INDIANAPOLIS -- With an official visit to Illinois under his belt and one coming to UCLA this weekend, five-star wing Kris Wilkes is in the thick of the official visit process.
The 6-foot-7 senior, who also has plans to visit Indiana, Xavier and Connecticut, drew the Illini coach John Groce and assistant Jamall Walker plus UCLA assistant Ed Schilling to his open gym at Indianapolis (Ind.) North Central on Tuesday
During an extended run of scrimmaging with teammates, Wilkes looked the part of his No. 18 ranking. He dominated both sides of the floor and did whatever he wanted. Most notable was the strength he looks to have added since July and the work he's been putting in on his jumper. However, Wilkes is far past the point of having to impress coaches.
He's in visit and make a decision mode and discussed his finalists.
First, he recapped his official visit to Illinois.
“I think (the official visit) was definitely better than the unofficial visit," said Wilkes. "The unofficial I didn’t really get to see too much with the gym being finished and stuff like that I didn’t really get a feel for it. Going down for the official and getting to see more things, staying over night and meeting the players and just seeing what would happen on a daily basis made me consider them more than I did in the past.
"I definitely like them more now.”
This weekend, he heads west to UCLA and it will be his first time on campus.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to know the staff more. I think I know a lot of the staff but I don’t know if I know every single person," said Wilkes. "I want to really see the playing style and get to meet the strength coach and different people and get a feel for it.”
Next weekend, it will be on to Indiana. Wilkes said that he's been going to campus since he was a fourth grader and that he knows a lot about the program so he'll be paying close attention to the actions of Tom Crean and his staff.
“Really they just need to be real," said Wilkes. "Don’t show me one side and then be different on the other side. At the end of the day if I go there and you weren’t as real as you were before I don’t want to be one of those guys that transfers so I would have to deal with it.
"But want them to keep it 100 so I can really get to know them as a staff and as players and get more of a feel for it.”
Xavier has recruited Wilkes since his freshman season and he's aware of the their strong 2017 recruiting class.
“I definitely have developed a good relationship with assistant coach (Travis) Steele,"said Wilkes. "Just getting to know Coach (Chris) Mack and getting to talk to him more. I’ve been down there and played and got a feel for it so I know a little bit of what to expect."
Wilkes said that Kevin Ollie has been very active in trying to lure him to Storrs.
“I talk coach Ollie more than anybody else at UConn," said Wilkes. "I don’t think I've talked to anybody else there like that. I built a good relationship with coach Ollie while I was at USA Basketball and I think that’s the reason why they are in my top five. Hopefully I can get to know the rest of the staff, just meet everybody and see what it’s like.”
It is of note that there is almost a month long break between Wilkes' visit to Indiana and those he has scheduled with Xavier (Oct. 28) and UConn (Nov. 3). Wilkes knows that the schools he has already visited will really turn things up during that break and when asked if he could commit before taking all five visits he said that he hadn't yet decided if he would end up taking all five visits.
With his decision looming, Wilkes has locked in on a few key areas and he's looking forward to signing early.
“I think what I’ve learned is to know that players are going to be there," said Wilkes. "That’s a key thing. That and the coaching and as long and everybody keeps things like they show me when I go on visits then I will like it and if they don’t I won’t. It’s just getting to know them all better as coaches. I’m all about relationships.”
