Kentucky fans have been panicking for a couple of months now about the lack of commitments to go along with Ryan Harrow in the Class of 2012. While it is something to feel uncomfortable about, it isn’t the end of the world.
John Calipari will get who he needs to get. There will be a couple of stars to go along with Harrow and those who are still with the team in next year.
Most people are saying, “Oh no! Sean Miller is going to kill us in recruiting for the next 2-3 years!”
Sure, Miller has done a great job in Tucson, and he is bringing in legitimate star-power, but it isn’t the end of the world.
Even if something does go wrong with this year’s class, there is something positive UK fans can turn to: the Class of 2013.
In my opinion, the rising juniors are one of the best classes fans have seen in the past decade. With that being said, if Kentucky misses with some targets in 2012, Coach Cal can make up for it in 2013.
The staff sits very well with a couple of prospects in the class, and Kentucky selling itself helps. Just look at the Big Blue Madness attendees so far: Chris Walker and the Harrison twins plus Nerlens Noel and Chris Thomas could be the next guys to pull the trigger and opt to visit Lexington.
Many of the 2013 guys have expressed their high interest in Kentucky throughout the past year.
At one time, Isaiah Lewis was a hands-down favorite to go to UK; I’m not saying he isn’t anymore nor is he an auto-commit, but Lewis still likes the Cats. “I’m still high on them,” he told me Tuesday night.
Chris Walker has always named Kentucky his favorite until lately, but the interest is definitely still there, evident with his Big Blue Madness attendance.
The Harrisons are in the same situation as Walker. Kentucky was the first school to inquire about Aaron and Andrew attending their midnight madness. Sure, you have to be loyal, but I think it was obvious the twins wanted to come to Lexington.
They are ones to watch as well. Their commitment could be looming and coming to Big Blue Madness (at least 90% sure) won’t hurt Kentucky’s chances at all to land them.
Nerlens Noel has yet to decide where he will be going to midnight madness, but I’m feeling Kentucky. Some people have fell off the Nerlens-to-UK bandwagon because of his recent visits to Syracuse and UConn, but c’mon, those schools are right there. He has always said, “Kentucky will be there to the end for me.”
Chris Thomas has been consistent in telling BlueGrassHoops.com that Arizona and Kentucky are his co-leaders. He loves what the great point guards under Coach Cal have done in the past couple of years.
This brings me to my point and title: John Calipari vs. Sean Miller, 2013.
There are tons of top-tier talent that are showing interest in Arizona and Kentucky.
Some of the players both teams are looking at include Aaron Gordon, Keith Frazier, and Xavier Rathan-Mayes, and along with Thomas, are all getting a lot of big looks by both programs.
I assume most know who Kentucky is looking at in 2013, so here are other players Arizona is pursuing: Nate Britt, Tyree and Tyrel Robinson, Stephen Domingo, Jabari Bird, Isaac Hamilton, Brian Bridgewater, and others are being pursued by Sean Miller’s staff.
Sure, these aren’t guys who Kentucky’s recruiting, but it is settling down really well for both squads. This way, both teams are bound to have top classes in 2013.
Coming into the 2014 and 2015 seasons, we could see Kentucky and Arizona filling the Final Four.
It’s an exciting thing to think about and it’s definitely going to be a fun process.
So if your nervous about Sean Miller and his 2012 class and Kentucky’s lack of commitments, look no further than 2013.
It’s going to be a fun battle, and Kentucky and Arizona look to be pushing the tempo for the best recruiting classes for the start of the decade.
