On the same day Kentucky coach John Calipari praised freshman Edrice “Bam” Adebayo, the big man’s high school coach reiterated he could be in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick in 2017.
Calipari compared the 6-foot-10 Adebayo to former No. 1 overall picks Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns, according to a dispatch from Kyle Tucker.
Look,” Calipari said Thursday, “my prediction will be kind of like Karl (Towns) and even Anthony (Davis), some of these guys that other players were more highly thought of, but when you start hitting late January and February, you’re going to say, ‘Oh, my goodness.’
“Because he’s a beast with skills. Greatest kid. I mean, he’s the greatest teammate aside from that (talent) – unselfish in all kinds of ways – but he’s a beast who can play basketball. And he wants to win.”
DraftExpress.com currently has Adebayo projected as the No. 9 pick in 2017, but Adebayo’s high school coach, Brandon Clifford of High Point (N.C.) Christian, reiterated to SNY.tv. that he believes Adebayo could potentially be the No. 1 overall pick.
“I think Bam should feel honored to be mentioned alongside those guys before he’s played a game at Kentucky,” Clifford said. “That being said, I’ve always felt like he was a special player that could potentially get himself in the conversation for the No. 1 pick someday. He’s an unbelievable talent. He will have to grow and adjust like all freshmen, but I certainly think being at UK will bring out the best in him. Just as it did for Davis and Towns. I’m definitely not going to disagree with Coach Calipari because, like him, I’ve been in the gym with the kid for extended periods of time. He’s a different kind of cat.”
