Kentucky already had what likely will be the No. 1 recruiting class for 2013, but coach John Calipari added to that talented class Saturday night when Dakari Johnson, the top-ranked center in the class and a consensus top 15 recruit, made his verbal commitment to UK. He picked the Wildcats over Georgetown and Syracuse.
Johnson, who plays for Montverde Academy in Florida, gives Kentucky three players ranked No. 1 at their position in the 2013 class and joins twins Andrew and Aaron Harrison, center/forward Marcus Lee, wing James Young and forward Derek Willis in UK’s class. The Cats are also still in the running for Andrew Wiggins and Julius Randle, the two top-ranked players in the 2013 class.
"I just want to win a national championship," Johnson said during his announcement on ESPN after Montverde’s 82-53 win over Chicago Simeon Saturday night in Wheeling, W.Va. "I want to win a high school championship, then a college championship and hopefully an NBA championship. (The coaching staff) told me this was not the place to come if I didn't want to work hard,. But I want to work hard and I want to get pushed. And I think Kentucky is the place for me."
Johnson, who briefly attended Sayre in Lexington, played a year in New Jersey with former UK star Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and remains friends with him.
Johnson said he would provide a ”presence in the paint and in the post on offense and defense” for the Wildcats.
Johnson, who plays for Montverde Academy in Florida, gives Kentucky three players ranked No. 1 at their position in the 2013 class and joins twins Andrew and Aaron Harrison, center/forward Marcus Lee, wing James Young and forward Derek Willis in UK’s class. The Cats are also still in the running for Andrew Wiggins and Julius Randle, the two top-ranked players in the 2013 class.
"I just want to win a national championship," Johnson said during his announcement on ESPN after Montverde’s 82-53 win over Chicago Simeon Saturday night in Wheeling, W.Va. "I want to win a high school championship, then a college championship and hopefully an NBA championship. (The coaching staff) told me this was not the place to come if I didn't want to work hard,. But I want to work hard and I want to get pushed. And I think Kentucky is the place for me."
Johnson, who briefly attended Sayre in Lexington, played a year in New Jersey with former UK star Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and remains friends with him.
Johnson said he would provide a ”presence in the paint and in the post on offense and defense” for the Wildcats.
