UK basketball recruiting news

Florida signee Chris Walker won the Powerade Jam Fest slam dunk contest last month in Chicago.
Photo courtesy of McDonald’s

Florida is still waiting on the academic status of McDonald’s All-American Chris Walker, according to several reports out of the SEC spring meetings in Destin, Fla., on Wednesday.

Gators Coach Billy Donovan told reporters that he has his “fingers crossed” regarding Walker’s academic situation and should know more in a couple of weeks, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Walker, who was recruited by UK but never received a scholarship offer, is considered the No. 8 overall player in the class of 2013 by Scout.com.

The 6-foot-10 power forward is one of two McDonald’s All-Americans — along with point guard Kasey Hill — in Florida’s recruiting class.

The Gainesville Sun reported in April that Walker was “making progress” academically.

Walker talked to the Herald-Leader a few weeks ago about his future at Florida and shared his thoughts about Kentucky’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class.

John Calipari told Chris Walker to be patient. The 2013 prospect decided he was tired of waiting.

Walker committed to homestate Florida on Sunday morning, putting an end to several months of speculation over when (or if) Calipari was going to offer him a UK scholarship. The situation boiled over on Twitter earlier this year when Walker tweeted at the UK coach and then said if the Cats weren’t interested in him, he wasn’t interested in them.

Fences were mended within a few days, but the scholarship offer never came. And Walker found a place that wanted him more. He chose the Gators over Louisville and Kansas, who had offered him scholarships, and Kentucky, which hadn’t.

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