Derek |
Aaron |
Andrew |
Jabari |
Julius |
Troy |
OTHERS TO WATCH FOR 2013
BeeJay Anya
A terrifically skilled and wide-bodied big man, Anya is one of the highest-ranked players in the class of 2013. Kentucky had been surprisingly absent from his list of schools, but Anya told Nation of Blue in February that he had been hearing a lot more from the Cats. “I am very interested in Kentucky,” he said. “I really like the way they have used Anthony Davis this year. He has been impressive.” Anya is the man in the middle for DeMatha, one of the most prominent high school basketball teams in the country and the alma mater of former UK great Keith Bogans. Several top schools have been on his trail for some time, including Syracuse, which has had recent success recruiting bigs such as Dajuan Coleman, Rakeem Christmas and Fab Melo. But look for UK to make a major run at the shot blocker as the summer circuit begins.
Position: Center
Height: 6-8
Weight: 265
Hometown: Hyattsville, Md.
High school: DeMatha
Rivals ranking: No. 20
Scout ranking: No. 11
ESPN ranking: No. 15
MaxPreps ranking: No. 26
Other leaders: Syracuse, Florida, UCLA, Georgetown, Indiana, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Rutgers, Ohio State, St. John’s
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Aaron Gordon
The Cats are a long shot to pry Gordon away from the Pac 12, but one look at his video highlights should tell you why he’s worth the effort. Already drawing comparisons to Blake Griffin, this 6-foot-7 power forward has displayed a freakish mix of athleticism and fundamental skill. He’s become an Internet sensation with mixtapes featuring his thunderous alley-oops and shot-blocking ability. Gordon has said Washington is his top school, but he doesn’t plan on making a decision anytime soon and UK is starting to get more involved in his recruitment.
Position: Power forward
Height: 6-7
Weight: 205
Hometown: San Jose, Calif.
High school: Archbishop Mitty
Rivals ranking: No. 4
Scout ranking: No. 4
ESPN ranking: No. 4
MaxPreps ranking: No. 2
Other leaders: Washington, New Mexico, Arizona
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Aaron Harrison
A talented shooter, Harrison serves as a great complement to his brother Andrew, who is also a star player for 2013. The twins visited UK’s campus in October 2010 anad again for Big Blue Madness in 2011, and both have been adamant about their desire to play alongside each other at the next level. That means whatever team lands the pair will get a backcourt that has played together for years and can contribute right away, which is something that’s sure to pique the interest of every major program in the country. The twins are thought be many recruiting analysts to be favoring Kentucky.
Position: Shooting guard
Height: 6-5
Weight: 205
Hometown: Houston
High school: Travis
Rivals ranking: No. 5
Scout ranking: No. 8
ESPN ranking: No. 6
MaxPreps ranking: No. 5
Other leaders: Villanova, Baylor, Maryland
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Andrew Harrison
Considered by Rivals.com to be the best player in the class of 2013, Harrison has already made two trips to UK, visiting the campus with his twin brother Aaron early in their sophomore year, and then returning for Big Blue Madness before their junior season. Andrew is the best point guard in the class, and at 6-foot-5 he would pose problems for anyone trying to guard him at that position. He’s also a tremendous defender, and someone John Calipari would seemingly trust to run the point from day one.
Position: Point guard
Height: 6-5
Weight: 210
Hometown: Houston
High school: Travis
Rivals ranking: No. 2
Scout ranking: No. 3
ESPN ranking: No. 5
MaxPreps ranking: No. 3
Other leaders: Villanova, Baylor, Maryland
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Kuran Iverson
This versatile 6-foot-8 recruit can play just about any position, and he plays them all well. His ability to shoot, drive and deliver in the post would make him an ideal fit for UK’s offense. He’s said in the past that Kentucky is one of his favorite two schools, but he has a long and ever-changing list. He most recently indicated that UK, Syracuse and UConn were his top three, and he plays high school ball just 30 miles from the UConn campus.
Position: Small forward
Height: 6-8
Weight: 190
Hometown: Hartford, Conn.
High school: Northwest Catholic
Rivals ranking: No. 49
Scout ranking: No. 51
ESPN ranking: Not ranked
MaxPreps ranking: No. 41
Other leaders: UConn, Georgetown, North Carolina, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Florida, Florida State, Louisville
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Jajuan Johnson
Johnson is teammates with Jonathan Williams III, one of the top-rated prospects in 2013 and likely one of John Calipari’s top targets. With Johnson and Williams on the same court in Calipari’s old stomping ground, you can bet on the UK coach paying some visits during their senior season. At the beginning of March, Rivals.com called Johnson “one of the South’s most improved players” and lauded his athleticism and developing offensive game.
Position: Shooting guard
Height: 6-4
Weight: 185
Hometown: Memphis
High school: Southwind
Rivals ranking: No. 109
Scout ranking: No. 29
ESPN ranking: Not ranked
MaxPreps ranking: No. 64
Other leaders: Tennessee, Memphis, Cincinnati, Marquette, Auburn, Louisville, Alabama
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Jordan Mickey
Mickey’s strength is in the low post, but he’s been working more on the wing and has said that UK would be an ideal place for his style of play. He also claims an offer from the Cats and his teammates include five-star senior Isaiah Austin (Baylor) and five-star sophomore Emmanuel Mudiay, a likely UK target. Rivals.com said Mickey was the “most improved player” in the country from the summer period to the start of the high school basketball season.
Position: Power forward
Height: 6-7
Weight: 210
Hometown: Arlington, Texas
High school: Grace Prep
Rivals ranking: No. 35
Scout ranking: No. 21
ESPN ranking: No. 31
MaxPreps ranking: No. 28
Other leaders: Kansas, Texas, Texas A&M, Providence, Houston
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Austin Nichols
A power forward from John Calipari’s old home of Memphis, Nichols is one of the newest targets to emerge on UK’s 2013 recruiting board. He told BluegrassHoops.com in late 2011 that he compares himself to Boston Celtics great Kevin McHale. Nichols called UK’s recruitment of him a “dream come true” and said he would be a great fit in Calipari’s style. “I’m a really good ball-screener, so I think I could fit in really well with what the coaching staff tries to do.” Nichols has an impressive list of suitors, but has yet to talk about possible favorites.
Position: Power forward
Height: 6-8
Weight: 200
Hometown: Eads, Tenn.
High school: Briarcrest Christian
Rivals ranking: No. 40
Scout ranking: No. 53
ESPN ranking: Not ranked
MaxPreps ranking: No. 69
Other leaders: Memphis, Tennessee, Duke, Florida, Texas, Auburn, Virginia
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Jabari Parker
Parker, who could be the first unanimous No. 1 player in a class since Greg Oden in 2006, has done a good job of keeping his recruitment a mystery. He’s been hesitant to name “favorites,” but there have also been indications that he could make a decision before his senior season. The son of Chicago hoops legend Sonny Parker, Jabari has all the abilities that John Calipari cherishes in a wing player. Parker could join Derrick Rose and Anthony Davis as the next great Chicago player to sign on with Calipari, but it’s too early in his recruitment to have a good idea of how things will shake out.
Position: Small forward
Height: 6-8
Weight: 220
Hometown: Chicago
High school: Simeon
Rivals ranking: No. 1
Scout ranking: No. 1
ESPN ranking: No. 1
MaxPreps ranking: No. 1
Other schools: Illinois, Duke, Washington, Michigan State, Ohio State, Kansas
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Malik Price-Martin
Price-Martin’s recruitment could turn into the next great battle between John Calipari and Rick Pitino. A power forward with three-point range, Price-Martin has the ability to score in several different ways. He’s also an excellent rebounder, averaging a double-double during his sophomore season, and can be a game-changer on the defensive end of the court. His former head coach at Monsignor Pace, Mark Lieberman, was recently hired as the Director of Operations at Louisville, but UK has offered a scholarship, too. Price-Martin plans to trim his list soon, and possibly make a commitment this summer.
Position: Power forward
Height: 6-8
Weight: 190
Hometown: Miami Gardens, Fla.
High school: Monsignor Pace
Rivals ranking: No. 47
Scout ranking: No. 86
ESPN ranking: Not ranked
MaxPreps ranking: No. 60
Other leaders: Louisville, UConn, Miami, Syracuse, Ohio State, South Carolina
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Julius Randle
One of John Calipari’s top targets in 2013, Randle is also a unanimous top five player in his class. He has the size to post-up and the ability to take any defender off the dribble, which would fit perfectly into John Calipari’s style of play. He’ll also play as hard as anybody on the court. Some think UK is the favorite to land Randle, but Calipari and his staff will have plenty of competition before they bring the Texas forward to Lexington.
Position: Small forward
Height: 6-8
Weight: 235
Hometown: Plano, Texas
High school: Prestonwood Christian
Rivals ranking: No. 3
Scout ranking: No. 2
ESPN ranking: No. 3
MaxPreps ranking: No. 4
Other leaders: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, North Carolina, N.C. State, Ohio State, Baylor, Missouri, Duke, TCU
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Tony Trocha
Trocha arrived in the United States in early 2012, and it didn’t take long to grab the spotlight. The Colombian import has drawn favorable comparisons to Baylor star and future lottery pick Perry Jones III, and he’ll likely be one of the main attractions on the AAU circuit this summer. The Cats might already have some leverage in Trocha’s recruitment, with John Calipari being the only head coach to attend his first open gym in Houston. UK assistant Kenny Payne has also seen Trocha, and the big man’s coach told Cats Illustrated that Payne “was very impressed with him, and Cal … I think is trying to say the right things, like that he has great feet and is really skilled and long.” If the early buzz is any indication, expect Trocha’s list to expand to include more high-major schools before the summer is out.
Position: Power forward
Height: 6-10
Weight: 210
Home country: Colombia
High school: St. Thomas (Houston)
Rivals ranking: No. 59
Scout ranking: Not ranked
ESPN ranking: Not ranked
MaxPreps ranking: Not ranked
Other leaders: UCLA, Texas, Florida, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Providence
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Chris Walker
Walker is a 6-foot-10 power forward who has tremendous potential and a work ethic to match. He describes himself as a “combo forward” and he has the ability to be a defensive force at the next level. Walker flirted with announcing a decision in November, but called it off and said he wouldn’t pick a school until Kentucky officially offered him a scholarship. He’s consistently said that UK, Kansas and Florida are his top three schools.
Position: Power forward
Height: 6-10
Weight: 205
Hometown: Bonifay, Fla.
High school: Holmes County
Rivals ranking: No. 6
Scout ranking: No. 6
ESPN ranking: No. 8
MaxPreps ranking: No. 6
Other leaders: Kansas, Florida, Ohio State, Florida State, UConn, Kansas State, Baylor, Louisville, Memphis
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Johnathan Williams III
John Calipari has been back to his old stomping ground of Memphis multiple times to check out this elite forward. Williams — known as “J3″ — might be tough to get out of his hometown with Josh Pastner making him one of Memphis’ top targets for 2013 and local schools Tennessee and Arkansas also pushing hard. But it looks like Calipari will give it a shot, and if he’s successful he’ll land a player who can play both forward positions with a prototypical skill set for the dribble-drive offense. Williams has already made a visit to Lexington.
Position: Power forward
Height: 6-8
Weight: 200
Hometown: Memphis
High school: Southwind
Rivals ranking: No. 17
Scout ranking: No. 17
ESPN ranking: No. 25
MaxPreps ranking: No. 33
Other leaders: Memphis, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Georgetown, Texas, Missouri, UConn, Auburn, Virginia
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Troy Williams
Williams has emerged as one of the most talented recruits in the class. He’s a lanky wing who can score from anywhere on the court with a great ability to drive by defenders for easy baskets. His uncle, Boo Williams, is legendary on the AAU circuit and the namesake for one of the nation’s biggest amateur events of the year. The elder Williams is also friendly with Calipari, who he has worked with at basketball camps in the past. Troy and his uncle visited Lexington in October, and the recruit praised the trip and afterward talked of how well his game would fit with the dribble drive. Williams doesn’t get as much buzz as some of the other 2013 recruits on this list, but he is a big fan of Calipari and would make an immediate impact at UK.
Position: Small forward
Height: 6-6
Weight: 190
Hometown: Hampton, Va.
High school: Hampton
Rivals ranking: No. 19
Scout ranking: No. 27
ESPN ranking: No. 7
MaxPreps ranking: No. 17
Other leader: North Carolina, Florida, Georgetown, Louisville, South Carolina
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Dominic Woodson
Woodson grew up in Louisville before moving to Texas, and the University of Louisville was very involved in his recruitment during his junior season. Rick Pitino and all three U of L assistants made trips to Vermont, where Woodson currently attends high school. John Calipari has also shown interest in the big-bodied center, who already has offers from Michigan State, Baylor and other high-majors. The talented post player and skilled rebounder will be one of several frontcourt players to watch in the coming months.
Position: Center
Height: 6-9
Weight: 265
Hometown: Round Rock, Texas
High school: Vermont Academy
Rivals ranking: No. 27
Scout ranking: No. 36
ESPN ranking: No. 37
MaxPreps ranking: No. 23
Other leaders: Michigan, Michigan State, Florida, Louisville, Oklahoma, Baylor, UConn, Illinois, Texas Tech, Maryland
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James Young
Measured anywhere from 6-5 to 6-7, Young is one of the premier perimeter prospects in this class. He has the size and athleticism to thrive in John Calipari’s offense, and can score by driving to the basket or knocking down outside shots. Though UK has yet to offer him a scholarship, Young told Cats Illustrated in April that the Cats were the No. 1 team on his list. “I like how they get up and down the floor and how Calipari lets them play. I love their offensive scheme,” he said. Michigan State and Kansas are also high on his list, but he could become a priority for UK should he continue to excel on the summer circuit. Young says he would like to commit by the end of the summer.
Position: Guard/forward
Height: 6-5
Weight: 200
Hometown: Troy, Mich.
High school: Troy
Rivals ranking: No. 9
Scout ranking: No. 7
ESPN ranking: No. 10
MaxPreps ranking: No. 10
Other leaders: Michigan State, Michigan, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, Ohio State, Duke
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