Video: Behind the scenes with McDonalds All American See Kevin Knox when he was a Tampa Catholic standout.
Kevin Knox is another Kentucky one-and-done with tremendous upside.
A McDonald's All-American from
Tampa Catholic (Tampa, Fla.), Knox is young (he won't turn 19 until August), but versatile. A 6-foot-9, 215-pound frame, combined with a 7-foot wingspan means Knox can play either forward position and is quick enough to switch on a guard or strong enough to handle a center.
The No. 11 player in the Class of 2017 according to 247Sports, Knox has seen his draft stock rise in the past few weeks. The Florida Mr. Basketball had a goal of being a one-and-done and playing in the NBA. He gave up football sophomore year to focus on basketball and has been on a collision course with that dream ever since.
And while Kentucky coach John Calipari counseling Knox to stay for one more year with the Wildcats, it appears several NBA teams think he's ready.
Read on for a deeper dive on what Knox's high school career might tell us about his NBA future.
Prospect Report Card — Kevin Knox
High School Record: 86-34 at Tampa Catholic. Reached Florida 5A finals once, semifinals twice and quarterfinals once.
Stats/Accomplishments: 2,760 points in four-year career at Tampa Catholic.
Outstanding Achievement: The Florida Mr. Basketball and McDonald's All-American averaged a double-double his final three years of high school. He starred on varsity his freshman year at Tampa Catholic as the football team's quarterback (he says he can sling a football 70 yards) and was once a top 150 recruit as an athlete.
Needs work: The 6-foot-9, 215-pounder has an NBA build, but would have to add some bulk to be effective down low against 4s and 5s. The 18-year-old (he turns 19 in August) needs to work on his motor and focus.
Best Fit: On the rise recently in several mock drafts, Knox has been linked to the Knicks at No. 9 and Hornets at No. 11. His best fit could be as a combo forward player with the Utah Jazz at No. 21 or might pair with Phoenix's No. 1 pick in rebuilding the Suns' fortunes at No. 15.
