Recruits in Mass.: Calipari, UofL's Johnson at HoopHall

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Kentucky coach John Calipari and Louisville assistant Kenny Johnson are spending Sunday at the loaded Spalding HoopHall Classic at Springfield College.

Johnson arrived to watch U of L signee Donovan Mitchell score 20 points for New Hampshire's Brewster Academy in a 100-69 rout of Montverde (Fla.) Prep. He was 8 of 13 from the floor in a very solid performance.

Calipari arrived in time for the next game to watch Class of 2016 power forward Thon Maker (who could reclassify to 2015 in the coming weeks) play for Orangeville Prep of Canada in a 64-50 loss to Life Center Academy of New Jersey. Maker scored 21 of his 23 points in the second half and had 11 rebounds. He also had eight turnovers.

Johnson watched that game, too, as the Cards continue to evaluate 2015 Life Center point guard Traci Carter, who played an excellent all-around game with 18 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and four assists. Carter said he still doesn't have a scholarship offer from U of L. Life Center is coached by former U of L All-American Pervis Ellison. His son Malik, a high-flying senior wing, had 28 points. Pervis Ellison said U of L has not recruited his son.

The Cards have recruited Maker, although they are not as well-positioned as UK, Kansas and Indiana for him.

In the next game, Calipari said front and center to watch big man targets Thomas Bryant of Huntington (W.Va.) Prep against Cheick Diallo of Our Savior New American (N.Y.).

Johnson watched that game, too. Louisville has made an offer to 2016 Huntington Prep wing Miles Bridges.

There are no surefire UK or U of L targets in the remaining four games on Sunday, although Calipari's son, Brad, plays area prep school MacDuffie, so the coach could stick around for that. MacDuffie also has five-star junior big man Omari Spellman.

It'll be no surprise if Calipari, especially, is back at Springfield College on Monday for the final day of HoopHall. Among the UK targets who will be playing are seniors Jaylen Brown of Wheeler (Ga.) High, Ivan Rabb of Bishop O'Dowd (Calif.) and Stephen Zimmerman of Las Vegas Bishop Gorman and juniors V.J. King of Paul VI (Va.) and Jayson Tatum of Chaminade (Mo.)

Coaches from Wake Forest, George Mason, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Massachusetts, West Virginia, VCU, Nebraska, Connecticut and many others were at HoopHall as well on Sunday.