Kyle Wiltjer
KYLE WILTJER
Wiltjer is a versatile power forward with an excellent outside shot who is comfortable playing down low on the post or out on the wing. Wiltjer, who plays high school ball in Portland, Ore., and holds dual citizenship in Canada, shocked the recruiting world by committing to the Cats in August despite never setting foot on UK’s campus.
Status: UK signee
Committed: August 28, 2010
Position: Power forward
Height: 6-10
Weight: 230
Hometown: Portland, Ore.
High school: Jesuit
Rivals ranking: No. 22 overall
Scout ranking: No. 22 overall
ESPN ranking: No. 18 overall
MaxPreps ranking: No. 19 overall
Brian Kersey | Associated Press
| Date | Opponent | Result | Stats |
| Dec. 7 | Barlow | W, 89-64 | 26 pts, 3 threes |
| Dec. 10 | Benson | W, 68-54 | 15 pts |
| Dec. 14 | Hillsboro | W, 66-34 | 27 pts |
| Dec. 17 | Central Catholic | W, 78-71 | 17 pts |
| Dec. 26 | Wilsonville | W, 72-42 | 21 pts, 12 rebs, 4 asts |
| Dec. 28 | Lake Oswego | W, 79-64 | 33 pts, 11 rebs |
| Dec. 29 | DeMatha | L, 56-55 | 13 pts, 6 rebs, 3 blks |
| Dec. 30 | Lincoln | W, 74-65 | 28 pts, 8 rebs, 4 asts |
| Jan. 4 | McKay | W, 85-52 | 21 pts |
| Jan. 7 | South Salem | W, 71-49 | 22 pts |
| Jan. 11 | Lincoln | W, 56-50 | 20 pts |
| Jan. 13 | Grant | W, 99-46 | 7 pts |
| Jan. 18 | Central Catholic | W, 60-57 | 22 pts |
| Jan. 21 | Southridge | W, 63-42 | 20 pts |
| Jan. 25 | Aloha | W, 67-30 | 19 pts |
| Jan. 28 | Sunset | W, 74-37 | 17 pts |
| Feb. 1 | Westview | W, 60-39 | 12 pts |
| Feb. 4 | Beaverton | W, 76-41 | DNP – Injury |
| Feb. 8 | Aloha | L, 61-57 | DNP – Injury |
| Feb. 11 | Sunset | W, 87-55 | DNP – Injury |
| Feb. 15 | Westview | W, 70-67 | DNP – Injury |
| Feb. 18 | Beaverton | W, 83-33 | DNP – Injury |
| Feb. 22 | Southridge | W, 80-57 | DNP – Injury |
| March 1 | Centennial | W, 77-45 | 21 pts |
| March 4 | Sunset | W, 82-43 | 15 pts |
| March 9 | Roseburg | W, 68-39 | 13 pts, 8 rebs |
| March 11 | Central Catholic | W, 77-61 | 19 pts, 13 rebs, 7 asts |
| March 12 | Westview | W, 60-46 | 13 pts |
NEWS ARCHIVES
March 14, 2010: Wiltjer tallies 19 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocked shots to help the Jesuit Crusaders win the Oregon Class 6A state championship for the second consecutive season.
June 22, 2010: Wiltjer writes a lengthy diary for the Box of M.E.S.S. blog.
July 9, 2010: Jerry Tipton’s notebook from the King City Classic begins with an introduction to Wiltjer.
August 10, 2010: Wiltjer assumed a leadership role for Canada at the Nike Global Challenge (includes video interview and highlights).
August 11, 2010: Wiltjer’s decision to play for Team Canada helped raise his recruiting profile.
August 13, 2010: Wiltjer cuts his list to seven schools: UK, California, Gonzaga, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Texas and Kansas.
August 28, 2010: Wiltjer commits to the University of Kentucky during halftime of the Boost Mobile Elite 24 game.
Nov. 10, 2010: Wiltjer signs with Kentucky.
Feb. 3, 2011: Wiltjer sidelined with a severely sprained ankle.
Feb. 10, 2011: Wiltjer selected to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game.
Feb. 15, 2011: Wiltjer selected to play in the Jordan Brand Classic all-star game.
March 12, 2011: Wiltjer scores 13 points in his final highs school game and leads his team to an unprecedented third consecutive state title. (Video interview)
QUOTES
ESPN recruiting analyst Paul Biancardi on Wiltjer: “A natural pick-and-pop power forward, Wiltjer can also score with his back to the basket and pass out of the post with great accuracy when he draws multiple defenders. Defensively, he understands how to hedge on screens with great effort. Wiltjer reminds us of a high-school version of University of Minnesota and Boston Celtics great Kevin McHale.”
Wiltjer’s father, former Oregon State player Greg Wiltjer, on Wiltjer (to the Cats’ Pause): “I do know that Kyle expressed that he loves (Marquis) Teague and (Michael) Gilchrist, and he’s said, ‘Dad, I could play with those guys.’ He likes their demeanor, and he thinks they’re good team guys.”
Wiltjer on Wiltjer: “Since the fifth grade, (my father) had me do what he called the George Mikan drill: Left- and right-handed hooks. I was thinking, ‘Why am I doing this?’ But it paid off. He loves the old-fashioned hook shot. No one is really ready for it. No one can really block it, so I’m picking up on it.”
