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[FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]When N.C. State transfer Ryan Harrow decided on the Kentucky Wildcats and head coach John Calipari’s knack for helping point guards land in the top 5 of the NBA Draft, many who follow college basketball recruiting thought the Cats would not be able to recruit a high school point guard for the 2012 recruiting class. After his one year of sitting out, mandated for transfers by the NCAA, many thought Harrow would drive away the upper echelon of high school seniors, due to the fact they might have to compete for playing time.[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]Little Rock (AR) Sylvan Hills guard Archie Goodwin says that is definitely not the case. [/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]If you’ve been living under a rock, Goodwin is considered to be one of the top three point guards in the class of 2012. Nationofblue.com recently caught up with him, and when asked to list who his hot schools would be at this time, Goodwin started his list with the Cats.[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]“I’d say the hot schools right now are Kentucky, UConn, Baylor, Memphis, Arkansas…I’m pretty much hearing from everybody right now. I heard from Georgetown in the last couple of days, and I heard from Missouri today. I’m hearing from Tennessee and Louisville now. There are an abundance of teams talking with me.”[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]But Calipari and his coaching staff have struck a chord with the Arkansas product. “It’s very hard to ignore what Coach Cal has done for point guards since he has been there (at UK). And really even before that. Everybody knows that. Of course, that is a reason for considering them.[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]“But not only that, he’s just a great person. He helps people excel and fulfill their dreams. Actually, I talk with Coach Orlando (Antigua, UK assistant coach) just as much as I talk with Coach Cal. Those two guys I talk to, pretty much, evenly. They contact me regularly and we talk often. Nothing has happened to change the way I feel about them.”[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]The winner in the Archie Goodwin sweepstakes will have a family atmosphere. “I’m looking for a school that is team-oriented,” Goodwin said. “And what I mean by that is, a family-oriented type of mentality, guys that will help you on and off the court.”[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]As it would be for any top recruit at any position, this summer is a very busy one for Goodwin.[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]“I am playing for the Arkansas Wings (in AAU basketball) again this summer, and we’re not really playing in any tournaments this June. June is the month that we use for camps and individual showcases. I was at the Pangos camp last week. And coming up I have the Kevin Durant camp, the Lebron James camp, and the NBA Top 100 camp. I’ll start back with the Wings at the Peach Jam in July, then we’ll play the Super Showcase and the Nationals in Florida.”[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]
[/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][COLOR=#000000]The 6-foot-4, 185-pound Goodwin is using the all of the work this summer to try and work on specific areas of his game he feels needs improving. “I’m just trying to get stronger and become a more consistent shooter,” Goodwin explained. “I want to make sure that all my fundamentals are still there and continue to get better all-around. The best players in the game always say that they can get better and I truly believe that. I can always improve.”[/COLOR][/FONT]
