Penny Hardaway: Cats will love Labissiere

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. – While John Calipari wedged himself inside a standing-room-only gym to watch the No. 1 recruit in 2016 on Friday night, a former NBA star weighed in on the top player from 2015, who is already on Kentucky's campus.

Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway coached Skal Labissiere, Scout.com's No. 1 incoming freshman and DraftExpress.com's projected No. 1 pick, for his Memphis-based Team Penny on the AAU circuit. Hardaway believes Wildcats fans should be giddy about what they're getting.

"All-around player, inside-outside, runs the floor, very athletic, a great team player. They're going to be in for a great surprise there," the former All-American and four-time NBA All-Star said. "I mean, they've had some great players; he's just going to be one of the many great players that have gone there."

While Kentucky has had a run of elite big men in DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Nerlens Noel, Willie Cauley-Stein and Karl-Anthony Towns, Hardaway believes the wiry, 6-foot-11 Labissiere will be a bit different than all of them.

"He can stretch it all the way out to the 3-point line, he can pass. His difference is that he can stretch the defense," Hardaway said. "I haven't seen a guy at Kentucky in the last few years that can actually stretch the defense at (that size). All the other guys are kind of slashers. He can stretch and he can slash."

He's had regular conversations with Calipari, who came to the Cats from Hardaway's alma mater, Memphis, and they agree on Labissiere's potential.

"He's excited, because he knows what Skal is going to bring to the table: hard worker. It's always good to have great kids, and he's a beautiful kid," Hardaway said. "He's willing to do whatever it takes to win, whether it's sitting on the bench or whether it's playing. So that's what you want."

He also offered a few off-the-court thoughts on Kentucky's last 6-11 star, Karl-Anthony Towns, who was just the No. 1 pick in the NBA. Starting draft week, Towns rolled out sketches and a toy version of "Karlito," a mini-caricature based on a joke the Cats' coaches made last season about how he talked to himself in practice. Karlito has his own Twitter account with more than 4,000 followers.

Years ago, "Lil Penny," a Nike ad campaign featuring a mini-Hardaway doll, was a huge success.

"I think that's cool," he said of Towns' version. "No. 1 pick, Lil Karlito, he's trying to brand himself. If he gets it going, then it could be really big for him. I'm still getting sneakers made by Nike right now, and I'm out of the league seven years. Lil Penny goes along with that. That's something that will last a lifetime.

"When I'm dead and gone, Lil Penny will still be around. So if Lil Karlito can match that, that'd be great."

Kyle Tucker can be reached at (502) 582-4361. Follow him on Twitter @KyleTucker_CJ.