Texas hoops fans should feel good knowing that future point guard Myck Kabongo is working on good friend Michael Gilchrist to consider Texas as a possible destination.
Both juniors were at Rutgers on Saturday for the Scarlet Knights 23-15 football victory over Florida International that was broadcast on SNY.
During the visit, Kabongo, who plays at Newark St. Benedict’s, used the opportunity to suggest to Gilchrist (pictured), the best player in the Class of 2011 and maybe all of high school basketball, that he should visit UT.
“Chatted with Mike,” Kabongo said by text. “We’ve built a good relationship. Good friends. Told him he should make a trip to Austin to visit with me.
“I don’t know where he’s at with his recruiting but from talking to him he’s open and is trying to get a feel for different schools. I think I put in a great word for Texas and so Texas fans should look forward for that and for me being there. Maybe one day I’ll be a coach after my basketball days are over.”
Kabongo added that he is “100 percent committed to Texas.”
Ironically, Texas also received visits this weekend from uncommitted senior guard Cory Joseph and committed senior forward Tristan Thompson — both of Findlay (Nev.) Prep. Kabongo, Joseph and Thompson all play for Grassroots Canada and are good friends.
Gilchrist, a 6-7 wing, is said to be favoring Kentucky and Villanova.
“Michael loves Villanova,” Cindy Richardson, Gilchrist’s mother, told the Philly Inquirer this summer. “It’s Kentucky, Villanova. Villanova, Kentucky.”
Kabongo isn’t the only one trying to get Gilchrist join him in college.
Kyrie Irving said he and Mike have talked about playing together at the next level — possibly at Kentucky.
“Me and Mike, we talk about Kentucky mainly,” Irving said. “Coach Cal [John Calipari], he’s a great coach. And the whole coaching staff when I got to know them at Memphis, I have a great relationship with them. It’s just a top program.”
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