It’s “nice” to recruit when you’re ranked No. 1 in the country.
That was the message Kentucky assistant Barry “Slice” Rohrssen had when speaking to reporters Friday.
“In recruiting these guys, they’ve been very receptive [to the platoon system],” Rohrssen said in advance of Kentucky’s exhibition Sunday against Georgetown College. “It’s nice when you’re ranked No. 1 in the polls. It’s a nice way to have a conversation going into somebody’s home.”
Those comments seems especially relevant given that Rohrssen has been heavily recruiting Roselle (N.J.) Catholic point guard Isaiah Briscoe in recent days, weeks and months.
As recently as Tuesday, Slice was at RC to show his love for Briscoe, who is on the brink of deciding between Kentucky, St. John’s and UConn. Briscoe is expected to announce sometime next week, although his father, George, told SNY.tv on Friday morning that no date had yet been set with ESPN.
Rohrssen was asked if recruits (like Briscoe) are concerned about limited playing time next season in a potential platoon.
“You don’t exactly know if it’s going to be limited,” he said. “That’s to unfold next season. If we’re talking about this season, Kentucky is very well received no matter where you go and whom you speak with. It’s nice to have that royal blue “UK” on your chest when you’re walking into a high school or a home.”
The irony is that while Kentucky coach John Calipari is looking to play 10-12 guys in the platoon this year, next year’s situation could be vastly different.
Sophomore guards Andrew and Aaron Harrison are expected to depart, along with several big men, including Karl-Anthony Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein and Dakari Johnson. All five are projected as first-round picks by DraftExpress.com.
Freshman guards Tyler Ulis and Devin Booker are likely to return. Kentucky currently only has one commit in guard Charles Matthews. So the backcourt situation could be a little crowded if Briscoe were to join the fold.
Up front, Kentucky is in the mix for numerous big men, including Stephen Zimmerman, Ivan Rabb, Carlton Bragg, Cheick Diallo, Caleb Swanigan as well as small forward Jaylen Brown.
Briscoe likely won’t know who many of his future teammates are until the spring should he pick Kentucky.
At St. John’s, the situation is similar although they have even less returning from a team that will lose six seniors to graduation and doesn’t have a single 2015 commit.
Targets Diallo and guard Brandon Sampson won’t decide until late, meaning if Briscoe were to pick St. John’s, he may have to wait several months to find out who will be joining him there, too.
