Paolo Banchero blogs about visit from Calipari

Top 2021 power forward Paolo Banchero will take his official visit to Kentucky in two weeks for Big Blue Madness. If it goes as well as John Calipari’s recent trip to Banchero’s school in Seattle, the Cats are in good shape.

In a new blog for USA Today High School Sports, Banchero — the No. 3 player in the 2021 class — said Cal’s visit created quite the ruckus.

Coach K was supposed to come out, but he wasn’t able to make it and said he’d be back soon. Coach Calipari came out and when he was in the parking lot all of the students were crowding around the door trying to see him. Coach Patrick Ewing walked right through the gym and that was big too!

This weekend, Banchero will take his official to North Carolina for Late Night With Roy. On October 11, he’ll be in Lexington for Madness, which will be followed up by trips to Duke for Countdown to Craziness and Tennessee. His final official visit will be to Gonzaga on January 17. He’s also considering Georgetown, Baylor, Memphis, Washington, and Michigan.

Earlier this month, Banchero joined KSR’s Sources Say Podcast to talk about his interest in Kentucky.

“I am really high on Kentucky. They are a great school, great program,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to my visit. Coach Cal talks to my mom all the time, they have a great relationship. He talks to me, actually just texted me not too long ago, a couple minutes ago. He wants to talk tonight. He’s keeping in close contact with me and my mom. Coach Barbee, he keeps in close contact, as well.”

Banchero has said publicly that he’s staying in the 2021 class, but in a recent recruiting notebook, Rivals’ Corey Evans said rumors continue to swirl that he will reclassify to 2020. Something to keep an eye on.

Check out the rest of Banchero’s blog at the link below. He also talks about math and his favorite TV show, Stranger Things.

[USA Today High School Sports]