Who Calipari was Watching Friday Night
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Devin Booker joined Calipari once again on the recruiting trail, via @NextCats.[/caption]
This weekend 12 players with Kentucky offers are just three hours away from Lexington in the second leg of the EYBL circuit in Indianapolis. Before things really get rolling today, Calipari got in plenty of work last night, watching games featuring nine of the 12 targets.
He began by watching a battle between #2 shooting guard Gary Trent Jr. and #5 small forward John Petty. Petty scored 23 and grabbed 8 rebounds, but he didn't have the best shooting night (5-15). Four three pointers couldn't keep his WACG team in the game, taking a 19-point loss to Trent Jr.'s Howard Pulley. Trent Jr. had 28 points and 6 rebounds on 11-19 shooting. After the game he called Kentucky, "NBA University," but Duke is the perceived favorite as of now.
Before the session ended Cal strolled on over to watch the #2 small forward and #6 player overall, Kevin Knox, drop 25 points and 13 rebounds in a 13-point win.
For the next session, Calipari was in between two courts, keeping an eye on Hamidou Diallo and Mahammad Bamba. The pair has peaked Cal's interest since the open season started last weekend, and for good reason. Diallo scored 33 points on 12 of 18 shooting and pulled in 12 rebounds; Bamba had 14 points on 5 of 9 shooting and 16 rebounds. Diallo also did this.
https://vine.co/v/iUWUZbwiwDj
For the nightcap, Calipari was in the bleachers to watch MOKAN Elite's potential package deal of #1 small forward Michael Porter Jr. and #3 point guard Trae Young. In the 16-point win Porter Jr. went for 22 and 15 while Young dished out 11 assists. After the game Young told reporters that Calipari compares him to Brandon Knight and Tyler Ulis.
After watching one of his potential future point guards, he turned to the other point guard with an offer, Tremont Waters. Waters had 18 points and 6 assists alongside his teammate, Top 20 center Nick Richards. Richards had 13 and 6 to help the Expressions Elite take down the Phoenix Family 69-65. Waters' stock has been on the rise since the circuit started last weekend, picking up recent offers from Kentucky and Duke, who he called his "dream school." Keep dreaming, Tremont.
One person Calipari didn't watch was the nation's #1 player, DeAndre Ayton. Ayton has continued to perform at a high level -- 24 points, 12 rebounds, 11-15 shooting and a made three-pointer -- yet he told reporters after the game that every school has pretty much backed off except Kansas. He's not sure why, guessing that maybe they are worried the international player will take the same route as Thon Maker. He isn't too worried, insisting that he will play college basketball and eligibility issues are non-existent.
Devin Booker joined Calipari once again on the recruiting trail, via @NextCats.[/caption]
This weekend 12 players with Kentucky offers are just three hours away from Lexington in the second leg of the EYBL circuit in Indianapolis. Before things really get rolling today, Calipari got in plenty of work last night, watching games featuring nine of the 12 targets.
He began by watching a battle between #2 shooting guard Gary Trent Jr. and #5 small forward John Petty. Petty scored 23 and grabbed 8 rebounds, but he didn't have the best shooting night (5-15). Four three pointers couldn't keep his WACG team in the game, taking a 19-point loss to Trent Jr.'s Howard Pulley. Trent Jr. had 28 points and 6 rebounds on 11-19 shooting. After the game he called Kentucky, "NBA University," but Duke is the perceived favorite as of now.
Before the session ended Cal strolled on over to watch the #2 small forward and #6 player overall, Kevin Knox, drop 25 points and 13 rebounds in a 13-point win.
For the next session, Calipari was in between two courts, keeping an eye on Hamidou Diallo and Mahammad Bamba. The pair has peaked Cal's interest since the open season started last weekend, and for good reason. Diallo scored 33 points on 12 of 18 shooting and pulled in 12 rebounds; Bamba had 14 points on 5 of 9 shooting and 16 rebounds. Diallo also did this.
https://vine.co/v/iUWUZbwiwDj
For the nightcap, Calipari was in the bleachers to watch MOKAN Elite's potential package deal of #1 small forward Michael Porter Jr. and #3 point guard Trae Young. In the 16-point win Porter Jr. went for 22 and 15 while Young dished out 11 assists. After the game Young told reporters that Calipari compares him to Brandon Knight and Tyler Ulis.
After watching one of his potential future point guards, he turned to the other point guard with an offer, Tremont Waters. Waters had 18 points and 6 assists alongside his teammate, Top 20 center Nick Richards. Richards had 13 and 6 to help the Expressions Elite take down the Phoenix Family 69-65. Waters' stock has been on the rise since the circuit started last weekend, picking up recent offers from Kentucky and Duke, who he called his "dream school." Keep dreaming, Tremont.
One person Calipari didn't watch was the nation's #1 player, DeAndre Ayton. Ayton has continued to perform at a high level -- 24 points, 12 rebounds, 11-15 shooting and a made three-pointer -- yet he told reporters after the game that every school has pretty much backed off except Kansas. He's not sure why, guessing that maybe they are worried the international player will take the same route as Thon Maker. He isn't too worried, insisting that he will play college basketball and eligibility issues are non-existent.
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