Wildcats Get First Prey
Throughout the spring and summer, many speculated on Kentucky’s recruiting class for 2012, or lack thereof. Though NC State transfer Ryan Harrow is already on campus and ready to go for next season, expected NBA turnover could very likely deplete the Wildcat’s roster for next season. Bearing in mind that Kentucky has had three straight recruiting classes ranked as the best in the country, many pundits were wondering if the top ranked class streak would come to an end this year for Kentucky.
The first pledge finally popped this week, and it was a big one. Arguably the top pure shooting guard in the country, Sylvan Hills (AR) scorer Archie Goodwin, made his commit. Fellow Wildcats target Perry Ellis stayed in state during the week and went with Kansas, but it is still possible that Kentucky will ascend to the #1 slot again, given the players that they are still in with.
Kentucky’s Big Blue Madness event should be huge this season, with several Top 50 prospects expected to be on campus. If Kentucky does end up with a fourth straight top ranked national class, they’ll need commitments from several of the players. Along with Goodwin, top ranked 2012 prospect Shabazz Muhammad, center DaJuan Coleman, athletic forwards Alex Poythress and TJ Warren, and emerging center Willie Cauley are all expected to be in the house, along with several elite underclassmen.
Adding two or three of those prospects would put Kentucky in the conversation for the top class, yet again. Clearly that will require heavy lifting, but coach John Calipari and staff have been recruiting mad men since taking over the program. Given the track record over the last several years, it’s hard to bet against them.
As it stands now, UCLA, Arizona and Indiana figure to have the inside track for top class honors, but a strong night at Big Blue Madness could swing Kentucky right into the conversation, again. Archie Goodwin may very well be the first domino towards yet another terrific recruiting class.
Do you think you know who Kentucky’s second commit will be in the 2012 class? Please answer the poll on our facebook page that asks that very question!
- Wake Forest Adds to 2012 With Forward Tyler Cavanaugh
- Top JC Center Waverly Austin Pops for South Florida
- Skilled 2013 Lead Guard Bronson Koenig Commits to Wisconsin
- Touted JUCO Guard Musa Abdul-Aleem Picks South Florida
- Elijah Macon Commits to West Virginia, Again
- Stanford Strikes With Pledge from Christian Sanders
- Sharpshooter Taylor Barnette Makes it Central Florida
- Zach Auguste Commits to Notre Dame Over Final Four
- JUCO Center Reggie Murphy Commits to TCU
- Utah, Wyoming Pick Up Sizable Pledges
- Perry Ellis Takes the Kansas Plan
- Florida State, Texas Tech Add JUCO Prospects
- Cats Attack: Elite Guard Archie Goodwin Commits to Kentucky
- UTEP Lands Twymond Howard; Benny Parker to Nebraska
- Chad Rykhoek Bolsters Baylor Frontcourt
- Richmond Snags Pledge from Forward Deion Taylor
- Unique 6′-8″ Top 5 Guard Kyle Anderson Picks UCLA
- Iowa State Cyclones Secure Commit from Sherron Dorsey-Walker
- Chris Walker, a 6′-9″ power forward from the Class of 2013, announced that he will be making his college decision on November 15. Walker is considered a Top 10 prospect in the class, and is a highly-athletic finisher from Holmes County (FL). He finished out the summer with strong play for the Florida Rams. The list Walker announced includes Florida, Florida State, Memphis, Baylor, Kentucky, Ohio State, Kansas, UConn and Kansas State. Walker is unquestionably a top talent that could be a one and done college player with continued development.
- The fall-out continues from the failure to qualify of three recruits in St. John’s 2011 recruiting class. Jakarr Sampson, Norvel Pelle and Amir Garrett have dispersed and found new educational environments going forward. Sampson went to Brewster Academy (NH), Pelle headed to Phelps School (PA) and Garrett is at Bridgton Academy (ME). The first decommit of the group has occurred, with Sampson reportedly re-opening his recruitment. While reports indicated that Pelle was doing that same, that has been refuted by a variety of sources. Garrett is still expected to attempt to join the team at mid-season. As for Sampson, he’s easily the equivalent of a Top 50 recruit in the Class of 2012, and will most certainly be heavily recruited.
- Don’t expect Butler to be going away anytime soon. The Bulldogs landed a verbal commitment from 6′-8″ Nolan Berry, a Top 100 prospect in the Class of 2013, from DeSmet (MO). He drew plenty of attention for his play on the Saint Louis Eagles travelling team over the summer, and is a huge commit for the Bulldogs. Berry had numerous high-major offers and is yet another reason that Butler continues to be a powerhouse in the Brad Stevens era.
- Westwind Prep (AZ) guard Kareem Canty is one of the better remaining uncommitted points guards, and Seton Hall and Marshall are his finalists, according to The Arena Pulse. Canty is a native of New York City, and would be a nice consolation prize for a Pirates’ fan base that is still stinging from losing hometown hero Kyle Anderson to his commitment to UCLA. Canty is expected to make a decision soon.
- Iowa snagged its fifth recruit in the 2012 class, taking a verbal commitment from 6′-1″ combo guard Anthony Clemmons of Lansing Sexton (MI). Some will remember that Clemmons previously committed to Eastern Michigan for about a week, approximately a month ago. The Hawkeyes already have pledges from a point guard in Mike Gesell and a shooting guard, Patrick Ingram, so Clemmons may be able to add depth at both guard positions.
- Multiple reports are out that talented 7′-0″ center Kaleb Tarczewski is done with visits, and will decide between Arizona and Kansas for college hoops. The center is a native of New Hampshire that plays at St. Mark’s (MA). It appears that either school he’ll attend will have additional support for him in the post, as the Wildcats and Jayhawks both have two players 6′-8″ or taller pledged already in the 2012 class, with Brandon Ashley and Grant Jerrett committed to Arizona, and Perry Ellis and Zach Peters headed to Kansas. Despite cancelling both official trips, Tarczewski has visited both campuses unofficially in the past.
- One of the most exciting players in the country, 5′-8″ junior Aquille Carr of Patterson (MD) has a list, according to Five Star Basketball. Apparently the “Crimestopper” is favoring UConn, Syracuse, Memphis, Kentucky, Seton Hall, and claims offers from all programs.
- Unique big man William “Shaquille” Goodwin, a 6′-9″ center from Southwest DeKalb (GA) has made a change to his list, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The athletic talent still maintains he wants to play both football and basketball in college, and has replaced Alabama with Arizona on his list, which also includes UCLA, Memphis, Florida and Georgia. Goodwin has yet to make an official trip, yet
- Kodi Justice, a 6′-4″ guard from Dobson (AZ) has made an early pledge to Arizona State, according to Chad Groth of Area Codes Basketball. Justice is a 2014 prospect, and has yet to play varsity hoops at Dodson. He’s the Sun Devils first pledge in the 2014 class.
- 6′-4″ shooting guard Melvin Johnson is down to Virginia Tech, South Florida and Miami, per ZagsBlog. The report indicates that the Hurricanes may be leading for Johnson, who’s at St. Benedict’s Prep (NJ) after his previous school, Rice (NY), closed over the summer.
- Ivan Benkovic, 2012, F, High Point
- Anthony Allen, 2012, C, Ohio
- Davey Walker, 2012, W, Northeastern
- Jordan Potts, 2012, G, UNC-Greensboro
- Jeff Coby, 2012, F, Columbia
- Coleman Johnson, 2012, F, Fairfield
- Jalen Wesson-Palm, 2012, G, Monmouth
- Spencer Parker, 2012, F, Bowling Green
- Ronny Payden, 2012, F, St. Peter’s
- Derail Green, 2012, F, Wichita State
- Demarcus Daniels, 2012, F, North Florida
- Scott Bruxvoort, 2012, F, Albany
- Marqueze Coleman, 2012, G, Nevada
- Aaron Simpson, 2012, G, Illinois State
- Raemond Robinson, 2012, G, The Citadel
- Darnell Harris, 2012, F, Cleveland State
- Marcel Boyd, 2012, C, Howard
- Stacy Davis, 2012, F, Pepperdine
- Bobby Hain, 2012, C, Youngstown State
- Cameron Naylor, 2012, F, North Florida
- Brent Calhoun, 2012, C, Detroit
- EJ Reed, 2012, F, Long Island
- Justin Goldsborough, 2012, F, Leigh
- Cameron Harvey, 2012, G, Eastern Illinois
- Mike Brown, 2012, G, Western Carolina
- Marc Eddy Norelia, 2012, F, Tulane
- Richard Audu, 2012, G, Siena
- Terron Gilmore, 2012, F, Murray State
- Roderick Lawrence, 2012, G, Morehead State
- Charles Foster, 2012, G, Morehead State
- Tyler Ott, 2012, G, UC Davis
- Jarvis Haywood, 2012, G, Winthrop
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September 26, 2011
Basketball Recruiting