Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
The point guard dominoes have begun to fall.
Although Kentucky has yet to receive official notice from Eric Bledsoe’s camp, Bledsoe will announce for Kentucky during a press conference Wednesday morning at Parker (AL) High, according to a source close to the situation.
“I got it from a college coach who’s recruiting him,” the source said. “He told some staffs where he’s not going. He said, ‘Kentucky’s my school.'”
Jerry Meyer of Rivals and MemphisRoar.com also indicate the 6-foot-1 Bledsoe will play for John Calipari and not Josh Pastner of Memphis next year.
Bledsoe averaged 20.4 points, 11.2 rebounds and 10.3 assists in leading Parker to the Class 5A state championship game. The Thundering Herd beat Kentucky-bound big man DeMarcus Cousins and Mobile (AL) LeFlore 52-39 in the semifinals.
“I’m a pass-first point guard,” Bledsoe said last week during his visit to Memphis. “I can help everybody get to where they need to be.”
Bledsoe would become the fifth recruit in Kentucky’s incoming class, following Cousins, Jon Hood, Darnell Dodsonand Daniel Orton.
Calipari is still actively recruiting John Wall, the top recruit in the Class of 2009, and hopes that Bledsoe can play 10-15 minutes per game alongside Wall.
If Wall goes to the NBA after one season, Kentucky would still have Bledsoe the following year.
Wall is considering Kentucky, Memphis, Miami, Baylor, Duke, N.C. State and Florida.
Asked if it bothered him that Wall was considered Kentucky’s first choice, Bledsoe said: “No, sir. No it don’t. I’m going to play my position either if he do go or he don’t.”
Asked if they could play together, Bledsoe said, “Yes, sir.”
In other point guard news, Malcolm Armstead of Chipola (Fla.) Junior College signed with Oregon.
“Yes,” Chipola coach Greg Heiar said in a text.
The 6-foot, 195-pound Armstead, named the Best Small Player at the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament, had numerous suitors.
That leaves only Wall and James Beatty of Miami Dade College among top available point guards.
Sources say Memphis won’t recruit Beatty, who is being hotly pursued by Rutgers.
Pastner could simply opt to go point guard by committee next year with Willie Kemp and Wesley Witherspoon and then hope to land Joe Jackson of Memphis White Station, the No. 3 point in the Class of 2010, the following year. For more on Jackson, read Gary Parrish’s excellent story here.
Memphis is still involved with Brooklyn’s Lance Stephenson, but he is not a pure point guard.
Stephenson is said to be considering Arizona and Memphis and is no longer considering St. John’s or Maryland.
(Photo courtesy Birmingham News)
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
The point guard dominoes have begun to fall.
Although Kentucky has yet to receive official notice from Eric Bledsoe’s camp, Bledsoe will announce for Kentucky during a press conference Wednesday morning at Parker (AL) High, according to a source close to the situation.
“I got it from a college coach who’s recruiting him,” the source said. “He told some staffs where he’s not going. He said, ‘Kentucky’s my school.'”
Jerry Meyer of Rivals and MemphisRoar.com also indicate the 6-foot-1 Bledsoe will play for John Calipari and not Josh Pastner of Memphis next year.
Bledsoe averaged 20.4 points, 11.2 rebounds and 10.3 assists in leading Parker to the Class 5A state championship game. The Thundering Herd beat Kentucky-bound big man DeMarcus Cousins and Mobile (AL) LeFlore 52-39 in the semifinals.
“I’m a pass-first point guard,” Bledsoe said last week during his visit to Memphis. “I can help everybody get to where they need to be.”
Bledsoe would become the fifth recruit in Kentucky’s incoming class, following Cousins, Jon Hood, Darnell Dodson and Daniel Orton.
Calipari is still actively recruiting John Wall, the top recruit in the Class of 2009, and hopes that Bledsoe can play 10-15 minutes per game alongside Wall.
If Wall goes to the NBA after one season, Kentucky would still have Bledsoe the following year.
Wall is considering Kentucky, Memphis, Miami, Baylor, Duke, N.C. State and Florida.
Asked if it bothered him that Wall was considered Kentucky’s first choice, Bledsoe said: “No, sir. No it don’t. I’m going to play my position either if he do go or he don’t.”
Asked if they could play together, Bledsoe said, “Yes, sir.”
In other point guard news, Malcolm Armstead of Chipola (Fla.) Junior College signed with Oregon.
“Yes,” Chipola coach Greg Heiar said in a text.
The 6-foot, 195-pound Armstead, named the Best Small Player at the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament, had numerous suitors.
That leaves only Wall and James Beatty of Miami Dade College among top available point guards.
Sources say Memphis won’t recruit Beatty, who is being hotly pursued by Rutgers.
Pastner could simply opt to go point guard by committee next year with Willie Kemp and Wesley Witherspoon and then hope to land Joe Jackson of Memphis White Station, the No. 3 point in the Class of 2010, the following year. For more on Jackson, read Gary Parrish’s excellent story here.
Memphis is still involved with Brooklyn’s Lance Stephenson, but he is not a pure point guard.
Stephenson is said to be considering Arizona and Memphis and is no longer considering St. John’s or Maryland.
(Photo courtesy Birmingham News)
