HERALDED RECRUIT BRANDON KNIGHT IS A CAT

Originally Published: April 14, 2010

Heralded recruit Knight bound for UK

By Christopher Lawlor
ESPN Recruiting

Urgent alert to the Big Blue Nation: Breathe easier, Brandon Knight is aboard.

On the first day of college basketball's spring signing period, Kentucky won an intense recruiting sweepstakes for Knight, the nation's No. 4-rated senior. Knight made his announcement on ESPNU.

Losing five players from last year's squad will certainly be a blow to Kentucky. Still, in Brandon Knight, the Wildcats are getting a signature recruit with superstar ability. Paul Biancardi

Timing was everything for Knight. With the departure of five players who will enter the 2010 NBA draft, including guard John Wall -- the nation's freshman of the year and a first team All-America -- the Wildcats were in dire need of an impact, do-everything point guard.

"Obviously this fills a huge void for [coach] John Calipari and Kentucky," said Paul Biancardi, ESPN's national basketball recruiting director. "Brandon can play the point and off the ball; he's equally adept at both. Defensively he's possesses quickness and strength. In the half court, he can run the show."

Before opting for the Wildcats, Knight -- who played at Pine Crest School in Boca Raton, Fla., considered Syracuse, Connecticut and Kansas.

Knight, a McDonald's All-American, joins a talented Kentucky class, including ESPNU 100 prospects Enes Kanter -- a 6-9 center out of Stoneridge Prep (Calif.), via Turkey, and forward Stacey Poole of Providence School (Jacksonville, Fla.).

As a senior, Knight contributed 31.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4 assists for Pine Crest (25-5), which lost in the Florida 3A final after winning the previous two state crowns. He finished his career as Broward County's all-time leading scorer with 3,515 points, which is second all-time in Florida. That production earned him Gatorade National Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season.

With Knight off the board, the nation's top uncommitted prospect is Josh Selby. Selby, a point guard who is rated No. 5 on the ESPNU 100, will announce his decision during Saturday's Jordan Brand Classic (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2).

Although the biggest development of the day dealt with college basketball's winningest program, there was big news for a few mid-major programs on Wednesday. Top-50 prospects Ray McCallum, of Detroit's Country Day High School, and Trey Zeigler, of Mount Pleasant (Mich.) High, elected to play their college ball for some coaches they are very familiar with -- their fathers.

McCallum, one of the nation's top point guards, will suit up for his father, Ray McCallum, Sr., at Detroit. Zeigler, a gifted shooting guard, will play for his father, Ernie Zeigler, at Central Michigan.

Christopher Lawlor has covered high school sports for more than 20 years, most recently with USA Today.