Signing Day: Kentucky, two Mid-Majors score big
Words. Jason Jordan
Brandon Knight
Three of this year’s top seniors and one of the top two juniors are officially off of the board after making their decisions live on ESPNU to kickoff National Signing Day.
Pine Crest (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) point guard Brandon Knight, the two-time Gatorade National Player of the Year, picked Kentucky, as did St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) junior swingman Michael Gilchrist.
Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Mich.) point guard Ray McCallum Jr. picked Detroit-Mercy, and Mount Pleasant (Mich.) shooting guard Trey Zeigler picked Central Michigan.
We’ve said for months that Knight, ranked No. 4 in the new HSH national top 50, going to Lexington was imminent. He joins center Enes Kanter (Tarzana, Ca.) and shooting guard Stacey Poole (Jacksonville, Fla.) to round out Kentucky’s 2010 recruiting class to this point.
“I just chose Kentucky just because I felt it was a place that had great players, a great environment and just a place where I can elevate my game with great coaches and pieces around me,” Knight told ESPNU. “I think a lot of players are enticed by Coach Cal and his ability with point guards. It just came down to being comfortable and feeling that I can get better at Kentucky.”
Gilchrist, ranked No. 7, chose the Cats for similar reasons. “I like Coach Cal a lot and his staff, it’s a blessing,” he said. “The fans have a lot of energy. It’s really crazy there!”
But while Knight and Gilchrist chose to add to the legacy of an established program, McCallum and Zeigler opted to start their own traditions. Despite rampant speculation to the contrary, both decided to stay local and play for their fathers.
Ray McCallum Sr. is the head coach at Detroit, and Ernie Zeigler is the head coach at Central Michigan. Ray Jr. chose Detroit over UCLA, Arizona and Florida, while Trey Zeigler chose Central Michigan over Michigan State, UCLA, Michigan, and Arizona State.
“It was a real exciting moment when I told my dad,” said McCallum, ranked No. 31. “I’m just gonna come in there and try to help him win a Horizon League championship.”
Added Zeigler: “I think I’ll be able to come in and do great things. I think it’s a great situation for me. Watching Butler and other mid-majors making big runs in the tournament, (McCallum and I) thought we could do the same thing playing for our dads.”
The big names yet to decide in the senior class include C.J. Leslie (Raleigh, N.C.), Josh Selby (Baltimore, Md.), Doron Lamb (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), Terrence Jones (Portland, Ore.) and Cory Joseph (Henderson, Nev.). Selby and Lamb are scheduled to announce during the Jordan All-American game, which will air on ESPN2 Saturday at 8 p.m.
“There are a lot of great players still out there,” said Knight. “Whoever wants to come, I’m gonna try and get them to come with me.”
Got a burning question for Jason? Email him: JasonJ@DimeMag.com
[...] at Kentucky. Right after five of his underclassmen went pro, he immediately landed Brandon Knight, the top senior PG in the country, and Michael Gilchrist, maybe the top player period in the 2011 junior class. In addition to them, [...]
[...] at Kentucky. Right after five of his underclassmen went pro, he immediately landedBrandon Knight, the top senior PG in the country, and Michael Gilchrist, maybe the top player period in the 2011 junior class. In addition to them, [...]