Derryck Thornton Cuts to 10

Derryck Thornton, a 6-foot-2 2016 point guard out of Findlay Prep, has cut his list to 10 schools, he told Scout.com.

Thornton is considering Duke, Kentucky, Michigan, Louisville, Arizona, California, USC, Miami, UNLV and NC State.

“I feel like I’m really focusing on the 10 schools I narrowed it down to,” Thornton told Scout. “I can really see myself playing at one of the these schools.”

Thornton and 2016 Gill St. Bernard’s guard Tyus Battle have talked about possibly playing together in college if it works out for both.

Calipari Says Opponents Must Adjust to Platoon System, Too

John Calipari is still experimenting with a platoon system in which he plans to give up to 12 guys regular minutes this season.

But one clear advantage he believes his No. 1-ranked Kentucky team will have is this: opponents will have to adjust to the platoon more than his own players will.

“The good news is that other guy we start playing against is going to have to figure out what these 10 guys or 12 are, and how one unit plays versus how another unit plays, what are they doing in pick’n rolls, what are they doing on post-ups, this group plays one way, this group plays the other way,” Calipari said after Kentucky’s Blue-White Scrimmage Monday night in which freshman guard Devin Booker went for 22 points and freshman big man Karl-Anthony Towns of St. Joe’s-Metuchen in New Jersey went for 20 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks. “The issues I’m going to have, the other coach is going to have, too.”

Calipari has already addressed that the challenge for this team will be ignoring the outside “clutter,” or outside influences like media, friends and family who are questioning how many minutes each player gets. He’s already turned it, smartly, into an us vs. them situation.

Tacko Fall to UCF

By JACK LeGWIN

One of the tallest basketball players in recent memory, Tacko Fall, has committed to Central Florida.

At 7-foot-5, Fall played for Each 1 Teach 1 Elite on the EYBL Circuit, averaging 2.9 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.

Fall is the fourth player to commit to the Knights, along with Chad Brown, Chance McSpadden and Tank Efianayi. 

Skal Labissiere to Play for New Prep Team This Season

Skal Labissiere made an interesting announcement via Twitter Monday night.

The 6-foot-10 power forward from the Memphis area Tweeted that he would be playing this year for a new prep team.

“Happy to announce that I will be playing my senior year with RYD Prep! #ReachYourDream #letsgetit #blessed.”

Reach Your Dream Prep, which is run by Labissiere’s guardian Gerald Hamilton, has yet to play any games and its website offers few details about a basketball program. Labissiere will still attend Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis. He initially attempted to play at that school but was ruled ineligible due to state transfer rules.

Derrick Jones Cuts List to 5; UNLV Visits Jalen Poyser

Derrick Jones, a 6-foot-7 wing forward from Radnor (PA) Archbishop Carroll, has cut his list to five schools, his father told SNY.tv.

“Derrick has cut his list down to five schools: UNLV, Auburn, UConn, Kentucky and Kansas are his top five,” Derrick Jones Sr. said.

“He cut Louisville, Florida, North Carolina and Arizona.” Those schools were initially on his list of nine.

Derrick Sr. said Kansas and Kentucky have reached out to his son “this week.’

He added that Auburn “should be coming to see Derrick next week at his school” and he should be “taking some official visits after Nov. 9.”