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The Kentucky Wildcats have had a major week on the recruiting trail.
Evan Daniels of 247 Sports was the first to break the news Monday when five-star recruit E.J. Montgomery verbally committed to Kentucky.
Daniels did the same Tuesday morning when Ashton Hagans committed to the Wildcats. While still a 2019 recruit, Hagans is expected to move into the Class of 2018 and compete for the starting point guard spot next season.
Hagans, who is ranked as high as No. 6 overall in the 2019 class, is strongly considering a move up into the Class of 2018. Not long after the five-star point guard decommitted from the Georgia Bulldogs in February, it was revealed that Hagans is reclassifying into the 2018 class.
While Hagans is still working on his coursework to accomplish this, it’s widely expected that he’ll be on a college campus when the 2018-19 college basketball season begins.
As a high school junior this past season, Hagans averaged 20.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game while winning earning Gatorade Player of the Year honors in the state of Georgia.
Right after Hagans committed, Daniels offered up this breakdown of the five-star point guard from Georgia:
Hagans has tremendous size for the position at 6-foot-4. He’s a strong, tough, physical and aggressive lead guard. Hagans is one of the most competitive player in the country, regardless of class. Hagans has impressive court vision and is a very good passer. He also has a ton of potential on the defensive side of the ball, because of his size, length, physical play and lateral quickness. Hagans is particularly impressive in transition and he plays well through contact. The next step for Hagans is continuing to develop his long-range jump shot, which currently lacks consistency. Overall, whether Hagans opts for the 2019 or 2018 class, he would rank as one of top prospects and players at his position.
Part of what makes Hagans such a special player is his relentless motor that former Cats like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had:
New Kentucky pledge Ashton Hagans is one of the most competitive prospects I’ve covered. Same tier as Josh Jackson & Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Competes on both ends.
— Evan Daniels (@EvanDaniels) April 10, 2018
Keldon Johnson and Ashton Hagans playing together will likely lead to an opposing team getting so frustrated they try to fight UK. Just wait.
— T.J. Walker (@TJWalkerKSR) April 10, 2018
Had an opportunity to see @H23Ash up close at a number of @adidasHoops events last summer. Big time size and length ,plays hard, can really defend the ball and gets in the lane. Still a work in progress offensively but can’t deny his work ethic ,attitude and potential.
— Seth Greenberg (@SethOnHoops) April 10, 2018
Back in November, Rivals recruiting ace Corey Evans said Hagans “might just be the meanest, most competitive dude around.”
One of Hagans’ biggest supporters has been 247 recruiting director Jerry Meyer, who not only thinks Hagans would be a top-10 recruit in 2018, but also the best point on UK’s roster.
Personally, I like Ashton Hagans in the top 10 in 2018 if he reclassifies. https://t.co/Eur28ZBbvY
— Jerry Meyer (@jerrymeyer247) April 9, 2018
Former Georgia coach Mark Fox loves what kind of player Hagans is:
Mark Fox, who had point guard Ashton Hagans committed to Georgia, to ESPN on the now-Kentucky commit: “He’s a beast. He’s bigger and more powerful than everybody at his position. He gets to the rim and can finish, and is an excellent and instinctive passer — and is a great kid.”
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 10, 2018
If you’re not a believer yet, let Hagans’ play do the talking:
Ashton Hagans took someone's FACE OFF @H23Ash (via @VideoBoostt) pic.twitter.com/MTwDCAzRcX
— Overtime (@overtime) April 7, 2018
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