Eight years later, could Kahlil Whitney do the same?
Kentucky’s Kahlil Whitney takes a shot after the university’s NCAA college basketball media day, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019.
(AP Photo/James Crisp)
Whitney, a 6-foot-6, 210-pounder, actually fi nished up
his high school career at Roselle Catholic in New Jersey.
Prior to that, though, the Illinois native went to Solorio
Academy in Chi-town.
Often a witness to gun violence and criminal activity,
in general, growing up in Chicago, the fi ve-star small
forward is no stranger to adversity. He told Forbes Sports-
Money he was “scared for my life” at times.
Whitney is explosive and energetic on the court.
Although he has hometown roots similar to that of
Davis’, he may be more like a Michael Kidd-Gilchrist —
another 2011-12 comparison.
“As far as Kahlil on the basketball court, he’s long and
athletic,” said UK coach John Calipari on coachcal.com.
“He’s in the same mold of some of the best players we’ve
had here in that he has the athleticism to impact the
14 | UK Basketball Preview 2019/2020
game offensively, yet I believe he can be a difference-
maker defensively.”
Whitney, the 14th overall recruit of his class according
to rivals.com, made Wildcats fans sweat it out a while, but
he ultimately signed with UK in May 2019. He averaged
19.4 points and 5.7 rebounds a game for Roselle — the
same high school former Wildcat Isaiah Briscoe attended.
Whitney has called UK his “dream school.” As with
most top-tier prospects, he has his sights set on reaching
the NBA. Calipari, he indicated, offers the best avenue to
the pros.
“How we play, I feel it’s the greatest thing for our of-
fense and our defense,” Whitney said. “I mean, he’s just
getting us ready for the next level.”
Whitney is driven, not just to get to the NBA for himself.
He told Forbes he desires to convey a message to