Will the Tyler Ulis / Devin Booker package deal happen for Kentucky Wildcats Basketball?

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Slowly but surely, the dominos seem to be in place to fall for John Calipari and his 2014 basketball recruiting class. As Alan told us last night, Tyler Ulis seems ready to commit to a college soon, perhaps within the next few days. Since this leaked right after Ulis had attended the Alumni game. Most pundits seemed to think that Ulis was leaning towards Michigan State, but the timing of Ulis’s comments surely seemed to suggest that Kentucky was a very real possibility for the 5’9 point guard.

Shooting guard Devin Booker was also at the alumni game and Booker and Ulis have made the last couple of visits together. Booker and Ulis were at Michigan State over the weekend before they headed to Lexington. And according to Ulis’s father, there is a good chance they are a package deal. Although Michigan State will remain very much an option for both players as well.

"“There’s a natural connection there,” James Ulis told the Detroit Free Press of his son and Booker’s relationship developed on the AAU circuit. “If I’m Devin and I want to find a point guard who really knows how to give the ball up and be unselfish, who really knows how to get shots for people, I think that’s how the connection started,” James Ulis added. “Now I think they’re starting to think it could be a reality. They certainly talk about it more than any of us have.” MSU will break out all the stops on alumni weekend, with Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson and Draymond Green all expected on campus, according to the Free Press. With senior point guard Keith Appling graduating and sophomore shooting guard Gary Harris likely headed to the NBA, coach Tom Izzo can offer immediate playing time to Ulis and Booker. Ulis also has a family connection to Michigan State since his mother, Kelly Reed, is the aunt of former MSU guard Travis Walton. Ulis remains tight with Walton. “Of course he’d love to see Tyler pick Michigan State,” James Ulis told the Free Press. “But the main thing he’s said through this whole thing is, ‘Hey, Tyler’s got to do what’s best for him.’ ”"

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

John Calipari is keeping all of his options open for his 2014 point guard as well. He spent yesterday at an in-home visit with Tyus Jones, who seems to be part of a package deal with Jahlil Okafor and they seem to be heavy Duke leans. WHo knows what can happen with Calipari, however, and Okafor did just visit Lexington for the Alumni game. The one concrete fact seems to be that Tyler Ulis and Tyus Jones will NOT choose the same school, so don’t expect any Wall/Bledsoe magic here. Also if Ulis/Booker are a package, that may send James Blackmon elsewhere.

Calipari is keeping up the road trips today however, big man Myles Turner will host John Calipari today. Turner also confirmed an official visit with Ohio State for October 19, so he has scheduled two of his five visits.

"The 6-foot-11 Turner will also host in-home visits Wednesday with Texas’ Barnes and Kentucky coach John Calipari and then with Duke on Thursday, his father confirmed to SNY.tv. Turner, who looks like a future NBA lottery pick, recently cut his list to eight schools: Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Arizona, Ohio State, Texas and Oklahoma State. His only previous set official visit is to Kansas for “Late Night in the Phog” Oct. 4. Turner previously told SNY.tv he will likely sign late. “I’m going to probably verbally commit somewhere late school season but I’m not going to sign a Letter of Intent until the late signing period,” he told SNY.tv in the above video Friday at the Big Strick Classic. “Maybe like January, February. I don’t want to hold everything for too long, bring too much drama into it.”"

Brandon Knight and John Wall put on quite a show Monday night at the Alumni game.  Aside from pleasing the fans, realized what a great recruiting tool this game was for UK as well.  

"Wall on the kind of impact something like tonight can have on recruits … “I think we do it the right way. Midnight Madness is a big thing for this university, and I just think having us guys come back and maybe play pick-up with some of the guys sometimes and playing with recruits and having them around is great. They see what type of school this is and what they put together.” Knight on the impression the game would have had on him as a recruit … “Back then it would motivate me. I would know that I would have the opportunity to come here and be in their shoes at some point if I did the right thing. You’ve gotta think about it: There’s that many NBA players the past couple years. There has to be something going on here where the guys know they’re going to get better and they know they’re going to have a chance to win a national championship. So I would think about why are so many guys going here and making it to the next level. And making it to the next level and being successful as well. So I would want to be a part of it.”"