Alex Poythress is the newest Kentucky Wildcat.
The 6-foot-8 forward from Clarksville (Tenn.) Northeast announced for Kentucky on Thursday, choosing the ‘Cats over Florida, Vanderbilt and Memphis. He is the No. 8 power forward in the Class of 2012 according to Rivals.
“Kentucky is a good school,” he said in a recent interview with FiveStarBasketball.com. “I like their offense. Coach Cal [John Calipari] is a good coach. He’s a pretty good guy. He knows what he’s talking about. He’s been around basketball a long time.”
Poythress averaged 22.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, 1.4 steals and 1.2 assists for Northeast (15-15) last season.
“Poythress is a terrific athlete,” New York recruiting expert Tom Konchalski said. “Tony Parker probably had a bigger reputation coming into this spring and summer but he really opened a lot of eyes this spring and summer. He played really well.
“He’s an extraterrestrial athlete with a great body who really change ends of the floor and plays extremely hard, has great second effort. He’s a 6-8 power forward and there aren’t too many guys at his position with his athleticism and and physical wherewithal.
“I don’t think he’s a program-changer but he’s a very good player.”
Poythress joins 6-6 shooting guard Archie Goodwin and 6-11 center Willie Cauley in Kentucky’s 2012 recruiting class, now ranked No. 2 overall by ESPN.com.
Kentucky remains alive for Memphis forward Jarnell Stokes, who is expected to sign during the early period, as well as Shabazz Muhammad, Anthony Bennett and Devonta Pollard, all of whom will sign late.
