Kentucky Weekly Recruiting Rundown: 8/17-8/20

DeAndre Daniels, a 6-foot-8 small forward from California, has made a few giant decisions on the recruiting front recently. There had been rumors for several months that the top-ten prospect would decommit from Texas, but nothing was official. Things finally came to a screeching halt early in the week when reports spread that DeAndre officially re-opened his recruitment. Now, more is coming out of this. According to reports, he will be eligible to classify into the class of 2010, rather than stay in 2011. Daniels was originally a member of the class of 2010. While he had the choice of going to prep school, with Brewster Academy (NH) or IMG Academy (FL) being two possible locations, it is now looking like Daniels could be enrolled at a school before the end of August. After decommitting from the Longhorns, multiple schools came into the mix and offered a scholarship for the 2010 season. These schools include Memphis, UTEP, St. John’s, UCLA, UNLV and now Kentucky. While most Kentucky fans are very excited about the possibility of adding Daniels into the mix of an already stacked 2010 recruiting class, it might not happen. With plans to take unofficial visits to USC and UCLA this weekend, right near his home of Woodlands Hills, California, Daniels will look at all of his options. Could Kentucky really land another big time recruit for the class of 2010? We’ll find out soon.

Nick Johnson, a 6-foot-3 guard from Arizona, is staying home for college. Johnson, a standout rising senior year at Findlay Prep in Nevada, will play under Arizona coach Sean Miller. While Kentucky recruited Johnson, it was very minimal. He was still considered as a potential pickup as his stock rose over the summer.

Kyle Wiljter, a 6-foot-9 forward from Oregon, and a teammate of Johnson’s with the Oakland Soliders, says he has an offer from Kentucky. Wiltjer, who recently narrowed his list down to seven schools, confirmed to reporters that Kentucky was not only in the mix, but they have extended a scholarship his way. He is currently down to California, Gonzaga, Kansas, Georgia Tech, Texas, Wake Forest and Kentucky. While Anthony Davis is committed for the class of 2011, Wiltjer is the same position but would still be a very likely possibility as an addition.

LaQuinton Ross, a 6-foot-8 forward from Mississippi, has committed to Ohio State. Just like with Nick Johnson, the Wildcats staff was showing some interest towards Ross. While he is not the same highly-toughted player that he was during his early days of high school, Ross is still a top-25 prospect. Kentucky fell out of the running during the summer.

Maurice Harkless, a 6-foot-8 forward from New York, has cut a few schools out of his list and added some, as well. He has switched up his list, adding Florida State and Oregon and dropping Memphis and NC State. While Kentucky has shown interest in him, it seems as if they will not make his list. As visits are already being planned, the Wildcats do not seem to be in the equation, however, Kentucky never offered a scholarship. Harkless will take unofficial visits to St Johns on September 2nd and Rutgers two days later. The day after that he will head to Maryland unofficially. Lastly, he has an official visited planned for Oregon on September 17th. Maurice will attend South Kent Prep in Connecticut this year.

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