By CHIP MILLER & ADAM ZAGORIA
Craig Victor, a 6-foot-8, 215-pound forward from New Orleans (LA) St. Augustine, has added Kentucky to his list but is still awaiting an official offer.
“It’s a nice look for me,” Victor told SNY.tv. “I know every year they bring in a set of new guys and I’m just looking forward to showing them I can play on that next level.”
Kentucky coach John Calipari recently visited with Victor, but no offer was made.
“Calipari came like three weeks ago, paid my school a visit, talked to my coach,” Victor said. “He let me know he was going to be watching, so I could probably add them to the list now, too.”
Kentucky has offered 2014 bigs Cliff Alexander, Jahlil Okafor and Trey Lyles, and has interest in a few others, including Victor, Leron Black and Abdul-Malik Abu.
Victor said he would wait to see what happens with the current Kentucky team and other recruits as well.
“I would say it doesn’t impact it too much, maybe a slight bit,” he said when asked how much Calipari’s interest impacts his recruitment. “I’m just trying to see who they are recruiting in my class.”
Ranked No. 24 in the Class of 2014 by Rivals, Victor had previously cut his list to a seven of Arizona, Florida, LSU, Miami, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and UCLA.
Victor said he had no leaders at the moment.
“No sir, I’m just weighing my options just to see what they have coming in and who they are recruiting in my class at my position,” he said.
Still, asked who was recruiting him the hardest, Victor said, “I would say Arizona, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. They are trying the hardest, very hard. Arizona [coach Sean Miller] paid me a home visit on [May] 11th and Oklahoma [coach Lon Kruger] paid me a home visit.”
On Arizona: “Arizona, they have Aaron Gordon coming in and Nick Johnson returning. At my position they have a bunch of guys, they have Brandon Ashley and Kaleb Tarczewski, so I believe them guys will be gone by the time I decide what I want to do.”
On Oklahoma: “His history in general. Coach Kruger is a nice coach. What he did at UNLV, how he turned things around at Atlanta with the Hawks and now he’s trying to do the same thing. So I believe he can turn things around. That’s a good look for me also.”
On Florida: “Florida, I like what they have coming in. Kasey Hill, one of my Adidas nations partner, Chris Walker.”
On home-state favorite LSU: “Jarrell Martin is coming in and another one of my Adidas Nations teammates, Jordan Mickey, he’s coming in, so that’s a major look at this point. Trying to turn things around. Although they didn’t have a good season this year, I believe they will have a good season next year.”
Victor said he hopes to decide by the fall before his senior season, and thus will take a few visits in the summer.
“Yes sir, I would take a few in the summer,” he said. “At least two.”
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