Five-star Fultz has UL offer, wants UK

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Five-star shooting guard Markelle Fultz has a heap of college scholarship offers that he's happy with, including the University of Louisville, but he's holding off on making a decision in hopes that three more premier programs will pursue him.

"Kentucky, Duke and North Carolina. Those are the schools I really want an offer from," Fultz said Wednesday during the NBPA Top 100 camp at the University of Virginia. "I'm going to keep working until I get one – and even if I don't, I'm still good with the schools I have now."

The 6-foot-4, 170-pound guard is rated the No. 23 overall prospect in the Class of 2016 by Scout.com, a rather remarkable climb considering he was on DeMatha (Md.) Catholic's junior varsity team a little more than a year ago. That put a chip on his shoulder that Wildcats coach John Calipari and Cardinals coach Rick Pitino both love.

"I've talked to Cal plenty of times," said Fultz, who recently visited UK. "He really likes my game and the way I came up from JV to varsity. He really likes my story. (The visit) was a good experience to see the campus and the atmosphere for the players that go there and to see how close the dorm is to the practice gym and see how easy it is to get better.

"Sitting down and talking to Cal face to face was just a great experience. They're just trying to see what they're doing with the (recruiting class), so he said don't be discouraged I didn't pick up an offer yet. Hopefully it will come."

But Louisville isn't slow-playing Fultz, who has a "great relationship" with Pitino and the Cards' assistant coaches, has visited the campus twice and said, "I really like them." The feeling is mutual.

"(Pitino) just said he really likes me as a kid, that I'm good on and off the court, that I'm not cocky, really humble," Fultz said. "He likes the way I work. I'm different from other superstars that are really good. … I'm willing to work like somebody that has no offers."

In reality, his offer list includes the likes of Arizona, Kansas, Maryland, Virginia, Memphis and Georgetown. As for the state of Kentucky's two powerhouse programs, Fultz was asked Wednesday to compare them.

"That's very hard, really," he said after opening the Top 100 camp with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting in 22 minutes, "because they're both great schools, both legendary coaches. It's really hard to compare them. I just took both coaches and listened to what they had to say, took it as a learning experience and helped to improve my game."

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