LEX18.com - Lexington, KY

Posted: Aug 14, 2009 9:24 PM

John Calipari visited Mason County Friday for the first of four days of satellite basketball camps around Kentucky.

Calipari's message reflected what he's said all summer. He continued to try to sell fans on learning to enjoye the whole season and to be prepared for a few rough spots early in the season while the team is still learning the offense.

Calipari also reiterated that he won't know what players will fill what roles on the team but can't wait until he's allowed to start practice and begin figuring it out.

Here are a few tidbits from what he told the media and fans during his stop in Maysville.

-         UK media relations asked the media to not ask Calipari about the Rick Pitino situation, per the coach's request.

-         Darnell Dodson will join the team on campus next week.

-         Calipari hasn't seen Daniel Orton or Patrick Patterson since the pair finished their summer training in California. Calipari did say he spoke with Patterson on the phone earlier in the week.

-         Calipari admitted to still being tired from his trip to China. It was his fifth trip to the country and his second in the past few months. Calipari told fans that there are 1,000 seven foot basketball players in China.

-         A parent of one of the campers asked about Josh Harrellson. Calipari said he thinks Harrellson will be fine and fits in his offense. The coach went on to reiterate about the challenge the team faces molding the six returning players with the six new players.

-          All five of the freshman took two courses this summer and with the exception of one C, all the grades were As and Bs. Calipari said John Wall made the best grades out of the group.

-         Calipari told fans that DeAndre Liggins also had a good summer in the classroom and improved his academic standing. The coach said he thinks Liggins will be very comfortable in his system and will have a big season next year.