With the first Nike EYBL session in Lexington, the Kentucky staff and players didn’t have far to travel to watch and recruit some of the biggest stars in the Class of 2016.
Assistant coach Kenny Payne sat with returning players Tyler Ulis, Alex Poythress and Marcus Lee Friday night to watch targets Jayson Tatum, Harry Giles and Malik Monk.
“I talked to Devin Booker before the game,” Giles told Ben Roberts of NextCats.com. “It’s cool seeing them all around here. Seeing the public, and being able to talk to everybody.
The No. 3 player in the Class of 247Sports Class of 2016 rankings, the 6-10 Giles is considering eight schools: Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, Syracuse, UNC, Wake Forest, Ohio St and UNLV.
“Coach Cal came to my house last week, so it’s been a lot of fun,” Giles told Roberts. “It’s one of my top schools, for sure. … He wants to coach me bad, and he thinks he can get me to the next level. He just wants to develop me and make me the best player I can.”
The 6-8 Tatum is down to four schools in Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina and hometown St. Louis.
Duke is widely perceived as the favorite for the No. 4 player in 2016 and he said he understands why.
“And I can see how it looks like that — first official visit and first in-home visit,” he told Roberts. “They’ve just been recruiting me really hard. Showing that extra effort that they really want me at their school.”
He added: “I don’t have any favorite right now.”
The 6-3 1/2 Monk is ranked as the No. 12 player in 2016 and is perceived to have Kentucky and Arkansas atop his list.
“I hear it a lot, but every school has a chance right now,” he said. “After [Peach Jam], I’m going to cut down my list.”
Photo: Chip Miller
