By LARRY VAUGHT
Big Blue Madness started a day early for the University of Kentucky.
James Young, a versatile 6-6 wing player from Michigan, verbally committed to coach John Calipari’s Wildcats during a show on ESPNU’s “ESPN Recruiting Nation’ Thursday. The Michigan product is a consensus top 10 player in the 2013 recruiting class and his commitment came one week after twins Aaron and Andrew Harrison of Texas, both top five players, announced they would sign with Kentucky.
Young had narrowed his college list to Michigan State, Syracuse and Kansas along with Kentucky but had been considered a strong lean to UK by recruiting analysts even before the Harrisons committed because often he had noted that UK was No. 1 on his list. Young made an unofficial visit to Kentucky two weeks ago.
One of Young’s strengths is running the floor, a priority in Calipari’s system. He’s also a strong finisher at the rim, another trait Calipari likes. Young is also one of the best 3-point shooters in the 2013 recruiting class and should help make the Harrison twins even more effective players.
“His athleticism, improvement on offense and ability to rebound from his position are among his better attributes,” said Evan Daniels, Scout.com national recruiting director. “I think Young fits into what Calipari wants to do quite well. Young is a supreme talent and one of the better offensive weapons in the country.”
He can play either shooting guard or small forward, which makes him an even better fit with the Harrison twins.
“I think he complements Aaron Harrision on the wing quite well. He’s not quite the scorer Aaron is, but he’s better at slashing and will defend and board his area well. I think he’s a nice fit with the twins,” Daniels said.
Calipari has already four straight No. 1 recruiting classes and now has three of the nation’s top 10 ranked players again in his 2013 recruiting class along with Bullitt East standout Derek Willis. That has him positioned for a No. 1 class again.
“It’ll depend on how the rest of the high profile decisions play out. Florida could certainly make a play for the No. 1 spot again if they were able to snag Julius Randle or Jabari Parker. With that said, it’s looking good for Kentucky to finish the 2013 rankings at the top again,” Daniels said.
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Calipari also expected to have 6-9 senior forward Marcus Lee of California and junior Cliff Alexander of Chicago and JaQuan Lyle of Evansville, two top 2014 prospects, at Madness. Kentucky also got a boost Wednesday when New Jersey forward Karl Towns, one of the nation’s best sophomores, said he would attend Madness. He played on the Dominican Republic national team that Calipari coached last summer. Towns is the only player in the 2015 recruiting class with an offer from Kentucky.
The Harrison twins along with Bulllitt East forward Derek Willis, who committed to UK during his junior season, are also expected to attend Madness. Andrew Wiggins, the nation’s top-ranked junior who is contemplating reclassifying to the 2013 recruiting class, went home to Canada because Huntington (W.Va.) Prep is on fall break.
21 Responses to Big Blue Madness starts a day early with top prospect James Young picking Kentucky
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And it continues to grow. Watch out folks. This is already an unequaled recruiting class. No team has ever signed 3 top 5 players and UK is NOT done IMO. We are witnessing true greatness.
You know things have gotten out of hand when Izzo basically gives up on a kid from Michigan who looks like he was born to wear Sparty green.
Great point Scott. And that is what Izzo did
Young won’t be the last recruit. Still think it will be Cal’s best class ever
holy (you know what) !
I loved the way he announced it (by pulling a shirt with Kentucky Bound and his signature) from a bag. Very low key, with his family was lined up behind him. He seems very well spoken, and kudos for mentioning that while getting to the NBA is important, he is also concerned about his education. As many before have said, it’s a great time to be a Kentucky fan!
And the beat goes on
When the Moon is in the 7th House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then Cal will guide these Guys
And Big Blue will Rule the Stars
This is the dawning of the Age of UKarias ! ! !
This is as close to the Perfect Storm as is HUMANELY POSSIBLE
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GO BLUE OR STAY HOME
Funny stuff but you have to be old to appreciate that one. But that UKarias looks a little too much like Kansas.
How about “Wildcatius”? And maybe Cal could guide “the BBN”.
King I LOVE the touch up(WILDCATIUS is great). Thats exactly how GREAT thing are done . Through collaboration.
Just remember to give me co-writer’s credit when the royalty checks start coming in.
That is really good.
Good one – We now expect more of these during the season.
3 down….2 or 3 to go.
You just have to laugh at how easy Cal is making this look.
I think there’s a whole bunch of people who are crying because he makes it look so easy!
Like Grant describes Izzo. Is it wrong to enjoy them crying so much? It’s just a game after all. And Izzo and his ilk would certainly do the same thing “if they could”. Apparently being better at your job is the same thing as cheating in Izzo’s eyes. So I’m gonna go right on enjoying the show.
I think all other coaches should wait until Cal has finished recruiting to start theirs. They wouldn’t waste so much money, would have time for their families and golf and have less headaches. They wouldn’t have to worry about Cal telling them the truth, no making any promises he can’t keep and it would be a lot more healthy for Cal. It would also cut down on the number of nervous breakdowns in the BBN wondering who is going where.
Lexington West (that city where little slick quick rick coaches) sold out of liquor and kleenex last week after the Harrison twins, I imagine the sewers are over flowing now!
I have a comment on Izzo. He is very well respected in the coaching circles and deservedly so, although i have not checked and will not if he has a comment about James Young signing. But he has in the last year gone out of his way to say he does things the right way and there are programs out there who do not and he just can’t compete with those teams. Okay this is what irks me, when he says this crap it is always thinly veiled shots at UK , just by his inferences and being able to read between the lines its obvious. But perhaps , just perhaps maybe he was out recruited without someone cheating to do so. To me what he says it takes someone to cheat to beat him out of a recruit. Nonesense of course. Maybe there are other coaches and assistants who are actually good at what they do as well and do not have to cheat to do it. While he is a very good coach, he has a little bit of cry baby in him too and when things have gone good for him he really has nothing to say , but in the last few years he is getting more and more baby like , and his runs through the tourney are slowing, and more complaining is evident. Something about big 10 coaches.
They do seem to enjoy a little whine with dinner.
That is a qualification for working for ESPN after their coaching careers are over.
good point ! LSEC. Maybe they should round up heathcoate, knight , and that real ugly gut that was at purdue , and izzo for a big thumb sucking fest on espn . really though , to intimate that you can only be out recruited by only someone that is cheating is really tooting your own horn and really not giving any credit to other coaches abilities.