Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Recruiting Update: Top 2012 Prospects

So far, John Calipari has managed to get some of the best players in high school over the past three years. And in doing so, he has Kentucky well prepared for the future. Kentucky does not yet have any players for the 2012 class, but today we are going to look at some of the top prospects in that class that Kentucky is aiming to sign and how they’ll affect UK.

Andre Drummond- C- No. 1 overall(Scout & Rivals): As the top player in his class, he deserves to be mentioned, as Kentucky has been able to snatch the past couple of top overall players. At 6-11, 250 lbs., this kid is a monster. He has a strong presence in the post as he is able to grab rebounds and score at will. The one obstacle for UK at this point in his recruitment is that they have not necessarily been on board with it. Not only that, but he is right in UConn’s backyard, so it will be a tough take for UK, but we’ve seen how Calipari & Co. have been able to pull some magic. According to his high school coach, Kentucky is on the list, per Zagsblog.com. “Louisville, Kentucky, West Virginia, Connecticut, Pitt, North Carolina and Georgetown,” Quinn said. “No one else is even talking to him. I don’t think anybody else is coming in.”

Shabazz Muhammad- SG- No. 3 overall(Rivals), No. 3 SF overall(Scout): Muhammad has been of some major interest to Kentucky in recent months. As a shooting guard, and sometimes considered a small forward, Muhammad is definitely a wing player with his size at 6-foot-5. He loves to drive and attack the basket, and he also is able to penetrate and score. He in some ways is similar to DeAndre Liggins in that they play on the outside but with their speed they score inside. He would be an ideal player in Cal’s dribble-drive motion offense. He seen UK play, but it was on his visit to UNC. He has not planned a trip yet to Lexington, although he is expecting to do so sometime soon.

Perry Ellis- PF- No. 19 overall (Rivals), No. 7 PF(Scout): This is one player that Kentucky has been very high on since Calipari stepped foot in Lexington. What makes him perfect for UK is that at 6-foot-8, he is a big bodied power forward but is versatile in the post. He is able to use his footwork to move around and score easily inside. He took a visit to Kentucky in November and Calipari and Assistant Coach Antigua recently saw him in action at his school in Wichita, Kansas. “I saw them out there,” said Ellis, a junior who has made those two schools part of his final six choices. “I just tried to play hard and whatever happens happens.” Schools in his list include: Kansas, Kentucky, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Memphis and Wichita State.

Archie Goodwin- SG- No. 18 overall (Rivals), No. 3 SG overall (Scout): Unlike Shabazz Muhammad, Goodwin is more of a traditional shooting guard and plays well from the outside. He also has tremendous speed. Some consider him more of a combo guard because of his ability to drive as well. He took a visit to Kentucky in mid-November, but has no offer on the table yet, unlike his other suitors who have offered. One of those is John Pelphrey and Arkansas, considering he is right in their backyard. His skillset would work very well in Kentucky’s offense.

LJ Rose- PG- No. 28 overall (Rivals), No. 2 PG overall (Scout): This is Kentucky’s next top point guard option to take over after Marquis Teague. He is now UK’s top overall choice at the position due to the fact that Rodney Purvis, the top PG prospect in 2012, recently committed to Louisville. He is a quick point guard at 6-foot-3 and is a score first point guard. He has had a scholarship offer from UK since August 2010. Let’s see what happens in the months to come.

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