UK Recruiting: EJ Montgomery talks about picking the Wildcats

On Monday, Kentucky picked up a big time commitment from one of the nation’s best players in the 2018 class: E.J. Montgomery

A move like this is exactly what Cal and co. needed to get the momentum swinging back in their side. E.J. is a 6-10, 200-pound big man. He can create havoc in the paint while also being able to knock down the occasional 15-foot jumper. He’ll be a great addition to the team next year.

Shortly after the decision, he spoke with Matt Jones on KSR and talked about his decision, what played into it, and what he plans to do with his time at Kentucky.

When asked about why he chose UK, E.J. said, “it felt like home when I was there.”

“I just decided that it was the place for me,” he said. “The way they develop their players, players get better there, and they make it to the next level.”

Family and the league is something that Cal preaches to every recruit, and this comment from Montgomery confirms that it works.

When asked about what other schools were in the running, to no ones surprise, “it came down to Kentucky, Duke, and Vanderbilt.” While all of the reports were pointing towards Duke, it looked like the last few days really sealed the deal for E.J.

One big takeaway from the interview was when Matt Jones asked E.J. who he takes after.

“I model my game after Anthony Davis.”

I know that’s going to get a lot of BBN excited, as it should.

Elsewhere, Larry Thompson, Montgomery’s high school coach, also told SEC Country that one of UK’s recruiting pitches was using the talented forward like AD.

“They spoke a little bit about AD. He’s a kid that was shorter and had great ball-handling ability, then grew,” said Thompson. “E.J. is kind of in the same mold. [Kentucky’s staff] mentioned it and that’s one of the comparisons E.J. made himself, that he kind of patterns his game after AD.”

After all of the concern, the 2018 recruiting class is now shaping up to be another special haul, especially if 2019 recruit Ashton Hagans reclassifies.

Congrats to E.J. on the decision and we’re all looking forward to seeing him in Kentucky blue next season!