Five-Star's Big Board: Kentucky
Verbal commitments, signings and priority targets
Over the course of the college season, Five-Star will be on the grind, gathering recruiting intelligence for some of the nation's premier programs -- outlining each team's current roster and program needs, commitments and signees, and top recruiting targets for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 classes.
Today, we'll peek inside Kentucky's war room and answer the following questions: What are the team's immediate and longer-term needs? Who are the Wildcats after? Which players have already decided to take their talents to Lexington?
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FEATURE ARTICLE: 'Bazz, Bennett Together in College?
The Big Board: Verbal Commitments, Signings and Priority Targets:
| Position | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
| Guards | Archie Goodwin (signed) | Andrew Harrison Aaron Harrison Darryl Hicks Chris Thomas Robert Hubbs |
D'Angelo Russell Joel Berry |
| Wings/Forwards | Alex Poythress (signed) Shabazz Muhammad Amile Jefferson Ricardo Gathers Savon Goodman |
Julius Randle |
|
| Posts |
Willie Cauley (signed) |
Dakari Johnson |
Current Roster and Program Needs:
Immediate Needs – 2012
- The Wildcats could have as many as six or seven scholarships open for 2012 depending upon who leaves. Freshmen Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and sophomore Terrence Jones are all projected lottery picks, and freshman Marquis Teague and sophomore Doron Lamb could also depart. Darius Miller is a senior. As always, Kentucky will look for the best available players on the board and are involved with a number of 2012 late signees in Shabazz Muhammad, Amile Jefferson, Anthony Bennett, Ricardo Gathers and Devonta Pollard and the recently reclassified Nerlens Noel.
Longer Term Needs – 2013
- Kentucky doesn't figure to have as many one-and-dones in the 2012 class as it does in the 2011 -- unless Muhammad comes to Lexington. Still, they are pursuing the two best players in the class in Jabari Parker and Julius Randle, as well as small forward Troy Williams. Kentucky coach John Calipari watched Noel and Randle recently and would love to land either or both.
2014 Targets
- Joel Berry, 6'0", PG, Orlando (Fla.) Lake Highland Prep
- D'Angelo Russell, 6'3", SG, Montverde (Fla.) Academy
- Dakari Johnson, 6'10'', C, Montverde (Fla.) Academy
For more from Adam Zagoria, check out ZAGSBLOG.com and follow him on Twitter: @AdamZagoria.
Harrison Sanford is a reporter for Fivestarbasketball.com. Follow him Twitter: @HarrisonSanford
