, 02:25 PM:

I just hope he sticks around past this season. I think with some more seasoning, he could truly be a GREAT player at UK.

Posted by bayer (Member # 462) on 03-22-2010, 03:38 PM:

Ironically, there apparently is a story circulating somewhere that says he is considering transferring. I received a tweet on Twitter today where Daniel was questioning where all these rumors are coming from. I think it must have been D Cuz who mentioned it first on Twitter and Daniel was responding to D Cuz

[ 03-22-2010, 08:57 PM: Message edited by: bayer ]