Players trying to sway Wroten
Mike Gilchrist, the top-rated player by Rivals.com in the 2011 class, said at the recent NIKE EYBL Tournament in southern California to mark his words, that he would convince Anthony Wroten to join him at Kentucky.
When Wroten, a 6-foot-4 point guard from Seattle (Wash.) Garfield, heard what Gilchrist said he laughed but didn't even come close to disregarding it.
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Instead, Wroten confirmed that not only Gilchrist but fellow UK commit Marquis Teague is working on getting him to play for the Wildcats and that he's definitely listening.
"Marquis Teague and Gilchrist talk to me every day trying to get me to Kentucky," Wroten said. "It's hilarious.
"It has a big influence, one of the biggest influences. I know Marquis and Gilchrist really well and I talk to them every day. I would love to play with them.
"(Gilchrist) is laid back. No matter how good he is, he just acts like another kid. It's the same thing with Teague and myself. We don't act better than anybody. We bond together. We're alike."
Kentucky, Connecticut, Kansas, Syracuse, Tennessee, Villanova and Washington are the favorite for Wroten, rated No. 25 in the 2011 class. He's sixth among point guards according to Rivals.com.
The interesting thing about Wroten's recruitment is that no one close to him is denying the high interest in Kentucky, mainly because of Gilchrist and Teague. Wroten and his father have both said that with Gilchrist and Teague going there - and coach John Calipari's influence - that Kentucky is high on the list.
If Wroten ends up in Lexington it would mean the Wildcats landed three five-star prospects in the class, another incredible haul.
"I am going to get Tony Wroten," Gilchrist said. "Mark my words."
For Wroten, recruiting is one thing but just being back on the court is another. He missed his entire junior season with a knee injury but is back, healthy and ready to go. No problems running the floor or cutting to the basket. He's still a step faster than most players. He can still take it to the rim.
Missing last season was difficult but Wroten is back and is full-go.
"It was tough, real tough," Wroten said. "Our team didn't make states so to sit there and watch our team lose it was just hard. I'm a big impact so I knew I could really help them out. Any athlete would want to be out there to play but one thing about that injury is that you can't push it."