KSR Today: Joey Hart is a Kentucky Wildcat
Good morning, folks! And a Happy Father’s Day to all the dads and father figures out there. Let’s talk about UK Athletics, shall we?
John Calipari’s roster for the 2023-24 season continues to take shape as another piece to the puzzle was added on Saturday. Linton-Stockton (IN) High three-star shooting guard Joey Hart has joined the fold for next season after announcing his commitment to the Kentucky Wildcats yesterday afternoon. The 6-foot-5 sharpshooter becomes the seventh incoming freshman for Calipari, who bolstered his already-No. 1 ranked recruiting class following a commitment earlier in the week from three-star small forward Jordan Burks.
“Joey can really shoot the basketball but also brings a tremendous all-around game to this class,” Calipari said of Hart in UK’s press release. “His best days of basketball are ahead of him and I look forward to watching him develop alongside the rest of the class. I’m excited to get Joey on campus so he can continue to improve at this next level.”
Hart, who was once signed with Central Florida, chose the Wildcats over Indiana and Rutgers.
“All of them were really good choices in my eyes, but Kentucky was the right fit for me,” Hart told KSR. “I had an opportunity for playing time at all three, really, all saying I could come be a part of something special, that type of thing. Kentucky just stood out to me because of John Calipari and his ability to develop players.”
Hart led Linton-Stockton to a 29-2 record and Class 2A state runner-up finish as a senior, averaging 23.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per contest while shooting 41% from three. He was named SISN Indiana Highschool Boys Player of the Year. Hart finished his high school career with 1,901 points, 424 rebounds, and 224 assists. Check out a Film Room breakdown of Hart’s game here.
Hart and Burks join an already-loaded group of freshmen that consists of multiple five-stars (DJ Wagner, Justin Edwards, and Aaron Bradshaw — although Bradshaw’s recent injury ordeal is certainly a concerning new factor) along with a pair of highly-rated four-stars (Robert Dillingham and Reed Sheppard). Kentucky now has nine rotational players (10 if we want to include Brennan Canada) for next season with the expectation that another piece or two could still be added from the high school ranks and/or by the return of Antonio Reeves from the transfer portal.
Who could be next up? Four-star center Somto Cyril, who visited UK last week, is the likely candidate. When exactly might that happen? TBD…
Big weekend of FB official visits wraps up
Kentucky football’s second big official visitors weekend (mostly) wraps up later today. The Wildcats were expected to host eight rising seniors on campus beginning on Friday and ending on Sunday. A ninth official visitor, three-star WR Dorian Williams, was the lone recruit who actually begins his OV sometime today.
Head coach Mark Stoops still has just four pledges locked in for the ’24 class, but with back-to-back weekends of more than 20 combined official visitors, commitments are expected in the near future. Below are the prospects who spent the weekend at UK. We’ll have updates from as many as possible in the coming days in hopes of hearing some good news regarding the ‘Cats.
Hardley Gilmore (WR) 6-1, 165 | Pahokee (Belle Glade, FL)
4-star: No. 112 overall, No. 18 WR (in 2025 class, but will reclass to 2024. Ranking will change accordingly)
Jac’Qawn McRoy (OT) 6-8, 340 | Clay-Chalkville (Pinson, AL)
4-star: No. 188 overall, No. 16 OT
Jalewis Solomon (ATH) 6-0, 185 | Schley County (Ellaville, GA)
4-star: No. 225 overall, No. 10 ATH
Kendall Jackson (DL) 6-3, 245 | F.W. Buchholz (Gainesville, FL)
4-star: No. 365 overall, No. 33 DL
Dominic Nichols (EDGE) 6-5, 240 | Oakdale (Ijamsville, MD)
4-star: No. 380 overall, No. 25 EDGE
Tovani Mizell (RB) 6-1, 195 | DeMatha Catholic (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
3-star: No. 491 overall, No. 38 RB
Makai Byerson (EDGE) 6-3, 235 | Manchester (Richmond, VA)
3-star: No. 724 overall, No. 48 EDGE
Dorian Williams (WR) 6-3, 190 | Princeton (Cincinnati, OH) –> June 18-20
3-star: No. 756 overall, No. 108 WR
Caleb Redd (EDGE) 6-4, 220 | DeSmet (Saint Louis, MO)
3-star: No. 877 overall, No. 64 EDGE
There was also a big-time surprise unofficial visitor this weekend that KSR’s Nick Roush reported on yesterday morning. EDGE Zayden Walker, a five-star class of 2025 prospect considered a top 10 player in the country according to the On3 Industry Ranking, arrived in Lexington on Saturday. The Ellaville (GA) Schley County product is teammates and brothers with one of the aforementioned official visitors, ATH Jalewis Solomon.
Kentucky is making power moves right now in the recruiting world. Now let’s see if it pays off in the form of some commitments.
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KSR’s exclusive Father’s Day interview with Brad White
Brad White is entering his sixth season as the defensive coordinator at the University of Kentucky. The longevity is a testament to the team’s defense. The Wildcats have consistently been one of the five best defenses in the league since he arrived in 2018, but calling plays is only one of his jobs. He’s a teacher in practice, a student in the film room, a recruiter, and most importantly, a father of four.
“I’ve got two boys at the house and 45 in the facility.”
Ahead of Father’s Day, Kentucky Sports Radio sat down with the Wildcats’ DC for an extensive conversation about football and family. Not only how he juggles the two, but how they are interconnected with one another. It’s a must-watch for not only Kentucky fans but all dads and father figures.
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