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Cats set to sign top-10 class Wednesday

Kentucky can expect to sign a top-10 national class on Wednesday, recruiting analysts say. Then UK will use the rest of the basketball year to try to improve that class.

Big man Daniel Orton, wing Jon Hood and point guard G.J. Vilarino are expected to sign with Kentucky on Wednesday, the first day of the week-long November signing period.

Analyst Dave Telep of the Scout.com recruiting service rates that trio at No. 7 among the classes being signed this month. Jerry Meyer of Rivals.com has UK's class at No. 10.

Each cited Orton as the reason.

"Daniel Orton is the centerpiece, no pun intended," Meyer said. "He's got unique size and mobility, and he fits in well in what Coach (Billy) Gillispie likes to do offensively, the high-low offense. He's a very good passer in the high post, and he can go inside.

"If they can pair him up with another big man, he can bring the best out in another big man."

Gillispie has repeatedly said in his two seasons as UK coach that recruiting is an ongoing concern. This year appears to be no exception.

Kentucky has been mentioned with 6-foot-9 Derrick Favors, a top-10 national prospect from Atlanta, and point guard John Wall, a highly regarded prospect from Raleigh, N.C.

But the analysts do not see UK in a strong position with either prospect at this point. Wall, who has visited UK more than once, is expected to visit Memphis this weekend and then stop over at Duke on the way home.

Meanwhile, Meyer mentioned Solomon Hill, a 6-6 player from Los Angeles who originally committed to Arizona and then changed his mind when Lute Olson retired, as a possibility for Kentucky in the spring. Hill lists UK, Southern Cal, Arizona and Georgetown as his top four, Meyer said.

However the winter and spring recruiting evolves, the analysts see Kentucky making a solid start this month on the class of 2009.

Hood and Vilarino plan to sign with UK Wednesday morning, then stage signing ceremonies in their high schools later in the day.

"He wanted the (high school) team to be there," Brian Hood said of his son's signing at Madisonville High.

Meyer likened Hood to Jodie Meeks. "Underappreciated," the analyst said.

If Hood can get stronger and improve defensively, "He can be a great player in the SEC," Meyer said.

Hood's father noted that his son had gained 14 pounds since last season. That put Jon Hood at 192 pounds on a 6-7 frame, his father said.

Plus, the father said he grew almost 2 inches in college as a late bloomer.

Of UK's three expected signees on Wednesday, Vilarino is the smallest in stature and hype. But the 6-foot point guard and UK remain steadfast that he will be a productive player for the Cats.

"He's going to be a big-time surprise," the prospect's father, Gerry Vilarino, said.

Lucas lists UK

Former Florida guard Jai Lucas included Kentucky among the schools that can receive his academic transcript, his father said.

John Lucas said there were two factors that made UK a viable option:

■ The distance from the player's home in Houston. "It's closer there than Florida," the elder Lucas said.

■ Jai Lucas sees Kentucky as a place where he can fulfill his desire to be a team's primary ball handler and floor leader.

"He wants to go ... where he can have a lot more ball-handling responsibility," John Lucas said.

Jai Lucas made no secret that becoming the junior partner to Nick Calathes in the point-guard duties at Florida led to his decision to transfer.

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