Kash Daniel flexing his pipes and a commit to Kentucky football on America’s birthday was as star-spangled-banner natural as Roy Hobbs holding a stick called Wonder Boy.

Paintsville-to-Kentucky, Kid Kash is like native sons Joey Couch going to Flagship U. in the ‘80s, Tim Couch in the 90s, Patrick Towles and Drew Barker more recently.

How is this commit different? Daniel is 19th commit in a class of much touted high schoolers going with him, including Wesley Jackson from Versailles, Landon Young and Davonte Robinson from Lexington, Zy’Aire Hughes from Paducah, and stay tuned.

And so, (re)born on the 4th of July, Daniel’s commit represents newest sparkle of hope that prosperity is on the horizon for football at Kentucky. Again.

What does Daniel’s commit mean?

√ Nine weeks before Kentucky’s season opener, the word Yahtzee was back in play. Football conversation put in shadow for a moment or two, Karl Anthony Towns-to-Jamal Murray roundball, and whatever radio/television talk show John Calipari can get on these days.

√ A nationally rated linebacker staying home in the Bluegrass might cause a yawn in Tuscaloosa, but after On, On UofK, the sweet-to-the-ears chorus to Blue Nation is “… I wanna help the Cats win an SEC championship.”

√ Rallies brethren in his class to help recruit more.

√ Daniel and pals could become transition men – their promising future to cool the not-quite-hot seat under Mark Stoop’s rump as experts project no better than six wins in Lexington this autumn.

√ Daniel’s commit came with a bit of theatric swagger and muscle-flex bravado to amuse the restless natives who will recognize it as linebacker body language and first signs of leadership to inspire teammates.

√ For long-time Wildcat fans, this could be an on-field personality to remind them of Swagger Men from Saturdays past – Wesley Woodyard, Sweetpea Burns, Jim Kovach, Tom Ranieri, Dave Roller, Mike Siganos and Lou Michaels.

√ Rally at the ticket window? Season opener two months away and ticket-buying for UK’s eight home games, has been tepid. A media flurry of commit news might bolster ticket sales.

√ Finally, the name, Kash. Refreshing with a strut to it. And, a new emphasis on currency-with-a-K with nothing to do with cash-with-a-Calipari.

U20s HILLTOPPER THREE

Western Kentucky basketball fans can get a summertime preview of three Hilltoppers when they play for Britain and Latvia in the FIBA under 20-European championships this week in Italy.

Junior Ben Lawson and freshman Nathan Smith will play for England, and freshman Kristaps Gluditis for Latvia.

Lawson played for his homeland in the 2013 U18 European Championship and the 2014 U20 tournament.

Competition for all three should be critical to their futures playing for Ray Harper at WKU next winter.

U19s AND LOUISVILLE’S ONUAKU

One good thing going on in Greece last Sunday – USA’s Under-19s team made it back-to-back titles at the FIBA World Championships for the first time since 1983, beating Croatia in overtime, 79-71, Sunday.

Louisville sophomore Chinanu Onuaku “provided valuable minutes as an additional interior defender,” a FOX Sports release said. Onuaku had six points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots.

READERS (RIGHT) WRITE

“With UK fans hand-wringing lately about John Calipari leaving Kentucky for the NBA, what coach in college ranks today would be a good fit to replace Calipari, and what coach would not?”

Two who ‘get it about UK’ and could take over in Lexington seamlessly are Bruce Pearl at Auburn and Billy Donovan, Oklahoma City.

A list of college coaches who could never handle the Kentucky job might be more intriguing. Atop my list would be Bo Ryan at Wisconsin, followed by Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics.

In 21st century college hoops Ryan is too Adolph Rupp-like – honest, straight-forward, blunt, demanding, committed to enriching young men by education, and to this remark he made after the Final Four: ““I like trying to build from within. That’s just the way I am.”

As for Brad Stevens at Kentucky? Nada. Besides, he already has an on-the-books NBA job.

WORTH REPEATING DEPT.

Wealth after all is a relative thing since he who has little and wants less is richer than he who has much and wants more. – Charles Caleb Colton

And so it goes.