Published Apr 14, 2010
Knight and others off the board
Jerry Meyer
Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting Analyst
Now there are only two elite point guards in the class of 2010 who have not decided on a school. Brandon Knight of Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) Pine Crest High School is off the board and headed to the SEC as expected.
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In a televised press conference at his high school, Knight put on a Kentucky hat and announced his intention to be the next great point guard to play for John Calipari.
"I just got to this point by trying to evaluate each school," said Knight. "I just had to figure out which program would bring the best to me and help me to achieve success. Each school, you know, has its great pros and great things that it has to offer.
"I just chose Kentucky just because I felt it was the place that had great players, great environment and just a place where I can elevate my game. There are great coaches and great players around me already. It just came down to, you know what I said before, being comfortable when I went on my visit and feeling that I can get better at Kentucky."
Knight, who is 6 feet 3 and weighs 185 pounds, will follow in the footsteps of Tyreke Evans, Derrick Rose and John Wall as Calipari point guards.
Knight, who also considered Connecticut, Florida, Kansas and Syracuse, joins fellow five-star prospect Enes Kanter and four-star prospect Stacey Poole in Kentucky's 2010 class.
Selby and Cory Joseph are the two elite point guards in the class of 2010 who have not yet chosen a school.
Knight wasn't the only point player who made an announcement on the first day of the spring signing period.
Four-star point guard Ray McCallum will stay home and play for his father at Detroit.
"It's been kind of crazy, because you know like I said; he acts like my dad, because he is, throughout the whole process. I got back from the Adidas Derby Classic on Sunday and I was downstairs playing video games, and he came down and we had a little talk. I just told him then, 'dad, I'm going to come play for you.'
"It was just a real exciting moment. I'm going to be a Titan next year and play for my dad."
McCallum (6-1, 175) was a standout at Detroit Country Day High School and played in the McDonald's All American Game with Knight.
McCallum had Arizona, Florida and UCLA on his school list.
Also opting to play for his father at a mid-major program, Trey Zeigler will attend Central Michigan.
The No. 26 ranked prospect in the Rivals150, Zeigler considered Arizona, Arizona State, Duke, Michigan, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Providence and UCLA before opting for Central Michigan.
Zeigler is a 6-foot-4, 185-pound shooting guard out of Mount Pleasant (Mich.) High School.
Now back to Kentucky. The Wildcats didn't just land the No. 1 ranked prospect in the class of 2010 but also secured a commitment from the No. 1 ranked prospect in the class of 2011 Mike Gilchrist.
Citing the energetic fan base at Kentucky and his fondness for Coach Calipari, Gilchrist chose Kentucky over Villanova.
A 6-foot-6, 190-pound small forward, Gilchrist stars at Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick High School.
Kentucky is also in the hunt for the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked prospects in 2011- Marquis Teague and Quincy Miller.