Entries Tagged 'Recruiting' ↓

At King City Classic camp in Cleveland, big-man 2011 prospect Anthony Davis talked to reporters about coach Cal, colleges, his growth spurt and more.

UK’s been recruiting him hard, said Amir Williams, a Michigan center, as he talked to Jerry Tipton and other reporters at the King City Classic camp in Cleveland.

UK prospect Quincy Miller at the Adidas Invitational Camp in Indianapolis.

Interview with Bowling Green High School’s Chane Behanan at NBA Players Association-sponsored Top 100 Camp at the University of Virginia.

Consensus top 10 prospect Tobias Harris just announced that he signed with Tennessee.

Harris, a 6-foot-8 power forward from Glen Head, N.Y., had narrowed his choices to Kentucky, Louisville, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, Maryland, West Virginia and Tennessee.

Harris signing on the last day of the week-long November period meant that Kentucky had one signee: wing Stacey Poole, Jr., from Jacksonville, Fla.

Kentucky is involved with several highly-rated prospects in the high school class of 2010. Those prospects, which include forward Terrance Jones and C.J. Leslie, plus guards Josh Selby, Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb, are expected to sign in the spring.

Harris is rated in the top 10 of the 2010 class by ESPNU (No. 7), Rivals.com (No. 5) and Scout.com (No. 2 power forward).

Rivals. com called Harris the “best scoring four-man in the class.”

Earlier this year, Jerry Meyer of Rivals.com likened Harris to former Syracuse star Carmelo Anthony. Each was a 6-8 forward with a knack for scoring, the analyst said.

Kentucky Coach John Calipari described new signee Stacey Poole, Jr., as the kind of prospect he’s used to gain much success at Massachusetts and Memphis.
“A competitor,” Calipari said. “Plays multiple positions. Slasher. Athletic. In time, he could be our best perimeter defender.”

Recruiting analysts liken Poole to his father, Stacey Poole, Sr., who starred as a multi-talented wing for Florida  in the early 1990s.
When asked if UK might add other recruits in this week-long November signing period, Calipari said he hoped that could happen but it was impossible to know.
“At the end of the day, recruiting is the least of my worries,” the UK coach said. “I’m worried about Friday.”
Kentucky opens the season on Friday against Morehead State.

Kentucky appears to be playing a waiting game in this November signing period, which begins Wednesday.

Stacey Poole, Jr., is expected to sign with UK as soon as Wednesday, the first day of the week-long period.

But other prospects believed to be on UK’s wish list appear to be in no hurry to sign.

Evans Daniels of the recruiting service Scout.com said he expects such prospects as Josh Selby, Brandon Knight, Doron Lamb and C.J. Leslie to sign in the spring.

The most likely announcement this monthy from a prospect on UK’s list would be Tobias Harris. Daniels said the highly rated forward planned to visit Georgia Tech this coming weekend and Maryland early next week before making an announcement. Harris is considering Louisville, Kentucky, Tennessee, Syracuse, West Virginia, Maryland and Georgia Tech.

Terrance Jones, a forward from Oregon, may or may not make a decision in November, Daniels said. Jones is considering Washington, UK, UCLA, Oklahoma and Oregon.

ESPN’s recruiting coordinator, Paul Biancardi, spoke highly of Kentucky-bound wing Stacey Poole, Jr., during a teleconference Wednesday.

After noting that ESPN rated Poole at No. 50 or 51, Biancardi said, “He could be better than that. He’s coming on strong, 6-4, 6-5 and built like a man.  He fits the dribble-drive to a T. From 17 feet in, he can really dominate.”

With the week-long November signing period beginning next week, Biancardi dismissed the importance of Kentucky having only one commitment in place for the high school class of 2010.

“It’s not how quickly (commitments come),” he said. “But that you get who you want.”

Quincy Miller, a top 10 prospect from the high school class of 2011, will not attend Kentucky’s Big Blue Madness, Scout.com reported.

Miller, a 6-7 forward from Winston-Salem, N.C., had been one of four top 10 prospects expected to attend. He cited a “personal problem” as the reason not to attend, Scout.com said.

The other top 10 prospects in either the class of 2010 or 2011 are still expected to attend. They are Michael Gilchrist (No.1 in 2011) and two high school seniors: Tobias Harris and Kyrie Irving.

Five Top 15 prospects are lined up to attend Kentucky’s Big Blue Madness on Friday.

The five include two top 10 prospects in the high school class of 2010 and two top 10 prospects in the class of 2011, according to rankings by the recruiting service Scout.com.

The top 10 high school seniors are guard Kyrie Irving of Elizabeth, N.J., and power forward Tobias Harris of Glen Head, N.Y.

The top 10 high school juniors are wing Michael Gilchrist, a teammate of Irving’s, and power forward Quincy Miller of Winston-Salem, N.C.

The fifth top 15 prospect expected to attend UK Madness is forward C.J. Leslie, a high school teammate of UK freshman John Wall of Raleigh, N.C.

Rivals.com also reports that two other prospects are expected to attend UK Madness: Jackonsville, Fla., native Stacey Poole, Jr., who earlier this fall committed to the Cats, and guard Achraf Yacoubou of Brookville, N.Y. Poole is a high school senior and Yacoubou a junior.