Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Recruiting: Who's left in 2012?
By Tyler Adkins
If there is anything that comes close to Kentucky fans’ excitement about basketball season, it is basketball recruiting. 2012 started slowly but picked up right around signing day when UK inked three players: Archie Goodwin, Alex Poythress and Willie Cauley. Kentucky’s three man class is good enough to be ranked #2 in the country by ESPN, and it doesn’t appear the class will hold at only three players.
With a mass exodus expected after this season due to graduation and early entries into the NBA draft, I expect this class to be at least five players when it is all said and done. So let’s take a look at who is left in the class that UK could potentially get to beef up this already impressive class.
Shabazz Muhammed
The top ranked player in the 2012 class won’t be committing any time soon it appears, and he will likely wait it out until the end of the spring signing period. He recently dropped USC from his list and it now stands at six: UK, Arizona, Kansas, Duke, UCLA and UNLV. He seems wide open and has been rumored to be a lean for about five different schools in the past months depending on who’s report you read. I think it is clear that no one knows who leads, but it is safe to say UK and UCLA will be in it until the end. He is without a doubt the guy Cal wants the most.
Anthony Bennett
The #7 prospect in the class is also considering UK among others. He is a big, agile power forward who exploded onto the scene during the summer. He has a list of 10 schools at last count, they include: UK, UNLV, UCONN, West Virginia, Oregon, Pitt, Florida, Missouri, Ohio State and Washington. No one has a clue what is going on with the big man because he plays his cards as close to the vest as any major prospect I can remember. He will be a late commit for someone as well.
Amile Jefferson
The #24 prospect in the class is strongly considering UK and most expect him to sign with UK. He is a 6-7 power forward who is adding pieces to his game to be a combo forward, and his length will certainly make him dangerous as a face up four man. Jefferson has a long list but is close to finishing his five official visits. He took a visit to UK, UCONN and Ohio State, and is rumored to visit NC State and Stanford as well. He is also considering Villanova and Temple which are hometown schools. Most think UK leads for him at this point.
Another prospect to look at would be Torian Graham who recently de-committed from NC State and was high on UK before committing. With Goodwin in the fold it will be interesting to see if UK pursues him again.
Those are the top prospects it appears at this point for UK and the most likely group from which a commitment could come. Only Jefferson is rumored to be a possible commitment before the spring signing period, the other prospects will sign very late it appears. Also, keep your eye on possible Junior College players because these are always an option and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Cal go after one to help fill out the roster.