Clarksville (Tenn.) Northeast 5-star forward Alex Poythress announced for Kentucky, picking the Wildcats over Florida, Memphis and Vanderbilt at a ceremony at his school Thursday afternoon.

Poythress said when he called Calipari on the phone to let him know, "he started screaming."

247Sports' Colten Jones was on-hand as Poythress inked his national letter of intent with the Cats.

Q: Why Kentucky?

Alex Poythress: It was just a place I felt comfortable with. Coach Cal is a good coach; I like their offense. I just felt like I can get better there.

Q: On if the other UK commits impacted his decision ...

AP: I mean, it's good because I already know some of the guys who have committed there -- like Archie (Goodwin), and I know Willie (Cauley) a little bit. Ultimately, it was my decision. I was just trying to make the best decision for me. I was just making a business decision.

Q: How long have you known you would choose UK?

AP: Since last Friday. I've been thinking about it for awhile. Last Friday I was like, you know what, let's get it over with.

Q: How many times did you change your mind in this process?

On top of holding a 3.9 GPA, Poythress also holds down a part-time job at Wendy's.

AP: Ah, I changed my mind a lot. All four of these schools are great schools, so I couldn't go wrong either way.

Q: Who was your number two selection?

AP: I don't know. I just tried to figure out the first one and not worry about numbers two through four.

Q: On the selection process ...

AP: The process is a long one, but it's also exciting; you have to take it all in. Not everyone is able to be recruited as heavily as I was, so just take it in and enjoy it and make the right decision.

Q: Did you contact the other coaches about your decision?

AP: Yes, sir. I contact all three of them -- Vanderbilt, Florida, and Memphis -- 30 minutes ago.

Q: Was it difficult giving them the news?

AP: All three of the coaches were pretty all right about it. I mean, it's a nerve-wracking experience because you have relationships with these people, and it's like breaking up with your girlfriend. You don't want to do it, but you have to sometimes.

Q: What was your relationship like with Josh Pastner?

AP: Coach Pastner was an upbeat guy. I really enjoyed him. He was very positive about everything. He was a really great guy.

Q: Did you, at one point, think you were going [to Memphis]?

AP: Yeah, at one point I thought I was going to each of these schools.

Q: How hard was it to say no to Vandy?

AP: It was pretty hard. That was probably the hardest conversation I had on the phone.

Q: Do you really have a job at Wendy's?

AP: Yes, sir. I work at the Wendy's right over there (points to his right).

Q: Does it affect your basketball schedule?

AP: No, it doesn't affect basketball or anything.

Q: What do you do there?

AP: I make sandwiches.

Q: So someone is getting their sandwich made by a future basketball star?

AP: Someone's getting their sandwich made by me, yeah.

Q: On his conversation with Coach Cal and his reaction.

AP: Coach Cal ... I told him the news two nights ago. He was pretty excited; he started screaming and all that stuff. You can ask my mom; she was there with me. It was pretty exciting.

Q: So that was your first opportunity to get Coach Cal to start screaming at you?

AP: Yes ... it was.