Chris Hill SG/SF 2010

[WildcatRick]

http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/PROSPECT/PHOTO/CHRISHILL7_13150.JPG
View Photo Gallery (1) (http://rivals.yahoo.com/kentucky/basketball/recruiting/recruit-photos-61850;_ylt=AhqOgk2AFyIqdUgA3XLryVYksZB4)
Shooting guard (http://rivals.yahoo.com/kentucky/basketball/recruiting/recruit-search-results;_ylt=AluEXE8S2SIS_N78VyCSNW4ksZB4?sport=ba sketball&year=2010&position=20&position_text=Guard&detail=29&detail_text=Shooting+guard)
Laurinburg, North Carolina (http://rivals.yahoo.com/kentucky/basketball/recruiting/recruit-search-results;_ylt=AmGeOqeLdhZ8wTAQZfsJC5YksZB4?sport=ba sketball&year=2010&hometown=Laurinburg&state=North+Carolina)

Laurinburg (http://rivals.yahoo.com/kentucky/basketball/recruiting/recruit-search-results;_ylt=ApUAnuvXKl3jEnCZVoBxbO8ksZB4?sport=ba sketball&year=2010&highschool_text=Laurinburg&school=Laurinburg&state=North+Carolina)

Ht:6'8"
Wt:210 lbs
Class:2010 (Prep School)

[WildcatRick]

During the live blog last week, one of the most recurring questions that I received was from UK fans wondering who else Kentucky had their sights on that they might not know about. One of those guys is 2010’s Chris Hill, a versatile wing who now plays for Stevens Prep Academy in North Carolina. I had the chance to speak with Hill last night about what he did this summer, how his high school season is progressing and what he has planned for his college career.

Over the summer, Hill stayed away from the AAU scene and instead chose to take part in various Pro-Am tournaments, one of which was the now-infamous Greater North Carolina Pro-Am where John Wall posterized Jerry Stackhouse. It just so happens that Stackhouse is Hill’s godfather and his cousin is NBA star Amare Stoudemire. It seems that Hill has definitely received the same versatility gene that Stoudemire has made millions with. Although he stands at 6-9, he is listed as a SG/SF on his high school roster and says he can play anywhere from the two to the four. As you can see from the video above, he is also a ridiculous athlete. And before you start thinking there might be some bad blood between he and Wall because of Wall making Stackhouse a Youtube legend, there’s not. Hill and Wall are good friends, which is no surprise since they both grew up competing with the best of the best in North Carolina.

When it comes to rankings, you’d be smart not to pay too much attention to where the scouting services currently list Hill. Much like his other close friend, CJ Leslie, Hill’s decision not to compete on the traditional AAU scene kept the scouting services from being able to get a complete updated look at his game. Instead, I would suggest that you take a look at the schools pursuing this young man. He currently lists a top three of UK, Arizona and UConn. UK’s coaches have been down to see him before and Hill told me that he plans on seeing the UK staff again this Friday.

Hill has now started his high school season and has led his team to a 3-1 mark while posting an incredible stat line of 37 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists per game. He feels his ability to finish with either hand and explode off of either foot has helped him this season, along with the fact that, as his growth spurts have slowed, he’s gained more coordination.

Just as his high school season starts to really get rolling, Hill plans on taking a serious look at where he wants to attend college. Right now he’s shooting for a late December decision. Kentucky has yet to make an offer but with the growing amount of buzz surrounding this kid, I wouldn’t be surprised to see one in the future. As this recent article (http://www.usbasket.com/NCAA1/basketball.asp?NewsID=175827) on Hill notes, there are questions surrounding his eligibility, not because of Hill’s academic prowess but because he attended Laurinburg Prep briefly, a school that has been under academic investigation. Once those questions are cleared up, I would expect some offers to start rolling in. Hill is truly one of the under the radar kids right now and looks to have a tremendous amount of upside. Get to know him now and I’m sure we’ll have more with Hill in the future.

[WildcatRick]

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[UKDonkbet]

wow. 6'8" 210lbs. plays anywhere from 2 to 4 spot. now thats versatility. looks to be an outstanding athlete from the video. ANd handle well to be 6'8". Anyone know when his egilibility issues will be cleared up?

[KY Coal by Armbar]

I'm officially as excited about getting this young man as I am about Brandon Knight.

Any word on his commitment to defense?

[UKDonkbet]

I'm officially as excited about getting this young man as I am about Brandon Knight.

Any word on his commitment to defense?

+1. Any word on what kin dof defender Hill is?

[Blue_N_White]

Come on, guys....let's not get carried away and go overboard now. I can't believe you have as much desire to see someone we know virtually nothing about, as you would a guy (Knight) who won last year's 2009 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year Award, becoming just the third junior to receive this prestigious award (LeBron James and Greg Oden were the other two).


Knight is ranked as the #1 recruit in the country by Rivals, Hill isn't rated in their top 150.

Knight is rated as the #2 recruit in the country by Scout, Hill isn't rated among their top 100.

Knight is rated as the #4 recruit in the country by ESPN, with a grade of 98....Hill isn't rated in their top 100.


Knight, Selby, Harris, Jones, Lamb and Leslie are all guys I would much rather see wearing a Wildcats uniform than Hill. And so would Coach Cal....since he's offered every one of them, but hasn't offered Hill yet.

[KY Coal by Armbar]

Come on, guys....let's not get carried away and go overboard now. I can't believe you have as much desire to see someone we know virtually nothing about

Chris Hill isn't a PG and looks like an athletic freak on the wings. Plus, wasn't Bledsoe under the radar until he signed with us last year? If his highlights doesn't raise your heart rate... :shrug1:

[Blue_N_White]

Chris Hill isn't a PG and looks like an athletic freak on the wings. Plus, wasn't Bledsoe under the radar until he signed with us last year? If his highlights doesn't raise your heart rate... :shrug1:

Bledsoe was a top 60 overall player heading into his senior year....and generally considered to be a top 10 PG in his class. His play his senior year elevated him into the top 25 overall and the top 3 PGs in the country. But his jump in the rankings is more of an aberration than the norm and isn't something that happens a whole lot. He was already a known commodity...it just happened that he was being undervalued a bit heading into his senior year....

[Wildcat_Fan98]

It doesnt matter on rankings doesnt matter at all...If Cal likes this kids play then the kid can play at Kentucky.

[WildcatRick]

http://www.angelina.edu/Basketball/0708Men/33-Hill.JPG
Chris Hill is a guy that the staff at Kentucky has shown some interest in dating all the way back to their time in Memphis. That makes Memphis’ and Josh Pastner’s presence on his list no surprise. Right now Hill says that some of the schools on his mind include Kentucky, West Virginia, UConn, Memphis, Maryland and Arizona. Each one is equal in terms of which school is coming the hardest and making the most calls.

According to Hill, and also to most recruiting commentators I talk to, schools are ready to make much harder pushes once the academic concerns are in order, something that Hill says he is working very hard towards and hopes to have put behind him by March. Right now, Hill feels like two schools are standing out to him because of their staff’s ability to instruct players and put them in the NBA: UConn and Kentucky.

For the time being, aside from academics, Hill is also working on his game. Recently he could be spotted in Chicago working out with famed AAU coach and basketball instructor Mac Irvin. Hill says that, during these workouts, his focus is really on his “overall strength in the weight room and getting my explosiveness back because I suffered a tendon injury a long time ago that I never got rehabbed.” Hill’s opponents have to cringe at the thought of his explosiveness getting any better and I’m sure they’re not happy with that being just one of many things he’s working on. “I’m working on my ball handling, moving without the ball, a lot of shooting, a lot of counter-moves and my footwork,” he added.

Right now, Hill feels like he knows plenty about the different schools on his list and won’t need to take many, if any, visits to reach a final decision. Much of that knowledge comes from his large network of friends and family in the basketball world, including NBA star Amare Stoudamire.

When it comes to joining Stoudamire in the NBA, Hill feels like he knows what it is going to take. “It takes a lot of hard work and listening and focusing in.”

Expect Kentucky to give Hill a much closer look when the academic concerns are out of the way. Right now, Kentucky remains focused on Terrence Jones and CJ Leslie at the forward spots but a lot could change and offers could be made to others, including Hill, depending on how successful they are in their pursuit of Jones and Leslie.

[Tampa_Cat54]

http://blog.kentuckysportszone.com/2010/03/07/chris-hill-learn-the-name.aspx?ref=rss

KC: When will you announce where you will be going?
CH: The spring signing period!

KC: What is your favorite part about UK?
CH: That it's a environment of basketball and has the greatest tradition!

KC: Do you talk to any of the UK players? How often do you talk?
CH: Yeah John wall at least a few times a month through text or Facebook. He's a good friend!



"KC: If you could give one message to the UK fans, what would it be?
CH: That they're top 3 and have a great chance of landing me!"

Just a segment of the interview, more questions in there, all UK related.

** I meant "soon" in the title but cant change it. Sorry guys :/**