Kentucky fans pull for all Wildcats that wear the blue and white, but there’s a special connection when a player from the state wears Kentucky across their chest.
2019 University Heights star, Dekeyvan (KyKy) Tandy is receiving interest from Kentucky. His high school coach, Grant Shouse told Go Big Blue Country on Friday that Kentucky is planning to watch him at the first session of the Under Armour circuit in Dallas this weekend.
Tandy, a 6-foot-1, 180lbs guard, is rated a four-star prospect by Rivals. In the most recent Rivals player rankings, Tandy climbed 33 spots to No. 83 overall, something Coach Shouse thinks will continue to climb.
“I think he’s going to climb,” said Shouse. “I think once people see more and more of him out there, they’re gonna see it, too.”
Kentucky fans continue to look for an offer to be extended to Tandy, but one is yet to be offered. Calipari and the UK staff didn’t make a stop in Hopkinsville during the spring recruiting period, but closing out the 2018 recruiting class was a priority for Calipari.
As for competition in his recruitment, a lot of major programs are already building a relationship with the four-star guard. Tennessee, Oklahoma, Iowa State, and Cincinnati were all in to visit Tandy as the spring period came to a close earlier this week, and each has offered him a scholarship, along with Western Kentucky, Florida, Kansas State, and New Mexico State.
Coach Shouse told Go Big Blue Country that all coaches were impressive, but Tennessee’s Rick Barnes and Cincinnati’s Mick Cronin were “very impressive.” If Calipari doesn’t offer and Tandy ends up at Cincinnati or Tennessee, that wouldn’t sit well with Kentucky fans.
“Cronin was impressive,” said Shouse. “They’ve got a lot to offer up there. They have a new arena and facilities coming in. Now, I don’t think any of that matters to KyKy. I was really impressed with Rick Barnes, but really all those guys in their own way were impressive.”
If Kentucky does extend an offer, the stage wouldn’t be too big for Tandy, who has already dominated once in front of Calipari. The UK head coach stopped in to watch him play in the regional championship game in March, where Tandy dropped 33 points to lead his team to the Sweet Sixteen at Rupp Arena. Coach Shouse says Tandy plays well in big moments and he’s been doing it for University Heights his entire career.
“The bigger the game, the bigger he plays. “I just think he’s that type of kid who rises to the occasion on that type of stage. When word got out that he [Calipari] was coming, I had a couple coaches of ours say, ‘that’s great for us.'”
Tandy plays for Team Thad on the Under Armour Circuit and they will be in Dallas, Texas for the first session this weekend. Next weekend’s session is in Indianapolis, the same city as session 2 of the Nike EYBL. Calipari and staff will have multiple opportunities to watch him play.
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