The list of players coming to the oft-discussed Midnight Madess festivities one week from today has grown and grown. It's been hard to determine an exact list, but here's the latest best guess I have (in slightly consequential order):
• Patrick Patterson, 5-star PF, Wva.
Biggest Cats recruit since '04. has visited other two favorites (Fla., Duke) and seems ready to see what UK has to offer. AAU pals with fellow visitors AJ Stewart, Jai Lucas.
• Jai Lucas, 4-star PG, Tex.
Diminutive guard is linchpin of Tubby Smith's recruiting strategy, as he is strong friends/peers with Patterson, Stewart and 5-star James Anderson. Great floor leader in his own right. Son of NBA player/coach John Lucas.
• AJ Stewart, 4-star WF, Fla.
Most likely to commit Madness weekend, Stewart is a lithe rising senior with perimeter skills. Has narrowed list to UK and Illinois, but postponed Illinois visit till after Madness. has reportedly been chatting up Patterson about going to school together.
• Darius Miller, 5-star SF 2008, Ky.
A defensive stopper and athletic swingman, Miller is a Tubby recruit if there ever was one. While, like fellow in-stater Scotty Hopson, Miller has flirted with Tennessee heavily, this Mason County man-child will be a big Tubby target.
• Scotty Hopson, 5-star SF 2008, Ky.
One of the top in-state players in recent memory, Hopson of University Heights Academy is being heavily recruited by Tennessee, Kentucky, Cincinnati and Ohio State, not to mention a slew of others. A strong summer session put him in the top 20 nationally, and has him set up for a huge senior season. He is apparently scheduled to visit for Madness.
• Lavoy Allen, 3-star PF, Penn.
As I said when profiling the lanky PF/C previously, Allen is a bit of an unknown. Coveted mostly by regional clubs Temple, Rutgers and Villanova, Allen has come on lately as a result of some strong AAU play. Oklahoma and LSU have gotten involved. Allen is considered by some observers as a backup plan to Patterson.
• Markeiff Morris, 4-star PF/C, Penn.
At 6-foot-8, 225 pounds, Markeiff is the banger of the two Morris brothers.
• Marcus Morris, 4-star SF, Penn.
Marcus is 6-foot-7, 215 pounds, and more of a perimeter/outside threat. Indiana, La Salle and George Washington are all interested in the two, who plan on attending college together. The question is still whether these very young twins want to reclassify for the 2008 class. Both will visit for Madness, their coach has confirmed.
• Bud Mackey, 4-star CG 2008, Ky.
Several big name schools are getting in on this Scott County combo guard. Clemson, Georgia, Mississippi State, Xavier, Louisville, Florida and Indiana are all interested. Kentucky has offered a scholarship.
• Stephon Pettigrew, 3-star SF 2008, Ky.
Conflicting reports have this E-Town late riser at Madness or not there, depending. He does not yet have an offer from UK, but wants one. Louisville is on the radar as well. At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, he is not a bruiser, and is not as highly touted as some of his fellow in-state small forwards.
And finally, the newest name to appear on the list, that of 2008 swingman William Buford, of Toledo (OH). A 6'5" slasher, Buford will be visiting Lexington this weekend. The talented junior has offers from Michigan State and Ohio State, among others. He is ranked as a No. 49 Rivals.com recruit, but a top-15 Scout.com recruit. Go figure.