Harrow’s commitment to UK leads Purvis to look elsewhere

Now rated as the best point guard  in the class of 2012, Rodney Purvis figured to likely be the latest in a long line of standout floor leaders to play for John Calipari.

That Purvis is also close to fellow Raleigh, N.C., product John Wall made a commitment to Kentucky seem a mere formality.

Then Kentucky accepted point guard Ryan Harrow as a point guard transfer from North Carolina State earlier this year.

“That kind of did it,” Purvis said Friday at the LeBron James Skills Academy.

Purvis did not speak in anger. A bright smile returned to his face frequently in the conversation. He noted that UK assistant coach Orlando Antigua notified his family when the Cats accepted Harrow.

“He said if anything changed, they’d recruit me again.” Purvis said.

When asked his reaction to Kentucky taking Harrow, Purvis said in a soft voice, “It’s never good when somebody feels they’ve got what they need and don’t need you. . . . I’ll recover from it.”

With N.C. State in Raleigh, Purvis was familiar with Harrow.

“We’re kind of the same, but I think he shoots it a little better than I do,” a generous Purvis said. “With speed, we’re about the same. I feel I’m much stronger.”

Purvis has narrowed his college choices to Duke, Missouri and N.C. State. The hiring former Alabama coach Mark Gottfried had a “huge impact” in N.C. State getting involved, Purvis said.

Besides Kentucky, Memphis and Louisville exited from Purvis’ options.

As for Wall, the former UK All-American is too close a friend to try to pressure Purvis to consider Kentucky, the player said.

“He’s like my brother,” Purvis said.

The two talk every other day or so, Purvis said. But they don’t talk about Kentucky as a destination for Purvis, and don’t figure to ever do so.