Kentucky will follow 2014 forward Abdul-Malik Abu during the July recruiting period, his AAU coach confirmed to SNY.tv Tuesday.
“They really liked him when they saw him in Virginia [at Boo Williams],” Tyron Boswell of Expressions Elite said of head coach John Calipari and assistant Orlando Antigua. “Cal liked him and they want to get involved. They will be at his games during the live period.”
The 6-foot-8 Abu and 6-4 teammate Jared Terrell continue to plan a future on the same college hardwood, but Boswell said Kentucky has yet to call on Terrell.
“Yeah, definitely if it works for both of us, we’re definitely going to do it,” the 6-foot-7 Abu told SNY.tv of a potential package deal at last weekend’s Mary Kline Classic after posting 20 points and 7 rebounds.
“But if it doesn’t and we have to go our separate ways, that’s just life.”
Asked which schools were recruiting both 2014 players the hardest, Abu rattled off, “Kansas, Florida, Iowa State, Providence, UConn, most of them are.”
Kentucky has offered 2014 bigs Cliff Alexander, Jahlil Okafor and Trey Lyles, and has interest in a few others, including Abu, Craig Victor and Leron Black.
Abu said he planned to take officials in the “early fall.”
“I don’t have any school in particular that we have a clearcut visit date, but there’s definitely going to be a number of visits taken,” he said.
He then plans to pull the trigger before his senior season at Kimball (N.H.) Union Academy.
“I’m thinking late fall, early winter,” he said. “I want to get it over with before the season so I can focus.”
Before that he has a busy summer that includes the NBA Top 100 Camp this week, the Amar’e Stoudemire/Anthony Davis Big Man Academy, Peach Jam and Live in AC during July.
If the two end up at the same program, Terrell said it would be an advantage for that school.
“[We would bring] a lot of energy,” he said. “We could be a big spark off the bench or if we start. We’re not selfish like that. We don’t care if we start, we just want to have fun.”
