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According to multiple reports around the Internet, James Young, #2 small forward for 2013 and Rivals' overall #8 player, is set to take an unofficial visit to Kentucky this weekend. Drew Franklin at KSR has the young tweet:
Kentucky this weekend with my bro @mehoner 👍🏀
— James Young (@James__Young) September 26, 2012
Adam Zagoria has the read that the visit is unofficial:
James Young's Godfather, Sean Mahone, texted that they are "working on" getting down to Kentucky this wknd for a visit but not confirmed yet
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) September 26, 2012
James Young's visit to UK would be unofficial, his Godfather told @snytv
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) September 26, 2012
So there we go, this is the current state of play.
Young recently had an in-home visit from John Calipari, which his coach, John Pleasant, described thus:
Coach Cal spent a lot of time talking about the importance of the team during his home visit,” Pleasant said. “He acknowledged that he coaches many talented individuals, but he always demands that the team comes first. He also made it very clear that he promises nothing, in terms of number of minutes, number of shots, etc, and that you have to work for everything.”
That's vintage Calipari -- team first, individual not important. The players who earn it get to play. No promises.
Young is a good shooter and has solid wing size at 6'6". His weaknesses are rebounding and strength, but he has a good handle and good court vision.
Most consider the lefty a strong Kentucky lean, although there has been some question about the possibility of Andrew Wiggins reclassifying to 2013 from 2014, and causing Young to look elsewhere. But his Godfather, Sean Mahone (see the first tweet above) says that's no problem:
James Young would have no problem co-existing with Andrew Wiggins, Julius Randle and the Harrison Twins should all — or some — of them end up at Kentucky.
That’s what his Godfather, Sean Mahone, told SNY.tv, during an extensive phone interview Friday afternoon.
It is a frightful though to imagine a team that includes the Harrisons, James Young, Julius Randle and Andrew Wiggins. That would be well nigh the most talented team I can imagine.
Anyway, I would not be surprised if Young were the first commitment from among the aforementioned names, although I have no insider knowledge about that. I do know he really likes Kentucky, but as to when or even if he'll pull the UK trigger, we are all just guessing.