James Blackmon Jr. talks Kentucky Wildcats Basketball

James Blackmon Jr. brings the ball up the floor in action earlier this summer.

James Blackmon Jr. took his unofficial visit to Kentucky yesterday and discussed his visit with Steve Jones of the Courier-Journal. 

The 6-2, 180 pound shooting guard, a four-star that’s ranked 25th in the ESPN 100 and the 5th best SG, seemed to enjoy the visit with his father, former Kentucky player James Blackmon Sr.

"My dad was real surprised at how things have changed, and he was kind of mad how the locker room looks so much better. The campus is nice, just like every other campus (of the schools under consideration). They have top-of-the-line everything, so that stood out."

Blackmon Jr. is a key recruit for John Calipari in the class of 2014, especially since he was an Indiana commit for nearly three years. I know Big Blue Nation would love to get the young guard not only because his father played at Kentucky, but because it would be a finger to the eye of Indiana basketball and especially Tom Crean, but Coach Cal has an obvious, bigger interest in landing him.

Many consider Blackmon Jr. as the best shooter in the class of 2014 and hits shots all over the floor. When he gets hot, he’s capable of nailing multiple shots in a row no matter where he’s shooting from on the floor or how he’s getting the ball, whether it be a screen, hand-off, or fast break. Although he’s not all that athletic of a guard, Blackmon said that Calipari told him he thinks he can definitely play some point guard at Kentucky.

"He thinks I’m the type of player who can come in there (and succeed) and (with) how Kentucky is, it can get guys to their dreams. That’s always appealing. … He seemed like a genuine guy, so I really think I could form a relationship with him. But I’m not really sure yet about anything."

Although Kentucky only has one commitment at the moment, it’s almost a sure thing these days that Calipari and Co. will bring in a top class. That’s something Blackmon doesn’t shy away from, and he looks forward to playing with talented teammates wherever he goes, especially if it’s UK. He reiterated the fact that the Hoosiers are still high on his list.

"I’m really the type of player that likes challenges, I’m not really scared to play with good players around me and four other guys like me around me. But I haven’t really made any decisions. … They said they want me to come there and that nothing has really changed. They’re still high on my list."

I think it’s safe to say that most Kentucky Basketball fans would love to see James Blackmon Jr. in the Blue and White. UK could use Blackmon in so many ways, and his shooting is an absolute must-have in this class, especially since we won’t have a clue who UK will retain from the 2013 team until early May. Blackmon is also good friends with five-star power forward and yet another former Indiana commit Trey Lyles and is also his AAU teammate, so each recruitment may help each other.

Both James Blackmon Jr. and Trey Lyles will visit and see Kentucky Basketball in all of it’s glory for Big Blue Madness. It’s important we put on a great show (and 2013 season) for all the recruits we bring to Big Blue Madness this year. Hopefully it will help bring the Blackmon and Lyles show to Lexington for 2014.