Kentucky recruiting notebook: 11/8

Tomorrow is National Signing Day and pieces are starting to fall all around the recruiting scene. There are several Kentucky recruits who are rumored to be making their decision this week, but will any ultimately choose the Cats? Often recruiting analysts will have a pretty good feel on where guys will end up. Now, more guys are playing it way closer to the vest and keeping their options open to ensure that they are making the best decision. This, of course, means more mystery and speculation of where the top guys are going to go. Right now, that’s what Kentucky fans are confined to.

- Many are saying that 2012 shooting guard Gary Harris is close to making a decision. Kentucky got in late on this guy, but they came hard. Harris is a guy that would fit in really well at Kentucky, especially if Doron Lamb leaves early after his sophomore year. He can handle the ball some, but his strength is his ability to score the basketball and his athleticism. He is a lights-out shooter and would be an immediate impact to the 2012 class. He has many options, however, and he’s an Indiana guy. Indiana and Purdue want him bad, but Kentucky is arguably the highest profile team on his list. He is a guy who has been very quiet about his decision and no one has any idea where he will end up.

- Alex Poythress is another guy that Kentucky is high on. There is a lot of rumor and speculation that they had an opportunity to land him recently, but somehow ruined that opportunity. From what I hear, that is not the case and Kentucky still has a good chance with him. He’s a Memphis kid, and Calipari, despite Josh Pastner’s efforts, still owns that city. Poythress could definitely be a Wildcat in the coming weeks, but, like Harris, it’s a real toss-up with him. He will make his decision on Thursday.

- With regards to Shabazz Muhammad, a new team has emerged in the courting of the top player in the 2012 class. Duke is making a late push for the talented shooting guard and they are looking for their next Kyrie Irving. Though not a point guard, he would provide a similar impact and the same type of star power. He’s not the prototypical Duke player, but there is not one school in America that wouldn’t want this kid. As days go by, I am less and less confident that Shabazz will be a Wildcat, but in the end, Calipari is Calipari, and he usually gets his guy. He still continues to tweet about the Wildcats and seems to really be close with a lot of the players on the current roster.

- Jarnell Stokes is a guy that I think is Kentucky’s to lose. He’s another guy that seems to really like Kentucky, but it’s not clear if Kentucky is crazy about him. Calipari has made an extremely late run at him, and that suggests that he may be getting a bad feel from some of his other targets. I think if Kentucky really wants him and makes him a priority, he will be in Kentucky blue when he announces his college decision.

We will have all the latest news and coverage of all news Kentucky as Wildcat targets start making their decisions. With signing day tomorrow, many of those guys are going to start making their decisions, while some will wait until the late period to evaluate their options.