Time tarnishes Trae Golden

Two years ago on the same court, Trae Golden made a name for himself at the adidas-sponsored It Takes 5ive basketball camp.

Golden turned Court 2 at the University of Cincinnati’s Fifth Third Arena into a one-man show. When asked Tuesday about that game, Golden’s eyes widened and a smile crossed his face.

“Against the Michigan Mustangs, actually,” he said. “I was making everything I was putting up there. It was one of the greatest games a basketball player lives for. He loves that.”

Golden shared his memories a few minutes after playing on the same court. This time he played all right. His team won. But the magic was gone.

The two games illustrated Golden’s basketball journey from star in the making to, well, has-been is too strong a word for player who turns 18 on Oct. 5.

But now he’s just another prospect. The Prep Stars and HoopMasters.com recruiting services rate him in the 60 to 100 range. It’s a long way from his status as a top 25 national prospect two years ago.

“A classic example of a kid who receives too much hype — a lot through the Internet guys — at too young an age,” said long-time recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons of the All-Star Sports service.

If the slip in status bothers Golden, he kept it hidden. He spoke pleasantly of his basketball journey.

He noted how he visited the University of Kentucky shortly before coming to Cincinnati two years ago. That unofficial visit caused a storm of Internet speculation about UK’s next star.

“I felt on top of the world,” Golden said. “I still feel good. There are just as many schools recruiting me. Nothing much has changed except the ranking.”

Kentucky’s interest has changed. He hasn’t heard from the school since John Calipari became coach. “Maybe I’m not the player Calipari wants in his system,” Golden said.

Analyst Van Coleman of HoopMasters.com speculated that Golden let the initial hype go to his head. He gained weight.  He tried too hard to impress.

Golden, a 6-foot-2 guard from Powder Springs, Ga., denied that he felt pressure to live up to the hype.

He listed such schools as Georgia, Georgia Tech, Arizona, Arizona State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Syracuse, Georgetown, Connecticut, Marquette, Pittsburgh, South Florida and Clemson.

Whenever he lands, Golden hopes to return to where he stood two years ago: a basketball player coveted by Kentucky.

“It was a great place to be,” he said of that visit to UK two years ago. “Everybody loves basketball there. That appeals to me a lot. That’s where I want to go.”