Two guards and a forward have signed national letters of intent to play college basketball at Kentucky, Coach Tubby Smith announced on November 15. Josh Carrier of Bowling Green, Ky., Chuck Hayes of Modesto, Calif., and Rashaad Carruth of College Park, Ga., will all be freshmen at UK when the Cats open play next season.
Carrier, a 6-5 guard at Bowling Green High School, is the son of former ABA star and Western Kentucky All-American DarelCarrier. The younger Carrier made the Street & Smith High Honorable Mention All-America list this fall after earning first-teamAll-State honors last spring from the Louisville Courier-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader. In 29 games last season, he averaged 23.8 points per game, while shooting 45 percent from the field and 41 percent from three-pointrange. In leading Coach Ernie Simpson’s team to a 4th Region semifinal berth, Carrier was named the region’s MVP.
“Everyone knows of Josh’s outstanding career at Bowling Green High School,” Smith said. “He has great bloodlines for thegame of basketball since his dad, Darel Carrier, was an All-American at Western. Josh knows the game, he understands UKbasketball since he’s grown up here in the state and he’ll provide needed depth on our perimeter. We welcome him and his parentsto our Wildcat family.”
Hayes, a 6-7, 235-pound forward at Modesto Christian, is a four-year varsity letterman who led his squad to a 35-2 recordlast season. He averaged 26 points, 19 rebounds and seven assists per game to earn All-District, All-League and All-State honors.In the 2000 Northern California finals, he grabbed 31 rebounds, a California High School record for all divisions.
Hayes, who was an All-State football player as a sophomore, benches 295 pounds, squats 450 pounds, runs the 40-yard dashin 4.8 seconds and carries a 3.0 GPA, according to his coach, Gary Porter.
“Chuck brings that physical presence to our team. He’s versatile and can play either the small or power forward positions,”Smith said. “He’s had a great scholastic career and he’s an amazing athlete who will have an immediate impact on our team. Again,we’re glad to have him and his parents join our UK family.”
Hayes has been named the District Player of the Year the last two seasons and averaged 19 points and 16 rebounds as asophomore.
Carruth, a 6-3 guard from Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., will join two former Oak Hill stars already on theKentucky roster Jules Camara and former teammate Cliff Hawkins. Carruth is known as one of the top shooters in the senior classand is ranked by most analysts as one of the top 25 players in the nation.
He transferred to Oak Hill midway through his sophomore season and last year led Coach Steve Smith’s Warriors in scoring,averaging 17.3 ppg. He shot 50.2 percent from the field, 43.8 percent from three-point range and 81.9 percent from the foul line inleading Oak Hill to a 30-2 record and a final No. 2 ranking by USA Today. This year, Oak Hill is ranked No. 1 in the nationalpreseason poll.
“We’re excited about Rashaad joining our team,” Smith said. “He is one of the most talented shooting guards in the nation andhe’s very versatile. He fits our up-tempo style of play and he’s another fine addition from Oak Hill Academy and Steve Smith’sprogram. We’re glad to have Rashaad and his parents, the Blackshears, in our program.”
The November signing period ends today, Nov. 15.
