New hurdles appear for ex-UK recruit Ross-Miller

The basketball gods continue to present challenges for one-time Kentucky recruit K.C. Ross-Miller.

Miller, who committed to Kentucky as a high school sophomore, had to look for a new school after UK fired then coach Billy Gillispie last spring. No doubt he hoped to further that process this week at the adidas-sponsored It Takes 5ive camp for high school prospects staged a various gyms in the Cincinnati area.

But when his summer team, Brandon Bass Elite, played Monday afternoon at the University of Cincinnati, Ross-Miller watched from the bench. After the game, he walked slowly out of Fifth Third Center holding his jersey in his left hand.

“I’m probably not going to play anymore,” he said, meaning this three-day event. A shoulder injury delayed the start to his summer of decision, part II.

“I don’t know if I dislocated my right shoulder last Monday,” Ross-Miller said. “I tried to play (Monday). I just couldn’t.”

Ross-Miller, a point guard generously listed at 6-foot-2, acknowledged the frustration that comes with this false start to summer basketball.

“It’s kind of hard for me to sit and watch,” he said. “We lost both of our games, too.”

Ross-Miller is familiar with basketball problems. His future seemed secure when he committed to Kentucky two years ago. Then UK pulled the plug on Gillispie after only two seasons.

“I kind of expected it a little bit,” Ross-Miller said. “I started hearing rumors. I sort of prepared myself.”

Ross-Miller, who is from Grand Prairie, Texas, did not wait for new UK Coach John Calipari to call. The player knows he’s not at the top of the various rankings for players in the high school class of 2010. He knew that’s the type of player Calipari would want.

“They had to make an impact next year,” Ross-Miller said.

Ross-Miller, mistakenly listed as “Kenneth” in the list of players in the It Takes 5ive event, spoke in a soft voice. A shy smile repeatedly crossed his face.

“Basically, I’m just starting all over,” he said of the recruiting process. “This time I’m going to enjoy the process.”

The schools on his new list play in the Big East, Atlantic Coast, Southeastern and Big 12 conferences, he said.

The SEC schools include Auburn, Alabama and Mississippi State, he said. So far, Alabama has recruited him “probably the hardest,” Ross-Miller said.