SPORTS

Labissiere, Briscoe decisions loom for UK

Steve Jones
@stevejones_cj

By Thursday evening, the University of Kentucky's 2015 recruiting class could start looking like the kind of juggernaut group the college basketball world has come to expect from John Calipari.

UK is expected to receive a national letter of intent from its one longtime verbal commitment, four-star Chicago guard Charles Matthews, at some point this week during the sports fall signing period. The Wildcats are also strong contenders for five-star prospects Skal Labissiere and Isaiah Briscoe, both of whom will announce their decisions on ESPNU at 6 p.m. Thursday.

UK has emerged as the presumed favorite for Labissiere, a skilled, 6-foot-11 center from the Memphis area who is also considering Baylor, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgetown and hometown Memphis.

The Cats are thought to be in a tight battle with St. John's for Briscoe, the powerful New Jersey lead guard who's considered the top player at his position.

UK, which faces a possible mass exodus of underclassmen to the 2015 NBA draft, also remains in the mix for 10 or so elite high school seniors who are expected to wait until the spring to pick a college.

Landing Labissiere and/or Briscoe on Thursday could put Calipari in position to build another monster class.

Scout.com Evan Daniels, whose site ranks Labissiere No. 3 overall, believes the Cats are "in great shape" with the Haitian native who as a sophomore was the first 2015 player to receive a scholarship offer from Calipari.

"I think heading into the announcement, they're the clear favorite," Daniels said.

Memphis was for months, if not years, seen as the team to beat for Labissiere, but his interest in the Tigers has reportedly waned in recent weeks. He enjoyed an official visit to Lexington in September, and if he picks Kentucky, could be a weapon at both end of the court.

"I think Skal has as much potential and upside and just about anybody in the 2015 class," Daniels said. "At 6-11, he's mobile, athletic, skilled. He's some strength and weight away from being a major impact player."

Briscoe is not lacking strength. The 6-3 star from Roselle Catholic High School dominated the Nike summer circuit with his physical, tenacious style.

"He plays a grown man's style of basketball," said 247Sports.com analyst Jerry Meyer, who predicts Briscoe will pick St. John's. "He's a very, very physical player. He has a very mature game, a high level of understanding of the game, and I think he plays to win. I don't think he plays for his stats.

"… He's just one of those guys that he doesn't seem like he'd be enjoyable to play against because he plays a very physical style of basketball, kind of a punishing style."

Briscoe's recruitment is a close call. After UK began recruiting him heavily in September, Briscoe and his father raved about Calipari and his ability to help players get to the NBA.

But in recent weeks and after an official visit to St. John's, the Red Storm looked strong again. He visited there again last weekend, and there's no consensus on which is the team to beat. Connecticut is also still in the running but is considered a long shot.

"I had a pretty prominent figure it was the wildest recruitment they'd ever seen," Daniels said. "In July he was expected to commit to Arizona. Now Arizona isn't even on his list. There's certainly been a lot of back and forth. The entire East Coast thinks he's going to St. John's. Everybody else is kind of thinking he's going to Kentucky."

Meanwhile, Matthews, quite a prize in his own right, is likely to have a signing ceremony on Friday, his coach Gary DeCesare of St. Rita High, said.

DeCesare is expecting a big year from the versatile, 6-6 guard who was considered a five-star prospect at the time of his commitment in February but has since slipped in the recruiting rankings. He's now considered more of a top-60 prospect.

Steve Jones can be reached at (502) 582-7176 and followed on Twitter at @SteveJones_CJ.