RECRUITING

First official visit for Wilkes? It may be a surprise

Kyle Neddenriep

North Central High School sophomore Kris Wilkes (31) brings the ball up court during the first half of action. Lawrence North High School hosted North Central High School in a first-round game of the 2015 Marion County Boys Basketball Tournament, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015.

Where does Kris Wilkes, one of the nation's top 2017 basketball prospects, plan to take his first official visit?

Probably not where you'd imagine.

The 6-8 Wilkes, a North Central junior and ranked No. 18 nationally in the 2017 class by Rivals, was offered a scholarship by UCLA on Monday. He also owns offers from Butler, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Purdue, Vanderbilt and Xavier.

But that first official visit? It may go to Cornell, of the Ivy League.

"Cornell really wants him to visit but it's a 10-hour drive," Wilkes' father, Greg Wilkes said. "We want Cornell to be his first official visit. You only get five so we want to be picky about those. We'll sit down a set a date here pretty soon."

The NCAA adjusted its rules three years ago to allow prospects to take official visits after Jan. 1 of their junior year.

Wilkes averaged 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and shot 58 percent from the field as a sophomore at North Central.