I have no idea where Andrew Wiggins will end up going to college.
But I do know a few other things.
When I interviewed him earlier this year after he put up 19 points and 11 rebounds in Huntington Prep’s one-point loss to St. Anthony in the PrimeTime Shootout, he basically said that Kentucky and Florida State were his top two schools.
Kentucky is Kentucky and both of his parents attended Florida State. His dad is the former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins and his mom is the former Canadian track star Marita Payne-Wiggins.
In case you haven’t seen him yet, the 6-foot-7 Wiggins may well be the best basketball prospect in North America, or as the venerable Tom Konchalski likes to say, “He might be the best young prospect in the Northern hemisphere.”
I don’t think it’s a crazy exaggeration to say that Wiggins — the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2014 — could play in the NBA right now.
Sure, a couple more years of maturity in high school and college will help him turn into a force of nature. But if you threw him into an NBA game right now, he could go get you 8-10 points.
Now keep in mind that Wiggins — along with a slew of other talented young players — compete with the CIA Bounce AAU team that is currently a perfect 9-0 on the Nike EYBL circuit.
That team is just loaded.
Wiggins, Tyler Ennis, Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Isaiah Watkins, Tanveer Bhullar, and so on.
Just friggin loaded.
If you are a college basketball coach, or a college basketball fan, it’s in your best interest to know who these guys and, more importantly for the coaches and the schools, to have a positive relationship with them and with head coaches Mike George and Tony McIntyre.
And oh by the way, Steve Nash was just named GM of the Canadian Senior Men’s Team Tuesday and Canada is loaded with up and coming talent.
Yet with all the nonsense coming from fans of a couple SEC schools — Florida and Kentucky — after Anthony Bennett trimmed his list to UNLV and Oregon, you have to wonder just what George and Wiggins think of them at this point.
Actually, you don’t have to wonder at all.
They’ve said it.
George Tweeted: “@ABennett24 to KU fans Anthony and @22wiggins are really good friends and come from the same family. U diss 1 you diss all. Bounce family!!”
Later, he added: “ya my bad already corrected and uk fans know exactly who it was meant for.”
I understand there are some fans of other schools out there posing as Kentucky fans to make them look bad. I understand only a small minority (we hope) of Kentucky fans inanely and profanely ripped Bennett on Twitter. And I understand fans of other schools like Florida ripped him, too.
Wiggins declined comment on the matter but he has read all the Tweets. He’s on Twitter, too.
And while this whole brouhaha will be long settled when he makes his college choice, fans of every college basketball program should think twice going forward.
If not for the simple reason that these are kids making decisions about sports and simply don’t deserve idiotic spew from people hiding behind Twitter and messageboards.
But from your point of view, keep in mind that bone-headed Tweets may come back to haunt you when a guy like Andrew Wiggins makes the call.
SiJessieWildcat / May 8, 2012
Zag, no corrections needed.
UK fans ,low class, and KU fans are identical.
Big thanks for Coach and standing up for this players.
#kensucky is trending very good.
Expect more outrage from the West.
We don’t like #kensucky or kansas Gangster U.
I would not encourage any top player…stay away from #kensucky.
/
mikemiller13 / May 8, 2012
jessie jessie,
run and hide. will you be around during the actual season? i doubt it….preseason champ!
/
UofA BJ / May 8, 2012
Will KU fans b around next couple years?
Can’t land any recruits against the big boys, and the results will soon b evident.
/
gracetoyou / May 8, 2012
Surely Wiggins knows that not all UK fans are that way & that if he chooses UK I guarantee there will be FSU fans bashing him…just not as many because they’re not too much into basketball as football at FSU.
For the life of me I still cannot figure out why Adam decided to make the post about UK fans ripping Bennett when it virtually happens all the time with other fanbases.
I don’t agree with bashing anyone, it’s stupid & childish but why Adam made his post about the bad UK fans ripping Bennett is besides me…probably just wanted the hits.
/
5280Jayhawks / May 8, 2012
u of a you are an idiot…..how was your tourney run last year? Can you please tell me what KU did last year with no Mcdonald AA’s?….and don’t tell me Sean Miller is so great and we are gonna contend…tell me what he did last year with all your stud recruits you had….show me some facts. Bill Self has won a title with 5 star recruits and been to the title game with no 5 star recruits, those are FACTS….you couldn’t even win your terrible conference FACT…..KU has won 8 in a row FACT….you guys put 2 teams in the tourney and you were not one of them….Let’s see if Sean Miller can win something first before you start runnin’ your mouth and sayin other team’s coaches sucks. Sounds like you have seen alot of games on paper could you let me know where I could catch one?
/
JonHuskyMS / May 8, 2012
SiJessie – remember when you said that the FBI was looking into the game after UConn beat Zona in the elite 8 in 2011? What ever became of that?
/
5280Jayhawks / May 8, 2012
SiJessie – remember when you said that the FBI was looking into the game after UConn beat Zona in the elite 8 in 2011? What ever became of that?
Answear: A UConn championship and the last time U of A played a meaningful game.
/
UofA BJ / May 8, 2012
Lmfao
Don’t remember that comment Jon husky, must Of been a classic.
Heard anything on Calhoun lately?
/
Darth Cal / May 8, 2012
He’s BACK y’all!!
He’s BACK y’all!!
He’s biggity biggity BACK y’all!!
The COWARD from Zona is BACK!!!
Must be the OFFseason again.
Simply Ignorant Jessie COWARD cat is BACK!!!
Where you been Jessica??
Been polishing your N. I. T. participation TROPHY??
The west is rising? Hahaha LMFAO
Just like last year right?
Glad you’re BACK, the comments were boring without your DELUSION.
We all know you wish you were a fan of the REAL WILDCATS!!
You know, the 2012 NATIONAL CHAMPS!!
Zona is just COPYcats!!!
We’ve been WILDCATS longer than Zona has even been a state!!
IT’S GR8 being an Original WILDCAT!!! With 8 RINGS!!
Like the one we just gave the Preezy of the United Steezy!!
The first to be rockin’ our bling!!
Note to other zona fans: Do not take any of this seriously, I’m just messing with the kid.
/
PaulSmenis / May 8, 2012
5280, you asked for facts so I will give you some. Elijah Johnson was a 5 star recruit on Rivals. Thomas Robinson was a 5 star recruit on Scout. Both were upperclassmen this past season.
Josiah Turner was a 5 star on Rivals and Scout, Nick Johnson was a 5 star on Rivals. Both were freshmen and one has since proven to be a troubled kid.
KU also had 4 stars Taylor, Withey and Releford rounding out their starting 5. Arizona had 4 star Hill and 3 stars Perry and Fogg rounding out their starting lineup.
KU featured at least one 4 star on their bench (Tharpe), as did Arizona (the Ukranian and Chol).
My point bringing all this up is to show you that KU, while having a thinner bench than usual, still had plenty of talent. Arizona had a decent amount of talent as well, but with no one over 6’7″ able to contribute more than 10 minutes a game, they were ill-equipped to contend with any team with good size. KU would have slaughtered AZ this past season, as would UK, UNC, etc. But Arizona did hang with Florida on the road, but lost because they could not stop Young.
Was Arizona mediocre last year? Yes they were. Is Miller better than Self? Right now, absolutely not. Miller will be entering his fourth year with all of his guys. This season and beyond will be the true test as to how good of a coach he is. It is possible that after 19 seasons as a head coach, he could have a NC and another FF on his resume, just as Self does. Both had 2 Elite Eights after 8 seasons, so it certainly is possible.
/
mikemiller13 / May 8, 2012
notice uofa did not respond to 5280jay with all of those numbers. thats what ua fans do. spew off- season trash. the college basketball world is about to be taken over because you got a top 3 class? so how does ku stay consistent if self can’t recruit? uofa enjoys his 0-6 recruiting number the last 2 years…..does he mention wins on the court the last 2 years? waiting……let me guess, you will now talk about the future and how great ua is.
/
jayhawkfan11 / May 8, 2012
You Zona fans are about as ignorant as they come. KU has just won 7 straight conf titles, has the longest big dance streak in the nation, two final fours in the past five years, and a national title. You guys can’t even make the NCAA Tourney field and you are talking trash? Can’t recruit with the big boys? We just signed a 5 star this past class and we already have a 5 star and 4 star signed for next year. Bunch of dee bags in the desert.
/
PaulSmenis / May 8, 2012
Honest question: why do KU fans, UK fans, and other fans of “blue blood programs” act as if they are personally better than fans of non blue blood schools? Some of you thumb your noses and talk down to these people and just give off vibes that you are superior to them. I’ll admit, some of them are rude and can post some borderline stupid stuff, but to come back with things such as “you zona fans are about as ignorant as they come” is just plain obnoxious. There are ignorant fans of every team (including the blue bloods). I just want to know why some of you think you are better than other fans.
Sorry jhf11, I’m not trying to single you out, that was just the latest example I saw and wanted to ask my question based on just seeing that.
/
5280Jayhawks / May 8, 2012
Paul- your right EJ was a 5 star by one recruiting service and T-Rob was also, but neither was a McD’s AA……but but but but Self can’t recruit
/
5280Jayhawks / May 8, 2012
We are not better fans. I can be an ass too. We just have better teams and better history than most schools.
/
Darth Cal / May 8, 2012
Paul, dogs(zona wildkittens in this case) don’t bark at parked cars. Haters gonna hate greatness. When teams with little to some history try to act like they are a blue-blood and talk trash, they get put in place. It is madness to try and compare zona and KU. It just makes some people mad when a team tries to act like they’re the greatest and can’t even make it to the tourney. And saying stuff like Sean Miller is better than Self. Well he might be someday, but he sure sh*t the bed last year. What it all comes down to is that there are alot of big mouths in all fanbases(mine included) and forums like this one and Twitter attract the worst.
/
PaulSmenis / May 8, 2012
I don’t know, I guess I just find it rude and obnoxious when fans debase another school and entire fan base based off of a few idiots on the Internet. I know everyone does it, but when I try to make a point to someone who I have a different opinion, I bring facts to my argument and don’t just attack the school/team of that person. I’m not trying to do a PSA here, it just pisses me off when one person like JW or to a lesser extent BJ make a statement any of you don’t like, the entire AZ roster and coaching staff get attacked. Same goes the other way too….
/
SiJessieWildcat / May 8, 2012
The issue on hand– #kensucky fans are dirty, low class fans.
Kansas gangster U and #kensucky are the worse of the worse.
I have looked at all the #kensucky tweets and I want to thank Coach for backing up his player.
Note-
5280Jayhawk:
If you know anybody from the FBI, just ask if there was an invesitigation into the UConn-Zona game. They will knob their head, yes.
No words will be said.
/
Jeremy / May 8, 2012
What people fail to recognize about this story is the fact that a lot of these “so called UK fans” are none other than other teams fans posing as UK fans. How do I know this u ask? Well cause I know two of the fans posting these messages! And while I admit UK fans are known to be very rabid but faithful fan base, there is only a small minority of UK fans who act like the way these so called fans did. And every fan base has fans like that. Its just a shame to see twitter ect as a easy tool to make some else look bad. Just remember you have to be careful what you take as legit when it comes to twitter and what is being said on it. Cause just like those 900 telephone #ers you dont know if your talking to a sexy lady or a 400lb slob!
/
Jeremy / May 8, 2012
And you so called fans of the so called sqeaky clean schools, guess what there are fans like that at your schools as well… Kansas, duke, UNC, UCLA FLA etc.I just don’t understand how one school like UK gets called out for something every other school does! One n done, crazy fans, scheduling etc…
/
UofA BJ / May 8, 2012
I personally think Paul got it right with his comment. He clearly knows college hoops, Arizona had talent last year, and underachieved. But they weren’t capable of beating good teams with size, as he pointed out. As with miller, self comparison, self clearly has better achievements and one day will probably be a HOF coach. But miller has only coached 7 years and is a really hungry coach and a relentless recruiter, who one day will win a NC and reach several FFs.
He’s also right about UK KU fans for the most part thinking you r above everyone else. U guys know u have nothing to do with any accomplishments right? Anyone can b a UK or KU fan u didn’t earn it.
Sorry I have such strong opinions about my school moving forward, but it’s been a rough 5 years or so 4 the program, and I’m excited with what Miller is bringing back to Tucson. And for all of you who don’t understand yet how loaded Arizona is for the next few years, you will soon take notice.
/
fearthephog25 / May 8, 2012
Why are grown adults stalking minors on Twitter anyways? It is Pathetic for any fanbase to do. Does it somehow make a person feel like he/she is your buddy or knows you personally? Perhaps the NCAA should look into social media a little more and set restrictions.
/
fearthephog25 / May 8, 2012
zona had two 7 footers, 1 of whom is now playing pro ball in Europe and can’t forget that 7 foot senior jacobson kid out of Mater Dei. That seems like plenty of Big Man Talent right there??
/
sportswritersarefunny / May 8, 2012
I think its funny that you single out this one incident over bennett just because it was kentucky. I’m sure you have to realize how much hate mail these kids get when they finally make a choice. It doesn’t matter if its UK, Duke, UCLA, UNC. Then you have fans of other teams that come in here and say crap about “all” kentucky fans when it was a handful that probably said immature things.
anyway great article lol.
/
BostonCat / May 8, 2012
kentucky effect = its May, nothing going on in college basketball, write about uk. generate hits. rinse and repeat.
no other team is worth bringing up because no one cares.
uk is the needle. is it arrogant. yes it is. but its also true.
/
BostonCat / May 8, 2012
lets have a 3rd story about twitter and stupid fans. but whatever you do…..lets not take a peak at what is happening down at UNC regarding classes.
wait…thats right…uk drives the needle. regardless how dumb the topic.
/
UofA BJ / May 8, 2012
U seen natyazko and Jacobson play?
About 2 min a game combined.
Jessy perry was a SF playing 30 min a gm at center.
And Solomon hill was a 6 6 pf. Will be nice next year to see everyone playing natural positions.
/
fearthephog25 / May 8, 2012
Must be poor conditioning and coaching of Big Men then. Just like you said Jeff Withey was trash and you were happy he left zona. LOL Do you still think Withey is trash?
/
lob4uk / May 8, 2012
adam why don’t u leave ky alone..wiggins will more than likely come to ky no matter what u trying say to keep him from coming!! so man please just go away and leave us alone..jealousy is going to get u no where..all it’s doing is just making u look like a jealous fool like u are!!!
/
juicyfruit / May 8, 2012
BostonCat, honestly, no one outside of Kentucky that has a full set of teeth, gives a rat’s azz about UK in the manner in which you speak. Count your blessings Calishady decided to create an “NBA” Development 2.0 with the help of his sidekick Worldwide Wes. Trust me, its not a matter of if but rather when your precious deck of UK cards will come tumbling down at the hands of the NCAA. Now excuse me while I return back to the world happening outside the state of Kentucky.
/
zona95 / May 8, 2012
Wow!…. This is amazing. “UK fans are idiots. Zona fans are ignorant, and idiots. Our coach is way better than yours. Miller can’t coach. Kansas is the center of the universe. Kentucky is blah, blah, blah….”
What an implosion of cranial intelligence! Wait… Im giving too much credit. Remove the word intelligence all together in this blog.
/
BostonCat / May 8, 2012
you care enough to post about uk in a uk topic…..sounds like you care plenty.
thanks for the complement on NBA development 2.0.
/
juicyfruit / May 8, 2012
Actually I don’t care. You weren’t paying attention. That’s no compliment my friend. Cal represents what’s wrong in college sports today. However, he has some company.
/
Darth Cal / May 9, 2012
Haha juicyfruit!!
The only fruit I see is “sour grapes”
I also see the butthurt is strong with you.
Do us all a favor, hold your breath till evil Cal gets caught.
UK will be giving rings to the Preezy for quite awhile, and you’ll still be cryin’ like a chump.
/
SiJessieWildcat / May 9, 2012
The NCAA makes itself public.
They have to inform the fans…NCAA is looking into Kentucky and any relationships between www and Noel camp.
You must of read that news… kensucky fans.
/
BostonCat / May 9, 2012
@juicy
sorry my friend, it is very much a compliment. and the fact that you dont think it is illustrates perfectly how out of touch with college basketball and the modern day player you are.
somewhere at some point some college fans convinced themselves that having the very best college basketball players was a bad or “evil” thing. of course this probably started right after they miss out on an elite recruit and have to convince themselves that the guy ranked 87th is “good for the game”.
college sports has never been better. the people who complain how bad it is….are probably fans of losing teams and bitter about where they are at.
/
juicyfruit / May 9, 2012
@BostonCat
The clock is ticking. Insert Noel investigation. Insert unfinished fact checking with A. Davis 200k story. Insert probation. Insert Darth Cal and yourself among other UK faithful having to repeat more shameful times as illustrated in SI not so many years ago.
/
BostonCat / May 9, 2012
and you will still be out of touch with the reality of modern day athlete.
/
sportswritersarefunny / May 9, 2012
I’m just wondering if in 10 years when Cal is gone and there hasn’t been a violation, are there still going to be people saying “The clock is ticking” lol… It’s been 3 years now and they are still saying it… Just curious if the talk will be here after 6 years. I like it, it makes me laugh.
/
juicyfruit / May 9, 2012
Has nothing to do with the “modern” day athlete. Tell you what. These “modern” day athletes you speak of, weren’t even allowed to play during the time your precious Rupp was winning championships. Cal is allowed (at the moment) to change/greatly bend the rules. Athletes haven’t changed, the game has because of shady peddlers and coaches like Cal.
/
juicyfruit / May 9, 2012
@sportswritersarefunny
It makes you laugh because you’re ignorant. It’ll make you cry when your ignorance is replaced by reality.
/
Jeremy / May 9, 2012
juicywhatever Go look at your self in the mirror for a while, cause your team like all teams are just the same and doing the same things to get recruits. And for you to parade from message board to message board acting like your team is squeaky perfect, remember no one is perfect. That’s college basketball. And for you to call UK fans arrogant and idiots, you your juicy self are acting arrogant and idiotic about your team!
So keep lookn in the mirror until you feel less juicy and come back and we then we can have a more sensible debate on your part…
/
SiJessieWildcat / May 9, 2012
Message to Coach–
#kensucky fans continue to bash Anthony.
Even after you step in.
Real low class fans.
And a clear lack of respect for you.
#kensucky
/
joester / May 10, 2012
Isn’t it ridiculous that most of you post more about UK than your own team? Pretty sad article also. Every fan base has their idiots and I pretty much don’t pay attention to UK fans that are idiots or other teams fans that are idiots. As far as Wiggins or any other player, if they don’t really have a desire to be at UK for any reason I personally don’t want them. There are plenty of players that do want to come to UK so no need to sweat a few that don’t. Shabazz chose UCLA, big deal we will be fine without him also. Good luck to him at UCLA, he will be in the NBA in a year and be fine. These are kids and should be able to do what they want without comments like Bennett received but you do have the idiot portion of every fan base. It just seems that UK is so much more newsworthy than any other NCAA team that it gets print for anything.
When the world is rooting against you… you know you are on top of the hill. All the angst of so called journalists and hack writers come with the territory.
My first post here, hope you enjoyed it.
/
juicyfruit / May 11, 2012
@joester
It takes the average UK fan like yourself, double the time to comprehend what’s being said in truth on this board about your school and its coach. Logic, truth, and smarts have never been a kind friend to the average UK fan. Not entirely their fought. They’re just a breed that originated from the Rupp principles, Sense of Entitlement…Arrogance…Amoral.
Hmmm..Come to think of it, Cal is a perfect fit to lead this ship.
/
username / May 12, 2012
It’s true that some Kentucky fans went online to rip Bennett and in the process looked like the idiots that these individuals are. It’s true that some of those posts were made by UL fans, IU fans, etc, but there is no doubt that most came from UK fans. It did reflect poorly on UK to an extent but those idiots don’t represent the entire fanbase and anyone with any common sense understands that. Every program from high school to the pros has losers like those who go online and post that type of crap. But a few internet messages aren’t going to deter kids from signing with UK. Cal has proven his ability to prepare elite players for the pros and you can’t ignore his players’ results in the draft. Signing with UK is just a smart business decision for these kids and a few idiots ripping Bennett isn’t going to affect Cal’s recruiting in the future. Plus after their campus visits these guys can see that if they go to UK they are going to be playing/practicing in the best facilities in the nation and they are going to be treated like kings during their year in Lexington. Wiggins is good enough that he could spend his one year at any school with any coach, even UL under Pitino, and still go first in the draft but for everybody else they will need someone like Cal to improve their skills and their stock. So those idiots who ripped Bennett may give ammunition to other idiots who are always looking for any reason besides their own jealousy to rag on the top program in the nation but it won’t keep Cal from signing the top recruiting class year after year after year after year. There’s no excuse for the postings made by those few classless Kentucky fans but it will not hurt the program in the least. UK will be down next year due to the fact that we are losing virtually an entire national championship squad and probably won’t advance past the sweet 16. But after next season the talent coming in will be stronger and we will be right back in line for banner #9. UK and Cal have the foundation to build a another dynasty that should be even more successful than the one that Pitino enjoyed during his time in Lexington. A few morons sitting in their parents’ basements taking shots at recruits that UK lost won’t change that.
/