By LARRY VAUGHT

Kentucky signee Alex Poythress says he’s not sure what impact Kentucky’s success this year has had on other recruits such as Nerlens Noel and Shabazz Muhammad, the top two ranked players in the 2012 recruiting class.

“I talk to a few of the recruits  from time to time on Twitter or I text them. I pay attention a little bit to what they are doing, but I am not really focused on them. I am focused on my high school team. If they come, good. If not, we will worry about ourselves. Coach Cal will have good players. I know that,” he said.

Poythress says he knows current Wildcats Kyle Wiltjer and Anthony Davis. Both have told him the same thing about playing at Kentucky.

“They say it is hard and you have to work hard every day because they will not give it to you. But with hard work comes a lot of success and lot of reward,” Poythress said. “It is fun. They are playing basketball 24/7 and doing what they love. That’s always fun. How could it not be, especially at Kentucky?”

Poythress says Calipari “reminds me a lot of my high school coach” on and off the court.

“He is just comfortable with you and just speaks the real truth to you. He tells you what you need to hear even if that is not always what you want to hear,” Poythress said.

Poythress admits the way Calipari has put players from all positions into the NBA early caught his attention.

“I like the player development, I really do. I know I am not there yet (ready for the NBA)  and have a long way to go. Hopefully I will get there one day,” he said. “I understand I have to get a lot better and tighten up a lot of areas of my game. I wil just try to do it and get there with coach Cal’s help. But you can’t focus on that. You focus on wining and getting better and then coach Cal says everything takes care of itself.”