Kentucky coach John Calipari braved the weather Thursday night to watch 2016 Australian 7-footer Isaac Humphries.
The big man went for 21 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks as La Lumiere (IN) beat Wasatch Academy (UT), 71-54.
“It means a lot,” La Lumiere associate head coach Brad Johnstin told SNY.tv. “We’re really appreciative that he came. It means a lot to us in the basketball program. It probably means we’re doing something right.”
Humphries began classes at La Lumiere Jan. 5 after coming over from Australia and has since drawn interest from Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, Arizona and numerous other high-majors.
Calipari was the only head coach able to make it through the weather Thursday, but assistants from Purdue, Butler and Loyola-Marymount were also on hand.
“That’s pretty cool for [Humphries],” Johnstin said of Calipari coming. “I think he’s just concerned about enjoying the team and the school. I wouldn’t say it’s overwhelming, he’s taking everything in stride.
“It’s cool, it’s definitely rewarding. It’s not the end all, be all. He’s excited to keep going.”
Kentucky could lose three centers to the NBA Draft this year in Karl-Anthony Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein and Dakari Johnson — and freshman forward Trey Lyles could also leave.
“Some conferences don’t have three centers go to the NBA,” one SEC assistant said.
That said, the Wildcats will be in need of bigs going forward. Las Vegas center Stephen Zimmerman is their top priority at center in 2015, but he is also considering Arizona, UCLA, Kansas and UNLV. He’s expected to decide by February or March.
