By ADAM ZAGORIA
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. –– Kentucky-bound wing Kahlil Whitney plans to sign his National Letter of Intent on May 3 at his grammar school in Chicago.
“I talked to my principal at the school and they gave me options [for dates],” Whitney said after going for 14 points and 7 rebounds as Roselle (N.J.) Catholic lost its first game of the season, 75-55, to Brandon Boston and Norcross (GA) at the Hoophall Classic.
In this piece for Forbes SportsMoney, Whitney went into great detail about growing up amid gun violence in Chicago and his plans to sign there in order to be a positive role model for younger kids.
Whitney is part of a recruitng class that also includes guards Tyrese Maxey and Dontaie Allen.
“I’m 100 percent Kentucky,” Whitney said.
Whitney said he admires NBA players Anthony Davis, DeMar Derozan and Kawhi Leonard.
“[I’ll bring] scoring the basketball, being great defensively and being very versatile and getting my teammates involved in the game,” he added. “I feel like playing with guys of my caliber is going to be better for me because I’m always going to make the right play. So making the right play to another five-star guy on the court with me is going to be beneficial for me.”
Roselle Catholic doesn’t see competition like that in New Jersey. https://t.co/MdYKyLosxu
— Josh Newman (@Joshua_Newman) January 19, 2019
As for suffering the team’s first loss of the season, Whitney said his team was just out-played.
“We didn’t come out locked in,” he said. “Defensively, we were horrible the whole game. Myself, I got to the rack and couldn’t finish today. My shots were not falling but it’s a learning experience and we’re going to come back stronger than ever.”
Looming for RC, the No. 1 team in New Jersey, is a date with No. 2 Ranney on Jan. 30 at Brookdale Community College.
“It’s a humbling experience for us a team,” Whitney said. “I felt like we needed this. I’m glad we got it earlier than later.”
** We are also working on a documentary showcasing Whitney’s senior season at Roselle Catholic. Stay tuned for that in the coming weeks and months.
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