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.
- Chris Fisher
- Kentucky Insider - CatsPause