By CHIP MILLER
LEXINGTON, Ky. — On Tuesday evening, John Petty picked up one of the most coveted offers a player can receive, an offer from Kentucky and Coach John Calipari.
Blessed To Get An Offer From The University Of Kentucky ????????????????⚪️ #bigblue
— John Petty (@jpetty2324) May 6, 2015
Kentucky previously offered 6-6 2016 combo guard Josh Langford, who also hails from Alabama.
Petty, out of Huntsville (AL) J.O. Johnson, already held offers from Arkansas, Georgia and Texas Tech. He averaged 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 assist during the EYBL competition in Lexington. That included a 23-point, 8-rebound outing against Team Penny.
Still, Petty says he has a lot to work on when it comes to his game.
“Working on my strength, my ball-handling and really just the mental part of the game,” Petty said. “Trying to stay focused and stay healthy, trying to avoid injury so I can play better than I did this year the next year.”
The versatile 6-foot-6 four-star wing can play and guard multiple positions. During one game he played the point, the two and the three, all with ease.
“My natural position is shooting guard but I play a little bit of the three,” Petty said. “Most of the time I’m a bigger guard, so most of the time I play the three.”
When it comes to the position he prefers to play, Petty said it didn’t matter.
“I’m going to just try to stay as a wing and improve my game,” Petty stated. “In college I may end up having to play a two or if I move on to the big league I may have to play the two, so I’m going to really just try and stay a wing period.”
As an incoming junior, Petty isn’t able to talk with coaches yet, so he has been part of the background in his recruitment, letting those around him talk with coaches and feel out the process with little insight on who has called and inquired.
“Mom and dad really don’t tell me, they just let me play,” Petty reported. “When I get older and ready to decide, they’ll start letting me know about who called, so they don’t really tell me about it. They will tell me now and then if I get an offer, but they just let me play.”
And offers could become plentiful as Petty moves into his junior season. Just during the week before and the weekend of EYBL in Lexington, Petty said he received three new offers.
“This weekend, Arkansas just offered,” Petty said. “We [also] got an offer a couple of days ago from Texas Tech and Georgia.”
Even though Arkansas and Coach Mike Anderson offered, Petty said he wasn’t familiar with the program.
“I didn’t watch them play last year really,” Petty stated. “But I heard it was a good school, but I didn’t really watch them last year.
Despite that, Anderson’s style of play fits Petty’s preferred style perfectly.
“I like to run,” Petty said. “I can set it up in the half court offense, but I mostly like to run and get out on the break. I like full court press non-stop. I’m an animal.”
Over the last year, Alabama and Auburn both went through coaching changes with Bruce Pearl taking over at Auburn and Avery Johnson taking the realm at Alabama. Petty was impressed with the Tide’s hire.
“It’s a great move,” Petty said about the Alabama hire. “Avery Johnson is a great guy. I met him once. He’s a real good guy. I think he’s going to turn the program around. It will be a very interesting to see.”
Despite having two high-major D1 schools within his home state borders, Petty said region will have no impact on his final decision.
“No it really doesn’t,” Petty said. “It doesn’t matter how far I go. I’m not a home sick person so I can go anywhere. Just wherever the best choice is for me.”
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