Cam Johnson talks visit with Kentucky Basketball

Cam Johnson, one of the top transfer players in the country who has also turned into a key recruit for Kentucky, talked to Evan Daniels at Scout about his recent visit to Lexington.

As you might expect, he was very impressed by what he saw and likes what Kentucky has to offer. When asked about what stood out about the visit, Johnson told Scout, “I’d say coach [John] Calipari and his success over the years and how he’s illustrated how he gets players better and to the next level. I’d say that’s the biggest thing.”

He went on to say that “It’s easy for me to say right now that Kentucky is a favorite because I’ve been there. It’s the campus that I’m most familiar with at the time and I’ve spent the most personal time with the coaches. I think a lot of it is going to have to come down to the visits.”

Easy now, Big Blue Nation. While Johnson, who happens to be from a small Pennsylvania city near Coach John Calipari’s hometown, was complimentary of Kentucky, he also spoke openly about the other schools he is considering (Arizona, UCLA, Oregon, Ohio State, and TCU) and what they have to offer.

It seems a big factor for Johnson is how he will fit into a team. Multiple times, he referenced players on various teams that have declared for the NBA but may return to school (Hamidou Diallo and Arizona’s Rawle Adkins) as well as other recruits that have yet to make decisions (likely Kevin Knox, while he did not name him outright). Could Kentucky be the right fit?

“The thing about Kentucky is, I was able to visit and that was great and I loved the campus and I loved being with the guys that they have now,” he added. “Only a couple of those guys will be around next year, so I didn’t really get to meet with many of the guys that I’d be playing with next year.”

Johnson would be a huge get for the Wildcats, as they desperately need outside shooting and players with experience. Kentucky has been seen as a favorite for the rising junior wing, but could his family’s connection to Arizona Coach Sean Miller play a factor?

“It factors in a little bit because there’s familiarity and a level of trust that my dad has with him and that I have with him,” Johnson told Scout. “We know him and his family well. I think it mostly comes down to trust factor and familiarity and comfort having him as a coach.”

While Johnson definitely enjoyed his visit to Kentucky, his recruitment is far from over. Do you think he ends up in a Kentucky uniform this fall?