Coach Billy Gillispie over at the University of Kentucky is eager to secure a successful future for his basketball program. Last week the men’s basketball coach offered a scholarship to an eight-grader, and then he did it again with a ninth-grader. Despite criticism from several prominent university presidents, Gillispie says there’s no cause for alarm; he’s simply thinking ahead and trying to get a jump on other colleges who may be planning on making similar offers.

“I don’t think it will become commonplace for eighth-graders to commit to schools, but I think there are certain exceptions,” Gillispie says. “There are certain players, certain students, certain musicians where they know what they want at a very early age. But I understand there are people who see negatives as well.”

“I find the practice appalling, quite frankly,” said Brit Kirwan, chancellor of the University of Maryland system and co-chair of the Knight Commission, which urges reform in college athletics. “I certainly hope the NCAA will step in and put a stop to it. I certainly will voice my objection to (NCAA President) Myles Brand and others at the NCAA.”

Steve Mallonee, the NCAA director of membership services for Division I and a liaison to the Division I Basketball Issues Committee, says there isn’t anything legislatively wrong with what Gillispie is doing, but adds the issue will be on the agenda at the next meeting of the issues committee in June.

(As an aside, Kentucky is listed at 35/1 odds to win the 2009 NCAA Mens Basketball Championship.)