Wildcats, Tar Heels now in the mix for PF Kadeem Jack

by Paul Jordan

You have to admit … this search for a PF would make a pretty damn good reality show. Let’s call it “Who wants to be Calipari”s #4″ and open it up to all the HS senior PF’s and have Calipari and Orlando Antigua act as the panel of judges. Now that he is a professional, DeMarcus Cousin’s first paid gig can be to fill the Simon Cowell role. Let the snarkiness begin.

Yea, OK … we don’t have that much time. But yet another PF option has emerged and this time Kadeem Jack will be adding Kentucky and North Carolina to his list of suitors.

On Tuesday, Kadeem Jack had announced that he would attend a prep school, South Kent, next season but his paperwork has not been formalized. But apparently the allure of the top two all time winningest programs in college basketball chasing him has made him reconsider his plans.

North Carolina entered the chase when it was announced that the Wear brothers were transferring. And Kentucky has been the very visible subject of high profile near misses for PF’s as both C.J. Leslie and Terrence Jones have committed elsewhere. The real thing that stings Kentucky if Jones stays committed at Washington is the fact that Kentucky very well could have had the #13th ranked PF Luke Cothron when he de-committed from NC State, but did not really recruit him that much due to Jones and Leslie still on the board.

Sometimes a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush. Now, Kentucky finds themselves in position to get a visit soon from Jack, who at 6’8 and 210, is the 44th best PF on the board, according to ESPN. But as always, the ESPN ratings are not always the most accurate ones and Jack seems to fall in the “great potential” mode. In January, Jack dropped 24 points and 20 boards against Villanova bound Jayvaughn Pinkston, who is the #16 PF according to ESPN. Here is how ESPN scouts Jack:

Jack is a competitive forward that brings energy to the floor and sparks his team with hustle plays. He is a good looking prospect that is more athlete than basketball player at the moment, but showed some very good instincts around the rim. He consistently runs the floor in transition, is a heat seeker when it comes to offensive rebounding (had 9 offensive boards in one game) and defends his position. The quick jumper with long arms and good feet needs to continue to develop his offensive skills as he hurries in the low post which led to turnovers (he had 9 of those in one game also). He is an athletic and active post that should see his recruitment escalate during the late signing period as there is always a premium on quality bigs come April. It is rumored that prep school might be an option, but this developing forward will garner a lot of attention as the season progresses.

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