[Getty Images Photo]
Another top recruiting target is changing schools for the 2020-21 high school basketball season.
Power forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield is a top-five player in the 2022 class and the No. 1 player at his position. He’s also expected to reclassify to the 2021 recruiting class.
Huntley-Hatfield is moving from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. after two seasons to Scotland Performance Institute in Scotland, Pennsylvania.
Point guards Kennedy Chandler and Skyy Clark have also both decided to change schools — just like UK signee Isaiah Jackson did for his senior season.
The 6-8 Huntley-Hatfield is a Clarksville, Tenn., native. His cousin is former Wildcat Alex Poythress, who played at Clarksville Northeast.
He was in Rupp Arena last season when the Cats beat Louisville in overtime and had a spring Zoom call with John Calipari. His lead recruiter is assistant Joel Justus.
Like a lot of top players, Huntley-Hatfield has said Kentucky was his dream school growing up. That’s one reason Kentucky has been considered the leader for the power forward. However, the player recently pointed out on Twitter that he did not have a favorite.
“I think we should get ONE THING straight…I love Kentucky, they were my dream school growing up and ALL those things are true but I am open and interested in ALL schools interested in me. I am not stuck on one school whatsoever. My options are completely open! Just to clear the air!!” he tweeted.
He already has scholarship offers from Auburn, Baylor Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Kansas, Memphis, Mississippi, Seton Hall, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest.
However, with the way some recent UK recruiting targets have opted for the G-League and big money, take note of what he told Rivals.com recruiting analyst Corey Evans in October at a USA Basketball camp:
“I feel like if the rule changes and the opportunity comes, I might try and jump from high school to the league (NBA), or whatever is best for me. If I feel like I need to go to college, I will go to college but that if I feel like I can make the jump, I will go to the league out of high school.”
The NBA is considering a rule change that would allow high school players to do that and we’ve all already seen players go to the G-League. So just file that tidbit away as we watch his recruitment.
