By ADAM ZAGORIA
Kentucky coach John Calipari had a home visit Tuesday night with Kahlil Whitney, the 6-foot-5 wing from Roselle (N.J.) Catholic who committed to the Wildcats in August.
They were joined by Kelly Whitney, Kahlil’s father who played at Seton Hall, and Roselle Catholic coach Dave Boff, who coached former Kentucky guard Isaiah Briscoe.
“Coach Cal did a great job of showing Kahlil and his family what his role would be and also the type of player they can help him grow into,” Boff said.
In a recent YouTube video, Whitney elaborated on why he chose Kentucky.
“Kentucky was always my dream school and when Coach Calipari walked in that gym, I knew what time it was,” he said.
“I just wanted to get on campus and see how the environment was and how the people treated me, so it was great. It was a dream come true.”
“My Reasons” Episode 2? https://t.co/rSKGoy3br2
— THE DRAGON? (@KahlilWhitney) September 17, 2018
Calipari has made New Jersey one of his personal pipelines since taking the Kentucky job, landing Dakari Johnson, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Nick Richards out of St. Patrick/The Patrick School, and now Briscoe and Whitney out of Roselle Catholic. Together, those two programs have combined to win eight New Jersey Tournament of Champions titles.
Kentucky is now one of two finalists for 6-5 Ranney School wing Scottie Lewis, who is also considering Florida.
Lewis said he’s in a group text with Whitney and Kentucky commit Tyrese Maxey.
“We just talk about the backcourt that we could potentially have if I go there,” Lewis said. “They’re recruiting people like James Wiseman, Isaiah Stewart, Vernon Carey, Oscar Tshiebwe, Aidan [Igiehon]. All those guys, depending on who they lose, we could come in and have an impact.”
The 6-10 Igiehon, who runs with the same Team Rio AAU outfit that features Lewis and Villanova-bound Bryan Antoine, is planning an official visit to Kentucky. He just took one to Oregon.
“Aidan is going to make his own decision,” Lewis said. “He’s one of my best friends but I haven’t known him long enough to be able to have an impact on where he goes to college. Once again, I’d love to play with one of my teammates at the college level, just because I would know him at that point. Aidan’s looking for certain things, I’m looking for certain things.
“And if he chooses to come to a place where I want to play, then yes.”
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
