Football Countdown

  • UK v WKU FB:
    in 3 months, 9 days, 22 hours, 49 minutes

By LARRY VAUGHT

Kentucky recruiting targets Aaron and Andrew Harrison of Texas will make their college show Thursday during a show on ESPNU — “Recruiting Nation” — airing on ESPNU starting at 5 p.m.

The twin guards are rated among the nation’s top five players by most recruiting services and have narrowed their college list to Maryland, where they have family members living, and Kentucky. They also have Southern Methodist left on their final list, but college basketball analysts have had UK and Maryland as the leaders for months.

Andrew Harrison, the nation’s top-ranked point guard, posted on Twitter that “Thursday will be the toughest decision I ever had to make, but I’m looking forward to it.”

Craig Brownson coaches the talented twins at Travis High School in Richmond, Texas. They had originally intended to make their college choice Oct. 29, but now want to make their choice before the high school team opens official practice Oct. 24.

“That way they can focus on our season and our team,” said Brownson said. “I think they are just a little tired of the whole process. As nice as the national attention is, they are ready to get it done and move on. There’s really been no change in their thinking. They are just ready to make their choice.

“It seems like almost every day there has been some kind of national story involving them and what they are going to do or not do. There have been so many rumors out there. They are just ready to get it all settled.”

Those rumors have included whether the twins would go to Midnight Madness at Maryland or attend UK’s Big Blue Madness, an event they came to in 2011.

Brownson said the Harrison’s father had dealt with most of the recruiting attention, but that he had been bombarded with calls once word came out that they were announcing Thursday.

“Once it hit Twitter, I got quite a lot of calls,” the Texas coach said.

He said having ESPNU at Travis High School will create a bit of a stir among the students Thursday.

“It’s going to be a neat thing for all the kids,” Brownson, who will bring his team to Kentucky to play in the Marshall County Hoop Fest Nov. 30-Dec. 1, said. “They wanted to do this in front of their classmates. We have had cameras here before obviously because of how talented they are, but we have not had ESPN come for a show like this. It will be a big deal for the whole school. There is going to be a lot of hype around school over this.”

Part of that hype is because the Harrisons are so popular at the school.

“Andrew was picked as homecoming king last week,” Brownson said. “That was a neat deal for him, but they are both very well liked, and it’s not just because of their athletic ability. They are great kids and everybody here just wants what is best for them.”

Brownson would offer no predictions on what school the twins would pick Thursday.

“They know what they want to do and that’s why they are ready to announce,” he said. “They’ll let everyone know Thursday and then we can move on with their senior season.”

11 Responses to Harrison twins move college decision to Thursday on ESPNU

  • Greg says:

    Is this good or bad sign for a UK commitment, larry?

  • Karen Sprinkle says:

    Can you say dominoes? At least I hope the Harrison twins’ commitment (to UK, of course) will lead to a domino effect and all the other guys on Cal’s wish list commit to UK as well. That would be awesome.

  • Juan4UK says:

    Yeah, Maryland is making a last minute in home on Wed., I have to think they see the writing on the wall and are making one last effort to persuade them. If that’s the case, then I don’t see them changing their minds if they have made it this far with their Dad in Maryland’s corner and still having to entertain a last minute effort on the part of Turgeon.

  • Bob says:

    This would be an great one two punch for next years team and keep the Kentucky teams as the sky , Blue as far as you can see . This year is going to be an interesting year to be an Kentucky fan . I think come Marchthis team will be an power house. Go Big Blue Thanks Larry for all the info

  • Kokamo Joe says:

    Last year’s championship team is gone. We have not seen Noel, Cawley-Stein, Poythress, Goodwin and Mays play a single game and here we are talking about the recruits for 2013-14. Looks like this assembly line will go on and on with this year’s stars having to leave to make room for next year’s stars. Seems to working out. But to tell the truth, I’d like to get to know our players and looks like all we will get is a quick look and a hope that freshmen click every year. Can’t complain too much though.

  • King Ghidora says:

    It does seem strange that with it looking like Young is on UK’s radar that they suddenly decided to commit in a hurry. They’ve been playing this off for how long telling people they won’t decide until later than the end of last month, which many people said they would do. Maybe it is just them going ahead with their commitment early in Oct. as the rumor suggested before. I don’t know. I just know I really would like to see them wearing the Big Blue colors next year. I’ve also thought it was possible they want it known where they will be going before they attend BBM. It would give them a big chance for a big welcome really soon.

    • Kokamo Joe says:

      Re: Harrisons commit in a hurry. Playing time is important to our current and future stars. The goal is to stay the least amout of time and get to the big show. So it is important to the recruit who else is being recruited. I would think that there is a lot of calling going on between the blessed ones and that as soon as a group decides to commit together we will get the mother load.
      A new twist has been added to UK basketball by Calipari. Instead of just paying attention to THIS year’s studs he has added the drama of who will take their place NEXT year and who will take their place THE YEAR AFTER NEXT.

  • TheProfessor says:

    It seems that Mark Turgeon is visiting the Harrison family one last time today. Is this a last ditch effort to change minds or a celebration of what is to come? The chatter in Blue land favors the former while the Terps are confident that Daddy Harrison will make this decision.

    I guess the waiting is about over on this pair’s decision.




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