Five-star prospect DeAndre Liggins was one of the hottest prospects coming out of the spring evaluation period. New Kentucky coach Billie Gillispie made the 6-foot-5, 190-pound point guard from Chicago (Ill.) Washington High School a priority, and the 2008 recruiting drought is over for the Wildcats.

"I verballed to Kentucky today, and I feel really good about the decision," said Liggins, who had trimmed his list to Kentucky, Memphis and Illinois. "I am confident in Coach Gillispie and the whole coaching staff, and I'm comfortable with the players."

In fact, Kentucky wasn't even an option for Liggins until Gillispie arrived, but along with Gillispie's success at Texas A&M, his development of Acie Law was a big selling point for Liggins.

"I saw the way he turned Texas A&M into a better program, and he made Acie Law a better player. He wants to develop me as a point guard, and that's the position where I feel comfortable. Not all of the schools were recruiting me to play that position."

Now the 2008 recruiting focus will turn primarily to landing one of the fastest rising post players Tyler Zeller, Liggins travel team teammate.

"They told me that I was the guard that they wanted," said Liggins. "Ramel Bradley is leaving, and I'll take his place. I talk to Tyler, and I want him to come to Kentucky, but he says he still doesn't know what he is going to do."

Liggins is the No. 18 ranked prospect in the Rivals150.

A multi-dimensional perimeter player, Liggins excels as a big point guard. He has an amazing feel for passing the ball and has the height and strength to make the pin point long pass. Combined with his craftiness, he has enough quickness to also create scores by getting by his man. His length allows him to defend multiple positions, and he is a strong rebounder. His shooting ability is the weakest part of the game, but it is improving.