Head coach Tubby Smith had put the Wildcats in a prime position for Jai Lucas, the McDonald's and Jordan Brand Classic All-American, before resigning his post on Mar. 22 to go to Minnesota.
Lucas, who was announced as UK special assistant to the head coach and recruiting coordinator Monday, ultimately chose Florida over Kentucky and Oklahoma State.
“I was coming. I was coming to Kentucky until Coach Smith left and took the Minnesota job,” Lucas said during a Zoom video-conference call Wednesday. “That kind of left me in scramble mode because I had made my mind up for months and that's how I ended up at Florida because they were the next school to call me at the McDonald's game so I kind of ended up with them. They had the momentum with Billy Donovan and winning two national championships.”
Two days after Lucas' commitment, Patterson chose Kentucky over Florida.
Walter Cornett, of Glendale, Kentucky, is the owner and operator of Walter's Wildcat World. He founded WildcatWorld.com in 1998 making it one of the oldest Kentucky basketball fan sites in operation today.