ESPN predicts P.J. Washington and Tremont Waters to pick Kentucky Wildcats

The Kentucky Wildcats are in great shape to land P.J. Washington and Tremont Waters following their official visits with UK.

However, UK landing those two 2017 recruits is far from being a done deal. Washington is getting set for an official visit with the North Carolina Tar Heels, who are coming on strong in his recruitment.

The Texas Longhorns, Arizona Wildcats and UNLV Runnin’ Rebels are also strongly in the mix for the five-star forward out of Findlay Prep. I still believe UK lands Washington, but we’ve likely still got a few months until his recruitment ends.

As for Waters, he is visiting the Indiana Hoosiers this weekend. IU is selling Waters on being their No. 1 point guard in this class, which doesn’t seem like much, but it is for UK as they try to get the four-star Notre Dame High School star to be the second point guard behind Trae Young in their 2017 class.

Over at ESPN, recruiting analyst Jeff Borzello (that guy) is predicting Waters and Washington to both land at UK, but has UNC and IU also in the mix for those two.

Here is what Borzello offered up on Washington:

North Carolina already has two perimeter players lined up in the 2017 class, and has turned its attention to the frontcourt. P.J. Washington (No. 16) is among the Tar Heels’ top targets up front, along with Mohamed Bamba (No. 4) and Kevin Knox (No. 7). Washington will take his official visit to Chapel Hill this weekend, one weekend after taking a trip to Kentucky.

He also has visits lined up to Arizona and Texas in October, while the fact he is spending his senior season at Findlay Prep (Nevada) means unofficial trips to UNLV are also likely on the agenda. Kansas and NC State remain involved, as well. Kentucky has been considered the favorite for Washington, and last weekend’s visit didn’t seem to change anything in that regard. Although John Calipari has cast a wide net among the five-star prospects in 2017, Washington might be the most likely to end up there.

Prediction: Kentucky

Confidence level: 70 percent

Toughest competition: Texas, UNLV

Others in the mix: Kansas, North Carolina, Arizona, NC State

And here is what Borzello wrote about Waters:

One of the more interesting recruitments of the past week has been that of Tremont Waters (No. 32), the No. 7 point guard. Point guard availability is one of the biggest storylines in the 2017 class, and Waters is a prime example of that development. He took an official visit to Kentucky last weekend, and all the buzz since that visit points to the Wildcats.

Kentucky needs a point guard in the 2017 class and hasn’t made much headway with anyone beside Trae Young (No. 15). Should Young stay home and go to Oklahoma, John Calipari could be left in the cold when it comes to point guards -- which helps explain the sudden increase in interest of Waters. Heading into that visit, Indiana was looked at as the leader for Waters, and the Hoosiers will look to get back in position this weekend with Waters in Bloomington. Waters has already visited Georgetown and will go to Kansas next weekend. Keep an eye on this one, though. Things are moving quickly.

Prediction: Kentucky

Confidence level: 50 percent

Toughest competition: Indiana

Others in the mix: Kansas, Georgetown, Yale

It’s unclear when Waters or Washington will make their decisions, but it looks like they’ll both decide this fall at some point.