By LARRY VAUGHT

He’s not played a college game — or even had an official practice — at Kentucky. Yet DeMarcus Cousins is already being mentioned as a potential early first-round NBA draft pick next year just like freshman teammate John Wall is.

That’s heady stuff for any player, but it has to be particularly mind boggling for a freshman. Yet Cousins confided earlier this summer that he really didn’t quiz UK coach John Calipari about his NBA prospects when he was being recruiting and he liked that Calipari stressed more than future NBA paychecks to him

“The NBA is not really something we talked about. We did go over it and something I already basically knew about it. But I did not talk to Coach about it a lot. He said, ‘Do your job, I will do mine and you will get to the next level,’” Cousins said. “Not every coach is like that. That is why he is such a great coach and always has great players around. It’s not about him, it is about the players. As a player, you really like that.”

Kentucky fans likely are going to “really like” Cousins — one of the nation’s top prep players last year — as well and he can’t wait to please them in Rupp Arena.

“I really didn’t get to watch Kentucky play that much last season because I was not that interested at the time and didn’t think about going there,” Cousins said. “Plus, I’m not really one to just sit and watch. But I’ve heard Rupp Arena is just crazy. Fans have already hit me on Facebook to tell me how crazy it will be to play in the arena. I am already excited just thinking about it.”

Part of that is because Cousins didn’t grow up dreaming of being a college basketball — or NBA — star.

“I actually figured out my eighth grade year after the AAU nationals that I might be pretty good,” Cousins said. “I did so well against good players that I thought this might work out the way it has. I was becoming so good, so far that I knew I had a chance to maybe be something special. That is when I started thinking for the first time about playing in college and maybe the NBA.

“At one point, I was scared I wasn’t big enough. I was 6-7, but I didn’t think that would get me in the league (NBA). I was hoping I would keep growing, which I did. Now I’ve got a great chance to make it with help from Coach.”

His mother, Monique Cousins, marvels and what he has done and, like any mother, is proud of him already.

“I am very proud of him for having the opportunity to have those experiences he already has and the opportunities he has coming to experience things that most children do not get to. Words can’t express how proud I am,” she said. “Kentucky is great place. I love the atmosphere. He was so excited just to start summer school. He was the counting days until he could go there. With all the achievements he had and all the accolades he received, what greater reward could he get than the opportunities he will have at Kentucky.”

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