Kentucky adds Australian 7-footer Isaac Humphries
Kentucky confirmed the signing of Australian 7-footer Isaac Humphries on Thursday, adding yet another standout piece to the Wildcats’ top-ranked 2015 recruiting class.
Kentucky coach John Calipari confirmed Humphries’s signing in a release, although the move was widely expected after Humphries reclassified from the 2016 class to 2015.
Listed at 7'0" and 250 pounds by most recruiting services, Humphries joins a Kentucky frontcourt that is tasked with replacing NBA draft picks Karl-Anthony Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein, Trey Lyles and Dakari Johnson. Humphries joins 6'11" forward Skal Labissiere as freshmen on Kentucky’s front line; the two are also among the Wildcats’ four international recruits in the 2015 class, joining Jamal Murray and Mychal Mulder from Canada (Labissiere is from Haiti).
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Humphries played last season at La Lumiere School in Indiana. The Sydney, Australia, native helped the Australian U17 National Team win the silver medal at the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship, leading the team in scoring (18.9 points per game), rebounding (11.6), blocked shots (3.3) and field-goal percentage (.576).
Before reclassifying to 2015, Humphries was the No. 35 player in the class of 2016 by Rivals.com, which ranks Kentucky’s 2015 class No. 1 ahead of Duke, Arizona, LSU and Ohio State.
“I watched Isaac when he first came over to the United States in high school in Indiana and was impressed with his skill and size,” Calipari said. “He reminded me of a much bigger Josh Harrellson. He’s very skilled, has great hands and is a great passer. To have a 7-footer who just turned 17, he has a lot still in front of him, and the best part is he wants the challenge of playing at Kentucky.”
- Mike Fiammetta
