[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]Kyle Wiltjer shocked the college basketball world when he committed to Kentucky on Saturday without even visiting the campus.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]Wiltjer scored 20 points and was named co-most valuable player at the Boost Mobile Elite 24 tournament at Venice Beach, Calif.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]“It has been an extremely exciting weekend,” Wiltjer said Sunday night. “I’m thrilled, relieved … a ton of emotions all at once.”[/SIZE][/FONT]
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK][FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]Wiltjer narrowed his choices to Wake Forest, California, Gonzaga and Texas before opting for Kentucky, joining former Jefferson High great Terrence Jones in Lexington.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]“Terrence is a good friend of mine,” Wiltjer says. “I talked to him and a couple of other people who helped me make the decision. They all agreed it was a great fit. There was no need to wait.”[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]Wiltjer was impressed with several things about Kentucky. He has great respect for coach John Calipari and his record of sending players to the NBA. He feels he’ll fit well in Calipari’s uptempo system of play. And he was swayed by a great recruiting class Calipari has compiled for 2011.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]“I want to surround myself with the best players, so I can push myself in practice every day and get better,” Wiltjer says. “Coach Cal does a great job of pushing players. I’ve gotten to know him the last couple of months. I feel I can trust him.”[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]Calipari sent five players to the NBA this summer, with Kentucky becoming the first program in history to have five selected in the first round of the draft. Four of them, including No. 1 pick John Wall, were freshmen. [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]”I’m going into college thinking I’m going to stay for four years,” Wiltjer says. “I’m just going to work my hardest and whatever happens, happens. If there is an opportunity to go earlier (to the NBA), I’m going to take it. I’m going to keep an open mind.”[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]His size, along with the combination of his inside and outside game, will make Wiltjer an attraction to NBA Scouts, question is, how long until he becomes a big enough attraction, if ever.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[CENTER]Here is Evan Daniels, Recruiting Analysts, from Scout with his overview of Kyle Wiltjer[/CENTER]
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[FONT=Tahoma][SIZE=2]Go Cats!!![/SIZE][/FONT]
[URL=”http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=128314266441368200”][I]Complete article at Sports Tribune[/I][/URL]
