Top recruit says the wrong school while announcing his choice
One of this year's most anticipated recruiting decisions quickly turned awkward Thursday afternoon when elite prospect Carlton Bragg let his nerves get the best him during a press conference at his high school.
As Bragg put on the Kansas hat he had just grabbed from underneath the podium, the 6-foot-9 power forward announced that next year he planned to attend "the University of Kentucky."
Bragg immediately realized his mistake and buried his head in his hands. Then with a sheepish laugh, he corrected himself, saying simply "Kansas, I'm sorry."
If the slip-up caused the hearts of thousands of Kansas fans watching from home to skip a beat, they'll surely forgive Bragg. The highly touted Ohio native has been one of Bill Self's top Class of 2015 targets and could play a big role right away for the Jayhawks next season depending on whether freshman Cliff Alexander and junior Perry Ellis return to Lawrence or not.
Bragg, Rivals.com's No. 14 recruit in the Class of 2015, is a power forward with the face-up skills to beat other big men off the dribble and the athleticism to run the floor and finish above the rim. He received scholarship offers from many of the top programs in the nation before narrowing his list to Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA and Illinois earlier this winter.
When Bragg announced earlier in the week that he was ready to make a decision, it was clear UCLA was likely out since he hadn't visited the school yet. Most recruiting analysts considered Kansas the favorite leading up to Thursday's press conference, and Bragg validated that thought process ... albeit with some unexpected drama.
Fake-outs by recruits have unfortunately become more common in recent years as interest in where top football and basketball prospects will attend college has mushroomed.
Alexander intentionally duped fans in his home state by donning an Illinois cap before ditching it in favor of a Kansas one in Nov. 2013. Coveted guard L.J. Peak did the same to South Carolina a few months earlier before throwing that hat away and putting on a Georgetown one instead.
Stunts like that are a little immature and disrespectful considering the time and money each school invests in pursuing a top recruit. What Bragg did, however, is endearing by comparison.
This was a kid who apparently was anxious making the biggest announcement of his life so far, and got a little tongue-tied as a result.
Rivals.com video of Bragg:
(Thanks for the video, Drew Franklin)
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
