
Kyle Wiltjer played with the Oakland-based Drew Gooden Soldiers over the summer.
Photo by Nicholas Koza
Apparently, John Calipari is big in Oregon.
Must be, because the Kentucky head coach has landed the Beaver State's top basketball prospect two years in a row after Jesuit (Portland, Ore.) senior Kyle Wiltjer verbally committed Saturday at the Elite 24 showcase in Venice, Calif.
In May, 6-foot-9 Jefferson (Portland, Ore.) standout Terrence Jones joined Calipari's 2010 class after a highly-publicized de-commitment from Washington.
"It's crazy to think about, but it was a coincidence," Wiltjer said. "I tried to pick the program that was the best fit for me and that was Kentucky."
Jones led the Democrats to three Class 5A titles in Oregon. Wiltjer hopes to do the same with Jesuit this season at the 6A level.
"I didn't want to rush anything, I just felt the time was right," Wiltjer said. "Now that it's over, it's a huge relief and I can concentrate on winning that third state championship and looking to improve my game."
Several factors made the 6-9 Oregonian's pledge to UK a mild surprise. The Wildcats already have Michael Gilchrist of St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) and Anthony Davis of Perspectives Charter (Chicago, Ill.) on board in the 2011 class. Both are forwards who could conceivably be competing for playing time at the same position. While it seems unlikely, it isn't out of the question that Jones – another forward – could still be in Lexington next fall.
"If you look at our recruiting class, I think we are all unique players and could play well together," Wiltjer said. "I've seen all the other guys play and knew their games, and I think we can all be on the floor together."
Joining Wiltjer (No. 19 in MaxPreps.com's 2011 Top 100), Gilchrist (No. 1) and Davis (No. 6) will be Marquis Teague, a point guard from Indianapolis and the No. 9 prospect in the 2011 class. That gives Kentucky four of the top 19 players in the country on the heels of a top-rated 2010 haul that included star Florida guard Brandon Knight and bullish Turkish post Enes Kanter.
Wiltjer also bypassed the opportunity to take his official visits. Kentucky is the only campus among his five finalists he didn't see in an unofficial capacity. But after reviewing the program in four categories (surrounding talent in recruiting class, coaching staff, NCAA Tournament exposure and NBA development) his decision became crystal clear.
"Kentucky was way up there in all those categories, so why wait," Kyle's mom, Carol Wiltjer, said. "He said, 'I know I want to go to Kentucky.' How could we argue?"
Once again, rival coaches, media and fans are left to wonder, "How does Calipari do it?"
According to the Wiltjers, the public perception of Calipari as a silver-tongued salesman didn't match their experience.
"A lot of time relationships are built with the assistant coaches," said Carol Wiltjer, who along with her husband Greg spoke with the Wildcat head coach on over a half-dozen instances. "But Coach Calipari is good at taking the time to establish that relationship personally.
"I think he is a straight-shooter. He tells it like it is. It might not be what you want to hear, but I would rather have that. He basically told us he needs to improve in these areas, and this is how we do that. His history with other players speaks for itself. That's why players like him. He is also very accessible and I think that's what differentiates him from other coaches."
"I think he made me feel very comfortable," Kyle Wiltjer said. "He let me know what his program had to offer."
Wiltjer chose Kentucky over fellow finalists California, Gonzaga, Texas and Wake Forest. California and Gonzaga were believed to have the inside track, but it's not the first time he has deviated from common thought to better his basketball career.
Instead of playing for one of Portland's successful club teams, Wiltjer went outside the area to latch on with the Drew Gooden Soldiers based in Oakland, Calif. That team won the prestigious Fab 48 tournament this summer in Las Vegas and featured four of the top 30 rising seniors in America.
And despite being born and raised in the United States, he took advantage of his father's Canadian citizenship to play for that country's international teams. Wiltjer represented Canada in June's FIBA Americas U18 Championship held in San Antonio, Texas, winning a bronze medal.

Shabazz Muhammad, Bishop Gorman
Photo by Louis Lopez
Bishop Gorman taking on all comers
After going 30-2 in 2009-10 with a state championship and No. 7 final national ranking from MaxPreps.com, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) isn't softening up the schedule despite losing key starters Johnathan Loyd (Oregon signee) and Anson Winder (BYU).
The challenge begins in December as head coach Grant Rice's team will take on the extremely ambitious task of participating in both the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., and the Les Schwab Invitational in Hillsboro, Ore. That will likely mean eight games against national-caliber high school basketball programs in a span of 14 days.
In January, the Gaels will travel to Springfield, Mass., for the Hoophall Classic where aforementioned Michael Gilchrist and St. Patrick await. Resurgent Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) will be the opponent for the Nike Extravaganza in February.
Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) will also find its way on to Bishop Gorman's schedule, although a date for that showdown between Vegas-area juggernauts hasn't been finalized.
Rice's squad should be well-equipped to tackle the brutal schedule. The list of returnees includes junior star Shabazz Muhammad. The 6-5 guard was tabbed the No. 4 prospect in the 2012 class by MaxPreps last week.
Field for GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Invitational finalized
Six of MaxPreps.com's Top 100 seniors will participate in the GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Invitational set for Dec. 27-30 at Broughton High School in Raleigh, N.C.
Headlining the event are Westchester Academy teammates Quincy Miller (No. 4) and Deuce Bello (No. 45). Other Top 100 participants include Duke commitments Tyler Adams (No. 53, Brandon), Marshall Plumlee (No. 75, Christ School), as well as Dorian Finney-Smith (No. 27, Norcom) and Joseph Uchebo (No. 78, Word of God).
GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Invitational
Dec. 27-30 – Broughton High School / Raleigh, N.C.
North Carolina teams: Broughton (Raleigh, N.C.), Christ School (Arden, N.C.), Hillside (Durham, N.C.), Kinston (Kinston, N.C.), Knightdale (Knightdale, N.C.), Middle Creek (Apex, N.C.), Ravenscroft (Raleigh, N.C.), United Faith Christian Academy (Charlotte, N.C.), Westchester Academy (High Point, N.C.), Word of God Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.)
Out-of-state teams: Brandon (Brandon, Miss.), Kiski School (Saltsburg, Pa.), Norcom (Portsmouth, Va.)