Jackson, Christmas cut lists

Two top prospects have cut their lists this week and neither included the University of Kentucky.

Joe Jackson, a top point guard in the 2010 class, narrowed his choices down to Memphis, Tennessee, and Kansas. Kentucky was thought to be in pretty good position for Jackson and he was thought to be attending Big Blue Madness in October. Being a Memphis native it is believed Jackson is a heavy Memphis lean, he has already visited the Tigers campus and facilities many times and feels comfortable with the program.

Rakeem Christmas, the best low post defender in the 2011 class, narrowed his list down to eight teams, none of which are Kentucky. Many people around the country are surprised with this decision because it was thought that UK was perhaps the leader—or one of the leaders—for Christmas’ services. Dave Telep, the lead recruiting analyst for Scout.com “tweeted”, “I would have bet my son’s college savings that Kentucky made Rakeem’s Christmas list of 8″.

Many people believe that UK IS still in the mix and it is odd that he would not list them. Either way it would be a big blow if UK were eliminated while Coach John Calipari is in China.

Tobias Harris visits UK campus

One of the top rising players this summer has been SF/PF Tobias Harris. Harris shot up the rankings with his summer AAU performances after beginning this summer over 15 pounds lighter than the previous year. Harris is a mismatch nightmare for opponents and manhandled junior phenom Michael Gilchrist on national TV two weeks ago.

Harris is on campus today and will stay overnight until at least thursday with his father as they check out the Kentucky campus. It has long been said that Syracuse and UCONN lead for his services but teams like UK, Tennessee, and Georgia Tech are making tremendous efforts as well.

Fab Melo to Syracuse

A little cross town news, Fab Melo, a consensus top 10 recruit has chosen Syracuse over UCONN and Louisville.

Many people at UofL felt that they were the leaders but word is he is heading up north.

Brandon Knight visits Kentucky

Word around the UK program is consensus top 5 high school senior Brandon Knight had his mother on the Kentucky campus yesterday and met with Lee Todd and the UK staff. It seems that she was very intruiged with what he saw—I’m guessing that means the Joe Craft Center and possibly the Wildcat Lodge along with some academic facilities.

Many reports have indicated that Kentucky already leads for Knight, a player many consider the best in all of high school basketball, and now with this visit it seems they may even have a very distinct advantage.

2010 Kentucky Recruiting Breakdown

Point Guards

Brandon Knight Considered by many to be the top recruit in the nation, Knight brings a high level of offensive skill to the table to go along with having a great basketball IQ. At about 6′3, Knight has great size for the point guard position and loves contact around the rim, something that fits perfectly with the dribble drive motion offense. Knight is without question the top priority for UK at both the point guard position and overall.

Josh Selby Since Josh Selby’s decommitment from Tennessee last week, Kentucky has shown as much interest as anyone across the country. UK has been listed on the short list of schools that Selby will be legitimately looking at and with Selby’s high level of skill there is no doubt the feelings are mutual.

Joe Jackson Jackson has long been called a Memphis lean, but do not underestimate the power of John Calipari on the recruiting trail. Calipari has been to many of Jackson’s games this summer, clearly solidifying the thought that Jackson is one of the top targeted players for the Cats out of the 2010 class. Though he is just 6′0, Jackson has elite quickness and athleticism as well as being able to finish with contact around the basket.

Kyrie Irving The only reason Irving is listed fourth on this list is because it seems less likely that UK will land him than the other three prospects ahead of him. Irving was one of the premiere players at the Orlando AAU Super Showcase and was able to score over 30 points on multiple occassions, including a 39 point outburst. As well as being a big player, Irving is a team player who gets his teammates involved throughout the entire game. Irving has ties to both UK and Indiana so this should be a fun recruitment to watch unravel.

Shooting Guards

Doron Lamb Although he has been forgotten about over the past week or so, Doron Lamb still is one of the most highly touted players in the country and perhaps the best senior-to-be in the state of New York. Lamb has strong ties to the UK staff with assistant coaches Orlando Antigua and Rod Strickland being from New York City, as well as Rod Strickland being an Oak Hill alum, the same high school Lamb currently attends. It is very possible Lamb could be donning the blue and white in 2011.

Tyler Lamb No there is no relation between Doron and Tyler but there is no doubt they both can ball. Doron and Tyler are both silky smooth with great shooting abilities, although Doron seems to play with more of a “swagger” than Tyler. Tyler Lamb has definitely burst onto the seen this summer after getting only minimal looks from mid-majors prior to July. After a stellar showing in multiple events earlier this month, Lamb walked away with a valuable scholarship from UK as well as receiving one from UCONN. There is no doubt in my mind at least ONE of the Lamb’s will be apart of the 2010 class.

Small Forwards

Harrison Barnes It seems unlikely that Barnes will have Kentucky on his final list, but that has not stopped the UK staff from showing up at many of his games so far this summer. Barnes is ranked as the #1 player in america by Rivals.com and Scout.com, the two major recruiting websites in the country. A very talented and smart player, Barnes is clearly the most consistent prep player in the land and already looks physically ready to play in college. Look for him to look hard at Duke, Kansas, Stanford, and North Carolina.

Cameron Clark No forward as burst onto the scene quite like Cameron Clark, a 6′6 Texas native. Clark, like many UK targets, is a long body with a very polished and smooth game for a kid his age. Kentucky has already been known to be recruiting Clark as hard as anyone but many Big 12 schools are coming hard for him too.

Power Forwards

CJ Leslie Compared by many to a young Kevin Garnett, Leslie possesses unreal athletic ability and a wingspan that spreads over seven feet. Leslie is about as intimidating a player as you will find, because at 6′9 he has the skills to go around you or simply go over you with a furocious array of moves and dunks. Leslie is a former high school teammate of incoming UK freshman John Wall and has been quoted as saying Wall has been in his ear about UK.

Tobias Harris After a disappointing summer last year, Harris has dropped some of his “baby fat” and become the most versatile power forward in the nation. Fresh off a stellar performance against the top junior in the nation–Michael Gilchrist–Harris is one of the most highly recruited big men in the nation and appears to have strong interest from Kentucky. Harris is one of the few players who have a formal scholarship offer from the Cats but word is he will be hard to get from Syracuse and UCONN.

Dominique Ferguson Once thought to be one of the top 10 players in the nation, Dominique Ferguson has been riddled with injuries this summer. Although he decommitted from Kentucky after Billy Gillispie was fired, Ferguson has still listed the Cats on his list of suitors and has been told by the staff he is a very high priority at the small forward and power forward positions. Ferguson will be playing his senior season at Hargrave Military Academy because of higher competition and to learn the discipline that his father believes he needs.

Centers

Adreian Payne Because he plays alongside Jared Sullinger and JD Weatherspoon, Payne does not get the credit he deserves for being a terrific talent. Payne is very athletic and can finish around the rim with the best of them. He does not have much of a perimeter game just yet but he is improving every day and appears to be headed toward greatness. He is really the only center that Kentucky is pursuing for the 2010 class as of right now.

The Josh Selby Saga

After deciding to decommit from Tennessee less than one week ago, Josh Selby has been the talk of the basketball recruiting world.

Not only is he an elite talent, capable of being a program changing combo guard, but speculation has it that he backed out of his Tennessee commitment for more reasons than you may think.

Many kids reopen their recruitment because they fear they will not get enough minutes or more prestigous programs begin recruiting them, but neither is a problem for a world class player like Selby. Tennessee insiders say that Selby will most likely choose a school that has a Nike sponsorship, rather than the Adidas sponsored Tennessee program.

Many Tennessee fans have called out Selby for not following his heart and simply being a whipping boy for a multi-billion dollar athletics company.

The schools that seem to have an immediate edge according to people with knowledge of the Tennessee program are Kentucky, Memphis, and Duke, three schools that are all sponsored by Nike.

Once again John Calipari has been singled out as being a dirt cheater who made a few phone calls to Nike to let Selby know it would be in his best interest to decommit. But this theory has been shot down.

The involvment of Kentucky in Selby’s recruitment seems to be unknown at this point. Selby is an unbelievable player who will eventually choose one of the top-notch programs from across the nation, but with UK looking at many point guards for their 2010 class it appears, unless Selby were to make it known he is ready to commit before any of the Cats’ point guard options, that he will not be suiting up for the Wildcats.

July 2011 Recruiting Preview

With already a couple major summer events concluded it is time to look at the top juniors-to-be from across the nation that have interest in Kentucky.

G/F Michael Gilchrist 
Gilchrist is widely considered the best player in the nation regardless of class and age. Although he is stil 15 years of age, Gilchrist has one of the most developed and mature games in the high school ranks.

He can dominate on both ends of the floor and gives great effort at all times, two things rarely seen from kids before college.

Gilchrist won the Best Prospect award at the NBA Players Camp and was one of the most impressive players at the King City Classic in Akron, Ohio.

Many people feel that Gilchrist is a lock for Kentucky but that has been denied by Gilchrist and his family. It does appear, however, that Kentucky along with Villanova has a definite advantage for the consensus #1 player in the 2011 class.

 

PG Marquis Teague
Fresh off a stellar performance at the King City Classic, Marquis Teague has firmly established himself as the #1 point guard in the nation, topping Austin Rivers and Tony Wroten Jr.

Teague, once thought to be a Louisville lock, has added Kentucky to his list after news broke that he recently got a scholarship offer from the Cats.

Teague is similar to his older brother Jeff, a first-round pick of the Atlanta Hawks, in that he is loaded with athleticism and can get to the rim at will.

 

 

F/C Johnny O’Bryant

O’Bryant has claimed a spot amongst the top post players in the nation with his finishing ability and freakish athleticism. O’Bryant is in the mold of a shorter Amar’e Stoudemire because he has not yet developed a consistent jump shot, similar to Stoudemire at the same stage , and can dunk on anyone at any time.

O’Bryant has stated that Kentucky is among his top five schools along with teams like Memphis and Mississippi State.

July 2010 Recruiting Preview

There is no question that July is the most important month in high school basketball recruiting, and with that much just getting under way UKmadness will break down the top 2010 prospects UK will be recruiting and players the Wildcat fans should be on the look out for during the July evaluation period.

Brandon Knight

Rivals Profile
Scout Profile

Knight is ranked within the top two overall in the class of 2010 by both Rivals and Scout recruiting services and for good reason. He is the unquestioned number one point guard in the U.S. and has one of the most complete games on the circuit with his ability to stroke it from outside and also to use his deceivingly strong frame to bully his way to the basket on an array of drives.

He is not in the mold of a Derrick Rose or John Wall but Knight has the potential to be as good as both of these stars.

Knight looks to be leaning towards the academics of Duke and the in-state appeal of Florida but UK should have a say in the end, seeing as their coach will send three straight point guards to top five draft picks once John Wall spends his one and only year in college and becomes a top five pick.

 

Doron Lamb

Rivals Profile
Scout Profile 

The reason Lamb ranks second on this list is because of the fact that he has publicly stated that Kentucky is one of his favorite schools and the fact that he just made an unofficial visit to the UK campus last weekend.

Lamb is unique in the sense that he actually has a deadly mid range game, an area that seems to be nonexistent in high school players across America for the most part.

Lamb currently plays for Oak Hill (VA) Academy during the high school season, a school that has sent many players to UK over the years, partly because of head coach Steve Smith’s ties to the state—he grew up in the eastern part of Kentucky.

UK assistant coach Rod Strickland also attended the school for his senior season of high school and is from the New York area, as Lamb is.

Look for UK to land Lamb in the end, although this recruitment could be a long, drawn out one.

 
Joe Jackson

Rivals Profile
Scout Profile

Once thought to be a lock to John Calipari at Memphis, Joe Jackson has stated numerous times that he has large interest in the UK program because of its tradition and the fact that Coach Cal is now the man in charge.

Jackson, a Memphis, Tennessee native, seems to be a strong Memphis lean because of his desire to stay near home but if anyone can snag him out of his home city it is Cal.

Jackson is a small point guard with an unmatched first step and unbelievable athleticism and he has the perfect slashing-type game to play in Coach Cal’s DDM offense. 

 

 

 

CJ Leslie

Rivals Profile
Scout Profile

CJ Leslie is ranked more inconsistently than almost any player in the nation. Some feel that his athleticism is such that he should be ranked quite high simply because of his vast potential, while others seem to think that, because he does not have a top 25 game at this moment, he does not deserve to be considered a 5-star prospect.

Leslie, a former high school teammate of upcoming UK freshman John Wall, has been telling outlets that he loves Coach Cal and is seriously considering the Cats because of that. He also has stated numerous times that Wall has been in his ear telling him how great UK is and that can only help.

Leslie may be the most athletic player in the 2010 class and has a college-ready body that should only progress in his year and a half until he steps onto a college campus.

 

 

 

 

More to come later on this week.

Web Wednesday: 7.1.09

There are a lot of things happening with the University of Kentucky program as of late. Xavier Henry came and went, then came and went again, Doron Lamb has a clear favorite, and John Wall has a new mixtape video.

Henry to UK picking up steam

On a Kansas City radio station today Carl Henry, the father of Xavier and CJ, stated he and his family felt betrayed by a newspaper article that made the Henry’s look like “prima donna’s” and that they were questioning their commitment to Kansas even further.

Carl stated that Daniel Orton and John Wall, two players who chose Kentucky over Kansas among others, have been talking to Xavier about how great it is in Lexington and how they want him to join them in the pursuit of an NCAA Championship.

Many Kansas message boards have been calling the Henry family “slime” amongst other things for the way they have handled their displeasure with the Kansas program.

So what will the UK program look like if Henry joins as the fifth five-star player this season?

Potential Starters

PG: John Wall – Top five player in the nation right off the bat

SG: Xavier Henry – Deadly shooter who has a complete offensive game

SF: Darius Miller – Will be one of the most improved players in the SEC and fits DDM offense perfectly

PF: Patrick Patterson – Decision to come back was the right one. May be the top big man in the country

C: DeMarcus Cousins – Rated as the #2 high school player in the nation behind Wall and is a bigger, more talented Patrick Patterson at the same stage

 

Potential Key Bench Players

Eric Bledsoe – Would be starting for most teams in the nation. A really strong and powerful guard.

Jon Hood – Very athletic wing with an old school game. Will not cry about getting limited minutes and should pick up the offense quickly.

Daniel Orton – Coming off an injury he should be ready to prove himself. Great body who should play very aggressively.

Darnell Dodson – Another deadly shooter who can get into the lane. Will cause teams not to double the great post players.