Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Carlton Bragg Would Love to Play with Kentucky-Bound Trey Lyles
By CHIP MILLER & ADAM ZAGORIAPADUCAH, Ky. – Carlton Bragg doesn’t hold a Kentucky offer but there’s one future Wildcat he would love to play with.
“Yes, I would love to play with Trey Lyles,” Bragg said Saturday at Mustang Madness.
Bragg made the comment after going for 24 points, nine rebounds and three assists as his Villa Angela St. Joseph (Ohio) team lost to Lyles and Indianapolis (IN) Arsenal Tech, 80-76. Lyles went for 29 points and 15 board with his future coach, Kentucky’s John Calipari, watching.
“[Calipari] told me that Carlton played very well, he had a great game,” Michael Graves,” Bragg’s mentor, told SNY.tv. “He didn’t settle for 3-point shots. He had a nice all-around game.”
The 6-foot-8 2015 forward admitted to being nervous when Calipari recently watched him play against Las Vegas Bishop Gorman and Stephen Zimmerman and Chase Jeter, but on Saturday he said he didn’t pay attention to the Kentucky coach.
“When he first came in I did [notice him], and towards the fourth quarter I did,” Bragg said. “I just focused on the game.”
Bragg holds a slew of high-major offers but recently said he still wants them from Kentucky and Syracuse.
For now, Orlando Antigua is telling Bragg Kentucky is focusing on filling out its four-man 2014 class. They are also involved with late signees Myles Turner and Rashad Vaughn.
“They just said they were worried about 2014,” Bragg said. “We stay in touch with Orlando, that’s pretty much.”
Bragg came away highly impressed with Lyles, who picked Kentucky over Louisville and is considered a lottery pick in 2015.
“He’s an amazing defender,” Bragg said. “Very strong. Very skilled too. If he didn’t play so lazy he could be better then what he was. He’s good though, very skilled.”
For his part, Bragg wants to be a wing in college and continues to develop his skillset.
“I want to be a three, stretch four,” he said. “Sometimes a five, but any position. I just want to play.”
As for college, Bragg plans to cut his list in September.
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Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
By CHIP MILLER & ADAM ZAGORIA
PADUCAH, Ky. – Carlton Bragg doesn’t hold a Kentucky offer but there’s one future Wildcat he would love to play with.
“Yes, I would love to play with Trey Lyles,” Bragg said Saturday at Mustang Madness.
Bragg made the comment after going for 24 points, nine rebounds and three assists as his Villa Angela St. Joseph (Ohio) team lost to Lyles and Indianapolis (IN) Arsenal Tech, 80-76. Lyles went for 29 points and 15 board with his future coach, Kentucky’s John Calipari, watching.
“[Calipari] told me that Carlton played very well, he had a great game,” Michael Graves,” Bragg’s mentor, told SNY.tv. “He didn’t settle for 3-point shots. He had a nice all-around game.”
The 6-foot-8 2015 forward admitted to being nervous when Calipari recently watched him play against Las Vegas Bishop Gorman and Stephen Zimmerman and Chase Jeter, but on Saturday he said he didn’t pay attention to the Kentucky coach.
“When he first came in I did [notice him], and towards the fourth quarter I did,” Bragg said. “I just focused on the game.”
Bragg holds a slew of high-major offers but recently said he still wants them from Kentucky and Syracuse.
For now, Orlando Antigua is telling Bragg Kentucky is focusing on filling out its four-man 2014 class. They are also involved with late signees Myles Turner and Rashad Vaughn.
“They just said they were worried about 2014,” Bragg said. “We stay in touch with Orlando, that’s pretty much.”
Bragg came away highly impressed with Lyles, who picked Kentucky over Louisville and is considered a lottery pick in 2015.
“He’s an amazing defender,” Bragg said. “Very strong. Very skilled too. If he didn’t play so lazy he could be better then what he was. He’s good though, very skilled.”
For his part, Bragg wants to be a wing in college and continues to develop his skillset.
“I want to be a three, stretch four,” he said. “Sometimes a five, but any position. I just want to play.”
As for college, Bragg plans to cut his list in September.
Follow Chip on Twitter
