GreatLakeState
Mentor
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2005
- Messages
- 1,057
From Rivals:
John Calipari hauled in another five-star prospect on Saturday, procuring a verbal commitment from 6-foot-9 power forward Kyle Wiltjer of Portland, Ore. The No. 25 player in the Class of 2011 chose Kentucky over finalists Wake Forest and California at halftime of the Boost Mobile Elite 24 event.
UK already has commitments from power forward Anthony Davis, point guard Marquis Teague and small forward Mike Gilchrist -- all consensus national top-10 national players.
Wiltjer, showed during the July evaluation period that he is one of the nation's most versatile big men, with an ability to knock down outside shots or score inside with an array of post moves. He's also a good passer. He was also a star player for the Canadian National Team in June during a bronze-medal run at the FIBA Americas U-18 Championships. Because Greg Wiltjer, who's a former professional basketball player, is a native of Canada, Kyle has dual citizenship.
Wiltjer scored 31 points in a pool-play victory over Puerto Rico and 27 in the bronze-medal win over Argentina. He made 5 of 6 three-point shots in both games.
"Obviously Kentucky is Kentucky," Kyle's father, Greg Wiltjer, said. "They have a great tradition, and they have an unbelievable recruiting class. It's hard not to get jazzed up about them."
After watching Wiltjer play for the Oakland Soldiers AAU club at the Peach Jam, Calipari called to offer him a scholarship, Greg Wiltjer said.
"What I got from Kyle was that (Calipari) liked his versatility, the fact that he is long and able to stretch the defense out and would offer them an element that they didn't always have," Greg Wiltjer said. "The biggest thing I think is the versatility. He has the ability to go inside and out. He saw some things with him as far as his talents. ... He realized he wasn't just a shooter or a face-up guy; he also has the skill with his back to the basket. That was another element he liked about his game."
With Wiltjer's commitment - and barring any surprise de-commitments - it would appear Kentucky will wind up with the nation's top-rated recruiting class for the third consecutive season.
John Calipari hauled in another five-star prospect on Saturday, procuring a verbal commitment from 6-foot-9 power forward Kyle Wiltjer of Portland, Ore. The No. 25 player in the Class of 2011 chose Kentucky over finalists Wake Forest and California at halftime of the Boost Mobile Elite 24 event.
UK already has commitments from power forward Anthony Davis, point guard Marquis Teague and small forward Mike Gilchrist -- all consensus national top-10 national players.
Wiltjer, showed during the July evaluation period that he is one of the nation's most versatile big men, with an ability to knock down outside shots or score inside with an array of post moves. He's also a good passer. He was also a star player for the Canadian National Team in June during a bronze-medal run at the FIBA Americas U-18 Championships. Because Greg Wiltjer, who's a former professional basketball player, is a native of Canada, Kyle has dual citizenship.
Wiltjer scored 31 points in a pool-play victory over Puerto Rico and 27 in the bronze-medal win over Argentina. He made 5 of 6 three-point shots in both games.
"Obviously Kentucky is Kentucky," Kyle's father, Greg Wiltjer, said. "They have a great tradition, and they have an unbelievable recruiting class. It's hard not to get jazzed up about them."
After watching Wiltjer play for the Oakland Soldiers AAU club at the Peach Jam, Calipari called to offer him a scholarship, Greg Wiltjer said.
"What I got from Kyle was that (Calipari) liked his versatility, the fact that he is long and able to stretch the defense out and would offer them an element that they didn't always have," Greg Wiltjer said. "The biggest thing I think is the versatility. He has the ability to go inside and out. He saw some things with him as far as his talents. ... He realized he wasn't just a shooter or a face-up guy; he also has the skill with his back to the basket. That was another element he liked about his game."
With Wiltjer's commitment - and barring any surprise de-commitments - it would appear Kentucky will wind up with the nation's top-rated recruiting class for the third consecutive season.