BREAKING: Willie Cauley Commits to Kentucky, Becomes Second Commitment in 2012 Class

by jc25 on Oct 31, 2011 9:00 AM EDT in Kentucky Wildcats Basketball

A bit of welcome news for your Monday morning: 2012 C Willie Cauley from Olathe, Kansas committed to the Kentucky Wildcats this morning. He becomes the second commitment in the class of 2012, joining SG Archie Goodwin. PG Ryan Harrow, a transfer from NC State, also will start playing for the Wildcats in 2012 after sitting out this season due to transfer requirements.

The news that Cauley has committed to Kentucky comes as a bit of a surprise. The most recent rumors were that Cauley had expressed a desire to stay closer to home and play for his local team, the Kansas St. Wildcats. Apparently, Cauley saw the light and realized playing for the Wildcats in Kentucky was too good an opportunity to pass up. He selected Kentucky over Kansas St., Florida, and Alabama.

Cauley gives John Calipari a much needed big man for the 2012-13 season. With Eloy Vargas graduating and Anthony Davis likely to declare for the NBA Draft, the Wildcats enter next season with only Kyle Wiltjer as a frontcourt returnee. Cauley is a long, mobile presence on the interior. While he considers himself a power forward, the 6'11" Cauley will most likely play center in college and should end up filling out to be a true "5" by the time his collegiate career is complete.

Cauley is a bit raw, and he's generally flown under the radar when it comes to mentioning the top frontcourt prospects in the nation. But a strong summer caught the attention of coaches and recruitniks alike. He's currently ranked 39th in the nation by Rivals, 27th by Scout, and 32nd by ESPNU. Furthermore, he's trending upward, exactly what you want to see for a prospect going into his senior season.

He is considered a work in progress on the offensive end and needs to bulk up to become a premiere rebounder. However, he is extremely athletic and mobile for his height. As proof, he's a stud tight end for his high school team, Olathe Northwest. At Kentucky, he should immediately make an impact on the defensive end as a paint clogger and shotblocker, and on the offensive end as a finisher on deep post entries and loose balls. With immediate playing time available in his freshman year, Cauley should become a multi-year starter for Kentucky while developing and honing his post skills under Calipari.

Congratulations to Willie Cauley on his decision, and welcome to big man to the Bluegrass!

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Comments

Is it just me jc, or does Cauley make you think of an even more athletic version

of Melvin Turpin??

I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!

by Greg Alan Edwards on Oct 31, 2011 9:09 AM EDT reply actions

If we are lucky

he will be more better.

I woke up feeling BLUE this morning. It's gonna be a great day.

by kywineman on Oct 31, 2011 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions

I think he will....Mel got better too, just wasnt

as athletic as he needed to be to be a really great center

I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!

by Greg Alan Edwards on Oct 31, 2011 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions

The Late Mel Turpin

He was the # 1 rated Prep School C in 1980 and rated # 79 in the best ever 1979 HS class as a late bloomer. I think Turpin > Cauley at the same stage.

I think Andre Riddick is a more apt comparison. But Cauley > Riddick at same stage.

by FortyYearCatFan on Oct 31, 2011 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions

That may be Forty......I wouldn't have a problem with that....

I do think Cauley has a bigger upside than either one, but that’s just my opinion.

I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!

by Greg Alan Edwards on Oct 31, 2011 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions

More Than Riddick, No Doubt

Turpin was A-A at UK and # 6 (1st round) draft pick in 1984. I don’t see Cauley that high.

by FortyYearCatFan on Oct 31, 2011 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Forty

I was thinking of the Riddick comparison as well. However, based on the limited video I have seen, Cauley is already better than Riddick and bigger too. With proper coaching from Cal, I agree that he has a better upside.

You are also right that Turpin developed into a beast offensively. He has a great FT line jumper and was an offensive machine for Joe Hall, especially in the two years Bowie was out with injury.

by jdogblue on Oct 31, 2011 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

Cauley > Riddick at this stage (HS senior). And >>> after 4 years at UK. You can’t teach or coach 7-1 height.

Turpin was the reason UK declined interest from Patrick Ewing (as HS senior) in 1980.

by FortyYearCatFan on Oct 31, 2011 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Mel Turpin

Wow, that is some real respect to compare him to Turpin. I think there is alot o potential in this young man. If NBA does indeed implement a 2 years college rule, he’ll get to play under Anthony Davis for 1 year, in which would help him tremendously . Just look how Enes helped Jorts out.

http://www.everythingkentuckyonline.com

by Sam Henson on Oct 31, 2011 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Giving away my age range here...

…but Turpin was before my time.

I can’t really think of a recent comparator for Cauley, to be honest. Let me stew on that one.

http://aseaofblue.com | http://marchtomarch.fantake.com | @JC_Hoops

by jc25 on Oct 31, 2011 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions

dont feel bad......I gave away mine by saying it in the first place......lol

I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!

by Greg Alan Edwards on Oct 31, 2011 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

I think this is a pretty good "get".

Cal loves projects and this kid, in time, could develop into a really good player.

If your wings don't sweep....

by EagleTDL on Oct 31, 2011 10:21 AM EDT reply actions

honestly Eagle, I think he already is a really good player......

just needs some bulk and some finesse. He has the skills and the athleticism to play the DDMO all day long. I think that is why Cal wanted him.

He doesn’t start over……he reloads!!!!

Here comes another #1 class……
I said it before, this is now the House of Calipari……NEVER bet against the house!!

I am now and shall forever be the Cat in The Hat, The Artist Formerly Known As ABC!!!

by Greg Alan Edwards on Oct 31, 2011 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Well...

Maybe I should rephrase my statement, keeping this in mind:

1) There ain’t many 7’ PF’s on the planet.
2) At 7’, in the League, he’s going to play the 5 unless his draft class has a bunch of 7’-4 guys, which I doubt, otherwise JC would have telling us about ‘em in his recruiting updates… :-)
3) Cal will be grooming him as a 5, that’s his best chance in the NBA.

So, “really good player” should read “really good center”. More to playing Center than just being tall. Yeah, he’s gonna have to bulk up, but the 5 is really about being able to shoot with both hands from the 4-6’ mark and footwork. Oh yeah, and bit of attitude, ala Cuz!

If your wings don't sweep....

by EagleTDL on Oct 31, 2011 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Good stuff from both

Let’s at least wait to see what he does his senior year before projecting what kind of immediate impact he’ll have. However, the immediate PT will be there if he wants it (unless the NBA does come down in favor of a 2-year rule; then Davis would likely draw the bulk of the minutes at the 5).

Because Cauley is strictly a paint player, he doesn’t possess the versatility of someone like Davis in the DDMO, who can come out and play on the wing as a 4 while someone like Vargas does the post work.

But if Cauley is a legit 6’11" as his recruiting capsule vitals say, he should definitely be a collegiate center with the chance for his growth spurt to get him to 7’. Then add some bulk in the weight room, and he’ll be at NBA center size.

http://aseaofblue.com | http://marchtomarch.fantake.com | @JC_Hoops

by jc25 on Oct 31, 2011 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Perry Stevenson

I picture Jr. Perry Stevenson for Cauley’s freshman year, with more rebounds and a few more blocks due to Cauley’s better size (and more playing time). It’s fun to reflect on the fact that Cauley is probably going to be better as a freshman than the 3rd or 4th best player on BCG’s last team.

by KDH2011 on Oct 31, 2011 11:00 AM EDT reply actions

Interesting comp

I was a Stevenson fan, but dude looked like he was never comfortable in his own body and Gillispie’s shoddy coaching did nothing to help him out.

Hopefully, Cauley is better than Stevenson out of the gate, no offense to Perry.

http://aseaofblue.com | http://marchtomarch.fantake.com | @JC_Hoops

by jc25 on Oct 31, 2011 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Stevenson More F Than C

Cauley more C than F.

Perry Stevenson is the all-time leader in Blocked Shots for HS basketball nationwide.

I think Willie Cauley is more balanced (offense and defense) than Stevenson.

by FortyYearCatFan on Oct 31, 2011 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Perry was awkward

He’s pretty much the poster child for the difference between being athletic and being coordinated. His WR experience does give me hope that Cauley has better hand eye coordination than Perry did. If he’s better than Perry out of the gate, that’s great. I think Perry was a net positive contributor, though, which is all I really need from Cauley his 1st year. Anything beyond that is gravy.

by KDH2011 on Nov 1, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't Overlook FB Experience

Not many near 7-footers even consider playing FB, and his HS plays at the highest classification in KS: 6A. Body control, awareness and positioning, routine physical contact and good hands = a unique athlete with unique experience. His maturation will be interesting to observe.

"In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a revolutionary act." - George Orwell

by Wild Weasel on Oct 31, 2011 4:21 PM EDT reply actions

Let's give him a year

Who was talking about Anthony Davis being a first round NBA draft pick 12 months ago? A lot can happen in a year.

"He still carries a lunch bucket. What's up with that?"

by BlueCollarMan on Oct 31, 2011 6:22 PM EDT reply actions

Is it me or

Does this kid have more than a passing resemblance to Frank Martin? Poor kid. I just hope he doesn’t have the same stare. That stare gave me the shivers a couple years ago in Boulder and I was on the other side of the court, twenty rows up. I started pointing at the guy in front of me in case Frank headed over to talk about it.

by darkandbloody@gmail.com on Oct 31, 2011 6:55 PM EDT reply actions

I Don't See The Resemblance

Frank is of Cuban ancestry. A friend of mine coaches on his K-St staff.

He (Frank) is intense but a very decent guy. His wife is African-American and they have a child of mixed race. That’s about as close to Cauley (also of mixed race) that I can see.

by FortyYearCatFan on Oct 31, 2011 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions