April 14, 2010

Video highlights of Enes Kanter | Transcript of Calipari from ESPNU signing day show

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Enes Kanter has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at the University of Kentucky, head coach John Calipari announced Wednesday.

A senior at Stoneridge Preparatory School in Simi Valley, Calif., Kanter ranks 25 th on ESPNU’s top 100 and is rated a five-star player by both Rivals.com and Scout.com recruiting services.

“Enes has the body and potential to be special,” Calipari said. “I look forward to working with all the incoming players and our returnees as we build on the foundation we set with our 35-3, Elite Eight team.”

The 6-foot-10, 235-pound Kanter, who hails from Turkey, finished with 34 points and 13 rebounds at the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Ore., over the weekend. Kanter’s 13-of-21 shooting performance from the field set the World Team Nike Hoop Summit record for field goals made and attempted and his 34 points broke the individual World Team scoring record of 33 points set by Dirk Nowitzki in 1998.

Kanter played for the Turkish under-18 national team in 2009 and was named the championship’s MVP after averaging 18.6 points and a tournament-best 16.4 rebounds a game as Turkey won the bronze medal at the European Championships in France.

Kanter joins Stacey Poole Jr. as the first two signees for the Wildcats in the 2010 class.