Domonic Tilford

10/28/05: Moved to inactive since he is no longer a 'recruit'.

Signed May 9, 2005

06/30/05: Listed as the 518th best player in his class. - HoopScoop

06/26/05: "Mr. Basketball Domonic Tilford of Jeffersontown had an abysmal night from the field. The University of Cincinnati signee hit 1 of 15 shots and finished with two points, six rebounds and four assists. He was 6 of 31 in the two games." - Louisville Courier Journal

06/21/05: "Domonic Tilford is scheduled to participate in the school's second summer session [July 14th]. Last season's Kentucky Mr. Basketball is currently playing in the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star series. Tilford led the Kentucky team with 15 points and three assists in Saturday's 94-72 loss to Indiana. The two teams play again Saturday at Indianapolis' Conseco Fieldhouse." - www.CincyPost.com

05/11/05: "Jeffersontown Coach Jeff Morrow said the Bearcats won out because Tilford wanted to play in the Big East Conference, where he can compete against his hometown Louisville Cardinals, and because he liked Huggins' record of success." - Lexington Herald

05/11/05: "After UC signed Tilford on Monday, Francis said the UC coaching staff would have been better suited to save the scholarship for next season rather than give it to Tilford, a 5-foot-11 guard who was Kentucky's Mr. Basketball last season. Coleman believes Tilford is better than that.

"I don't think he needs to be on the floor the minute he gets there," he said. "He's a kid I would look at going to one of the better (Mid-American Conference) programs, having a chance to start right away. Is he ready to start for Cincinnati? No. He's a year, maybe two years, away." - Enquirer.com

05/10/05: "UC only recently began recruiting Tilford. According to Morrow, some friends of Huggins' called him about the Louisville product after seeing him in an all-star game. Tilford, who also visited Texas Christian and Auburn this spring, and Murray State of the OVC last fall, then called Huggins himself to express his interest in playing at UC. Huggins said he watched Tilford play on tape and was sold.

Morrow said Tilford chose UC because of the chance to play in a high-level conference like the Big East and because he wanted to play for a coach with the proven track record of success that Huggins has." - Enquirer.com

05/10/05: Jeffersontown High School senior Domonic Tilford, who was named Kentucky's Mr. Basketball last month, has signed with the University of Cincinnati.

Tilford, a 6-foot point guard, averaged 20.6 points, 4.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 steals last season. He led the Chargers to a school-record 29 wins and was voted both The Associated Press co-Player of the Year and the Seventh Region Player of the Year. "Domonic is a very talented player who can do a lot of things," Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins said in a news release. "He plays with a lot of energy and will be an integral part of our up-and-coming young backcourt here at Cincinnati."

Tilford chose Cincinnati, which just began recruiting him about three weeks ago, over Auburn and Texas Christian.

The Bearcats have reached the NCAA Tournament 14 straight years and are leaving Conference USA for the Big East along with Louisville, DePaul, Marquette and South Florida. "It's close to home, they're moving to the best conference in the country and they've got a good coach who's worked with a lot of kids who went to the pros," Tilford said. "I think it's a good fit for me."

It didn't hurt to know that he would be playing his hometown Cardinals. "That was another reason why I picked it," he said.

Tilford became the 18th player in Jefferson County history to score 2,000 career points and finished with a school-record 2,026 points, 429 rebounds and 403 assists in four years as a starter. "This is a great opportunity for him," J'town coach Jeff Morrow said. "It has everything he was looking for, and he fills a need that they had. It sounds like a great fit for both of them." - Louisville C-J

05/09/05: "Cincinnati has signed 6'0 Dominic Tilford from Jeffersontown (H.S.) KY, who had a great senior year, but projects no higher than as a mid-major player. Tilford is quick, athletic, and can score both inside and outside, but, even if we're wrong and he is able to play at this level, he's still never going to be anything more than a solid back-up." - HoopScoop

05/09/05: "The 5-11, 160-pound Tilford was a first team All-State selection following his senior season after he averaged 20.6 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.2 rebounds while leading Jeffersontown to a 29-5 record and a berth in the regional finals. Tilford, who was also named the Louisville Courier Journal and Associated Press Player of the Year in the state this past year, shot 45 percent from the field and 85 percent from the charity stripe. "Domonic is a very talented player who can do a lot of things," Huggins said. "He plays with a lot of energy and will be an integral part of our up and coming young backcourt here at Cincinnati." - UCBearcats.com

04/17/05: "The 6-foot point guard turned in one of the best senior seasons of any player in the state and did it while coming down with pneumonia in mid-season.

Tilford averaged 20.6 points, 4.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 2.3 steals a game for the Chargers, who won the King of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic and were runners-up in the Louisville Invitational Tournament. "I thought he was as consistent as a senior can be," J'town coach Jeff Morrow said. "He was really consistent and not only did he play well but he made sure the team played well. He made it tough for us to lose. He had a special season."

Tilford, who is the Chargers' all-time leading scorer, became only the 18th player in Jefferson County history to crack the 2,000-point barrier. He finished with 2,026.

He's still unsigned but has been offered scholarships by Murray State and Texas Christian with South Carolina also involved in his recruiting. "He's going to get stronger wherever he goes and will be in a situation that he will be a real special player somewhere," Morrow said." - Louisville C-J

04/15/05: "Jeffersontown guard Dominick Tilford, who will play in this weekend's Derby Festival Classic, was named Kentucky's Mr. Basketball Thursday. Sources close to Tilford told Inside The Ville that TCU, Auburn, Murray State, and Bradley currently sit atop his list. While Auburn hasn't offered, it sounds like the Tigers could move out in front for the 5-11 point guard's services if they extend an offer in the near future. If not, TCU will likely be the choice."

04/15/05: "Tilford led J-town to a school-record 29 wins this year, averaging 20.6 points, 4.1 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 7.2 deflections. For his career, Tilford had 2,026 points, 401 assists, 429 rebounds and 255 steals. He led the Chargers in scoring and assists all four years. The numbers don't matter to Tilford, who is still undecided about where he will play in college. He said he is considering Auburn, Texas Christian and West Virginia. "It's not about my points," Tilford said. "It's about what I can do to help the team."

12/21/04: Named the MVP of the King Of The Bluegrass Holiday Classic. Other players competing in the tournament included Edwin Rios and Dwayne Collins of Miami Senior HS. He averaged 26 ppg over the last three games.

09/07/04: Listed as the 404th best player in his class. - HoopScoop

07/07/04: Attended the Five Star Basketball Camp. Was given the following accolades - All-Star Game MVP, Best Playmaker and Most Outstanding Player.


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Mike Ryan