Wildcats open 2003-04 signing period by inking pair of guards

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky’s Tubby Smith announced Wednesday that the Wildcats opened the 2003-04 national signing period by inking a pair of high school guards – Ramel Bradley of New York City, and Adam Williams of St. Albans, W.Va.

“Ramel Bradley and Adam Williams are just what we need ? what we have been looking for,” Smith said. “They are great additions to our Wildcat basketball family. We recruit people that will fit our needs and compliment our group of returning players. These two will fit very well into our plans. The future is bright.”

The highest-rated prep player in West Virginia, the 6-4 Williams was named first-team Class AAA all-state and the Kanawha County Player of the Year as a junior after averaging 19 points, eight rebounds and nearly four assists for St. Albans High. He is rated as the No. 32 shooting guard in the nation, and No. 149 overall, according to Rivals.com.

“Adam is a player with a lot of upside to him,” Smith said. “He’s learned a lot of basketball from his father, Tex, who is an outstanding coach in West Virginia. Adam has been in our basketball camps a couple of times, and he is developing into the type of player and student-athlete that we can all be very proud of here at Kentucky.”

Bradley, a 6-2 combo guard, attends The Pendleton School in Bradenton, Fla., after playing at Virginia’s Mount Zion Academy as a junior. Nationally, Rivals.com rates him as the No. 88 player overall and No. 19 among shooting guards.

“Ramel, who plays the point or two (guard), has tremendous quickness, great ball-handling skills and an ability to find the open man as well as score himself. He is coming from a program where he is competing against great competition and will be able to step in and contribute right away.”

The early signing period runs from Nov. 12-19. Spring signing begins April 14.