Kentucky Basketball Recruiting: Looking at the 2015 Class, Part V

DANJEL PURIFOY
SF – 6’6, 190
BIBB COUNTY – CENTREVILLE, AL

RIVALS: **** (65)
SCOUT:  **** (51)
24/7:  ***** (21)
ESPN:  *****  (56)

NOTABLE OFFERS: Alabama, Auburn, Michigan, Georgia, Wichita State, Tennessee, Georgetown, UAB

Aside from Diamond Stone and Teki Caesar-Gill, I think that Purifoy may be the most likely non offered player to grab one. At this point, he projects as a sleeper and a dark horse candidate, but from all accounts he loves Kentucky and would probably commit instantly. Meyer has compared Purifoy’s game to Terrence Jones, although he is a bit smaller.   And don’t worry about his ranking. 24/7’s  Jerry Meyer has Purifoy among his top 20 players in the class:

"“He’s an athletic small forward who can play some power forward,” Meyer told the Herald-Leader. “He’s strong, physically mature. Decent skill set – it’s just not very refined right now. I think he’s still in the process of improving, skill-wise.” Purifoy doesn’t have an offer from the Cats yet, but Meyer said he’d likely jump at the chance to play in Lexington. “If they do (offer), he’s going to end up there,” he said."

Depending on how the class goes, expect Purifoy to eventually get an offer.  Bigger schools like Kansas, Michigan State, and Florida are getting involved also.  In that respect, this recruitment kind of reminds me of Devin Booker.  Booker zoomed up the ratings during his senior season and for Kentucky fans, the rest is history.

Here is what ESPN says about Purifoy:

"Strengths: Purifoy is strong and athletic with good size for the small forward position. He’s a high level slasher who is almost impossible to stop in single coverage once he decides to get to the cup. He knifes through the lane with a quick first step, plays through contact as if he doesn’t even feel it, and is as dangerous as they come with a head of steam in the open floor. He is also an outstanding finisher who owns the athleticism and body control to absorb a bump in mid-air while also using both hands around the rim. He’s athletic and strong on the glass and a high volume rebounder on the wing, especially on the offensive end where he has the soft hands and dexterity to get tip-ins with both hands. He’s also got a developing pull-up game which is becoming a big asset given defenders’ tendency to play off him for fear of his driving game. He has all the tools to be a high level defender and the versatility to even slide over to the four in some smaller line-ups. Weaknesses: He isn’t a great jump shooter at this point and not yet a consistent threat behind the three-point line, and so at the moment he projects as someone that opposing defenses will be able to help off of in a crowded half-court game. While the vast majority of his point production comes around the rim, his release is sound in his pull-up game and so it’s definitely possible that he could develop into a better shooter down the road. The fact that he isn’t yet an especially good spot-up shooter, in combination with the fact that he doesn’t really know how to play without the ball, makes him much more effective with the ball in his hands as a primary scoring option. Bottom Line: Purifoy is a strong and athletic wing forward with the natural tools and talent to be an equally good defender and rebounder. Right now his perimeter jumper is his Achilles heel, but if he can continue to develop that area of his game he has a very bright future."