UK signs top Point Guard

[WildKat]

Christopher Lawlor
ESPN Recruiting
Archive

Urgent alert to the Big Blue Nation: Breathe easier, Brandon Knight is aboard.

On the first day of college basketball's spring signing period, Kentucky won an intense recruiting sweepstakes for Knight, the nation's No. 4-rated senior. Knight made his announcement on ESPNU.

Knight's Tale

KentuckyLosing five players from last year's squad will certainly be a blow to Kentucky. Still, in Brandon Knight, the Wildcats are getting a signature recruit with superstar ability. Paul Biancardi

"I just chose Kentucky because I felt it was a place that had great players, a great environment and a place where I can elevate my game," Knight said on ESPNU.

Timing was everything for Knight. With the departure of five players who will enter the 2010 NBA draft, including guard John Wall -- the nation's freshman of the year and a first team All-American -- the Wildcats were in dire need of an impact, do-everything point guard.

"Obviously this fills a huge void for [coach] John Calipari and Kentucky," said Paul Biancardi, ESPN's national basketball recruiting director. "Brandon can play the point and off the ball; he's equally adept at both. Defensively he's possesses quickness and strength. In the half court, he can run the show."

Before opting for the Wildcats, Knight -- who played at Pine Crest School in Boca Raton, Fla. -- considered Syracuse, Connecticut and Kansas.

Knight, a McDonald's All-American, joins a talented Kentucky class, including ESPNU 100 prospects Enes Kanter -- a 6-9 center out of Stoneridge Prep (Calif.), via Turkey, and forward Stacey Poole of Providence School (Jacksonville, Fla.).

Calipari said Kanter has the body and potential to be "special."

Brennan: No surprise

Brennan In one of the least surprising recruiting decisions since, well, John Wall's, Brandon Knight is headed for Kentucky. ESPN.com's Eamonn Brennan examines the decision. Blog

Knight cited the success young point guards have enjoyed in Calipari's "dribble-drive" offense -- namely Wall and current NBA stars Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans -- as a major factor in his decision.

"The things that's done with previous players ... I think that's what entices a lot of players with that situation," Knight said.

As a senior, Knight contributed 31.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4 assists for Pine Crest (25-5), which lost in the Florida 3A final after winning the previous two state crowns. He finished his career as Broward County's all-time leading scorer with 3,515 points, which is second all-time in Florida. That production earned him Gatorade National Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season.

Calipari could not comment on Knight's commitment because the school had not yet received Knight's letter of intent. However, he told ESPNU he's not worried about Kentucky's ability to sustain its success.

"When you get this kid and a few other kids signed with the kids we have coming back, I think we're going to be fine," he said.

With Knight off the board, the nation's top uncommitted prospect is Josh Selby. Selby, a point guard who is rated No. 5 on the ESPNU 100, will announce his decision during Saturday's Jordan Brand Classic (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2).

The Wildcats are expected to receive several more commitments during the late signing period, but got a head start on their 2011 class with Wednesday's commitment from forward Michael Gilchrist, who ESPN Recruiting ranks at the nation's top junior. The 6-foot-7 forward has been one of the country's most talked about prospects since his freshman season at St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, N.J. Gilchrist picked the Wildcats over a list of suitors that included Villanova, Texas and Georgia Tech.

*****Here we go................and the number one guy for next year.....I like this class coming in...especially if we get a couple years from them........

[Windy City Irish]

Coach Cal will never lead you to the title......and then get your program on sanctions

gl in 3-5 years

[Romanowski]

not as good as wall, more like a bledsoe

[Bisket]

lol whoever they sign is irrelevant, supporting cast will be even worse than last year

[WildKat]

Originally Posted by Bisket23

lol whoever they sign is irrelevant, supporting cast will be even worse than last year

I dont agree...........it wasn't that bad........A lot of these guys off the bench could start at other schools...especially Loserville.

[WildKat]

Originally Posted by Windy City Irish

Coach Cal will never lead you to the title......and then get your program on sanctions

gl in 3-5 years

I don't agree with this either......He knows that the eyes are on him and he won't want to f this up in Lexington...He doesn't have to do much but run that offense and send the guys to the pros..He didn't have the power in the other programs like he does at UK.....As much as I'm not a big fan of his, I think that he will stay clean while at UK.

[Windy City Irish]

kat...you guys can keep getting all of these recruits but its not going to win you a championship. as bisket said....there is nothing left really that can carry them. UK is not going to get every recruit! does it help that 5 guys leaving opened up a ton of room for young guys...yes, but they are not going to get another class like that and freshman are not going to win you a NCAA tourney.

UK will forever be good aslong as CAL is there, but not elite until they get 2nd and 3rd year guys!

[upinya83]

Originally Posted by Windy City Irish

kat...you guys can keep getting all of these recruits but its not going to win you a championship. as bisket said....there is nothing left really that can carry them. UK is not going to get every recruit! does it help that 5 guys leaving opened up a ton of room for young guys...yes, but they are not going to get another class like that and freshman are not going to win you a NCAA tourney.

UK will forever be good aslong as CAL is there, but not elite until they get 2nd and 3rd year guys!

you somewhat contradicted yourself here - if they get guys that aren't as good as the class they got last year, they'll have to start sticking around at least a 2nd and sometimes a 3rd year, and even though not all of them will, a couple years down the road, they'll have a couple sophomores and juniors on the squad, along with the normal great freshman class. They'll be competitive - the SEC isnt a huge basketball conference, they'll get their wins, their high seed, and come tourney time, its whoevers playing the best ball over the 2 week stretch.

they wont have 5 freshman leave for the nba every year, especially if, like you say, the classes aren't as good.

[Windy City Irish]

what i was meaning was that if UK keeps signing one and done players there wont be enough continuity or chemisty to ever form that bond of a championship team.

these guys that are top 10 recruits in the country are 1 and one traditionally.....

unless Coach Cal keeps 2-3 guys each year and builds up that core group then its going to be a revolving door there

[Windy City Irish]

and without any proof....a thought that keeps going through my head is those guys that know they are one and done are doing one semester of college work and then taking the 2nd half off because they know they are leaving

not saying this is a UK thing, but bet money that Coach CAL is not harping on these guys to be in class 100%

doesnt have the best track record

[Seanie Mac]

you can create this thread every year while calipari is there. I actually think he is going to start trying to get 4 year players soon too along with one and dones.

Coach K doesn't get to the final 4 every year but he never has to fully rebuild, if Cal gets a group of players who don't mesh at all it will be a long year since his leaders are high school all americans