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With the recent rumors that Kentucky has rescinded the scholarship offer to DeAndre Daniels (nothing is official yet), the only remaining recruit that John Calipari is showing interest in is shooting guard Trevor Lacey.
Lacey (Butler HS, Huntsville, Ala.) has made a name for himself for the past four years or so, whether it be garnering Alabama’s Mr. Basketball honors or scoring 50-plus points in several games.
Either way, he has left a loving impression on Kentucky fans, along with others.
Some fans have compared Lacey to the great Jodie Meeks because of his shooting and huge scoring ability, along with their similar size.
However, he tends to disagree.
“I guess I can see it, but it’s not a lot. There are other players I’m more like.”
Nevertheless, the youngster has the ability to score just like Meeks, as shown by his multiple 50-point games this season.
As many know, Meeks also loved the Kentucky basketball program (and still does).
When asked about what he thought about Kentucky, Lacey had this to say:
“I like the coaching staff and the style of play. It fits me.”
While the dribble-drive is very closely associated with Calipari and Kentucky, the ‘Cats are not the only school that run such an offense.
In fact, two other schools on Lacey’s final list have a little dribble-drive in them: Alabama and Auburn.
Now, Alabama is not that much of a dribble-drive offense team, but you can see it here and there.
Current-Auburn coach Tony Barbee learned under Coach Calipari, and he has brought the dribble-drive to the plains (yes, it’s true, even though it did not look like it when Kentucky pounded them Tuesday).
Both home-state schools are working their hardest to keep Lacey around, but we all know with Calipari, there is always a chance!
“Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, UConn, and Kansas (are the teams on my list),” Lacey explained.
Lacey has said in the past that if it came down to it and his visits were limited, he would pass on traveling to Alabama and/or Auburn because he “knew what both were about.”
Thus, come February or March, Lexington has a chance to host the senior for a visit.
“No, (I do not have any visits planned) yet,” Lacey said, and that was for all teams in his final list.
He also does not know when he will make a decision on where he will attend college.
“No. I’m waiting till the end of the season right now.”
Unfortunately, if he does decide to become a Wildcat, fans will have to wait for a little while longer.
This does give the Kentucky staff more time to sway Lacey towards the University of Kentucky and its prestigious basketball program.
“We (Lacey and the Kentucky coaches) talk whenever we can. We try to as much as possible, but we both have busy schedules, so it’s hard sometimes.”
But with Daniels now out of the picture (pending reports), it gives Calipari plenty of time to discuss things with Lacey.
Lacey is the No. 1 priority (and only priority) in the Class of 2011 now.
“It’s hard to say (who is recruiting me the hardest) right now,” he said. “All the teams are right there,” Lacey went on to say.
However, you know Kentucky has to be interesting to Lacey.
Kids would be crazy not to include Rupp Arena as one of the places they have dreamed to play.
I expect him to pay a visit to Lexington sometime before his decision and when he does, the city, program and environment will be trying their best to keep this sharpshooter around and hopefully add him to the already-elite Class of 2011 that includes Michael Gilchrist, Marquis Teague, and Anthony Davis.
I will post any new info as I hear it.
Follow Garrett Tucker on Twitter [URL=”http://twitter.com/GTuckersports”]@GTuckersports[/URL] for more info on Kentucky and basketball recruiting.
