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Goodwin gets ball rolling on Kentucky’s 2012 class

spt-110921-calipari

Mike Miller

Archie Goodwin may be the first piece of yet another dynamite Kentucky recruiting class.

John Calipari’s Wildcats secured the No. 1 overall recruiting class each of the last three seasons, but up until Tuesday night, they didn’t have anyone from the class of 2012. Goodwin gives them a damn fine start.

“Me committing will probably get the ball rolling for the rest of the class. It’s got to start somewhere,” he tweeted to recruiting guru Dave Telep.

The 5-star recruit is perhaps the class’ best shooting guard (Scout rates him as third and 13th overall; CBS has him first and sixth overall) thanks to his explosiveness and ability off the dribble. He’s shooting range needs work, but he’ll thrive in Kentucky’s open offense where the 6-4 guard will be able to attack the rim.

After all, if he can star at the Peach Jam while wearing a brace on his injured left wrist, a fully healthy Goodwin will kill it in the SEC.

“Kentucky just fit me as a basketball player and as a person,” Goodwin told Scout.com late Tuesday night. “I feel like I’m apart of another family.”

That family will certainly keep growing, too.

Calipari told Sporting News back in July that his 2012 recruiting class would take shape. The lack of early commitments didn’t concern him.

“The way it’s going now, kids want to wait,” Calipari said. “I’m fine with that. I don’t know why. It might be NBA—who’s leaving, who’s staying. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. Obviously, I’d rather have guys sign early, so I know who I’m getting.

“I know who I like. The funny one right now is, people will tell kids what I’m thinking: ‘He thinks you’re the fourth-best guard or fifth-best guard.’ Do I? Then commit to us, and I’ll take you.”


So who’s next?

The big prize is obviously No. 1 overall recruit Shabazz Muhammad, a 6-6 wing who’ll likely choose in the spring between UCLA and Kentucky. The Wildcats are also in the mix with 5-star recruits such as Mitch McGary, Kaleb Tarczewski, Anthony Bennett, Dajuan Coleman, Gary Harris, Alex Poythress, Torian Graham and Devonta Pollard, not to mention a handful of 4- and 3-star guys. (In fact, some of them have already talked to Goodwin about joining him in Lexington.)

Snag two more 5-star guys and we’ll wonder why there was ever any hand wringing this summer.

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