Billy Gillispie Era Opens With Top 30 Commit

No. 26-rated sophomore G.J. Vilarino joins Wildcats

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April 10, 2007

By Van Coleman

CSTV.com & Hoopmasters.com

 



 Van Coleman

Van is one of the nation's premier recruiting experts.
E-mail here!

We got a chance to see 6-foot-1 sophomore G.J. Vilarino up close and personal this past weekend in Fayetteville, Ark., at the Real Deal on the Hill. He is an exceptional young floor general, who has the ability to get his club into the offense and make others around him better. He is an impressive young player and now he is going to be a Kentucky Wildcat.

 

Forever to be remembered as the first recruit of the Billy Gillispie era:

 

"That's right, G.J. has committed to Kentucky," his father Gerry Vilarino told CSTV. "Kentucky is one of the four or five programs that have the kind of legacy you just don't say no to. With Coach Gillispie there, it was really a no-brainer for us."

 

"Coach Gillispie has been recruiting G.J. for some time, and we've been waiting to see what was going to happen," Mr. Vilarino continued. "Once it was Kentucky, G.J didn't feel there was any reason to wait. So he called Coach Gillispie and said he was committing to Kentucky."

 

Was it just about playing for Coach Gillispie or did Kentucky and its mystique play into the final decision?

 

"Well, if Coach Gillispie had stayed at A&M, G.J. might have waited a little longer," Mr. Vilarino explained. "But, the combination of Kentucky coupled with the chance to be coached by Coach Gillispie was just too much to pass on."

 

G.J. Vilarino is very advanced for his years. He handles the pressure of running the show against players two to three years his senior with a mature coolness. He can knock down jumper with regularity and needs to continue to get stronger to be ready for the wars of the SEC.

 

But according to Gerry Vilarino, his son understands he needs to continue to improve, especially with the high expectations of the Kentucky Wildcat fans.

 

"G.J. understands that you're never good enough." Mr. Vilarino said. "He needs to get stronger and knows that no one can shoot it good enough. But he has three summers to add strength and continue to develop his game."

 

G.J. Vilarino chose Kentucky over interest from Kansas, Florida, Illinois, and of course, Texas A&M, but according to his dad he had a "smorgasbord of opportunities."  In the end, Kentucky was an offer he couldn't refuse.

 

For Kentucky fans the Billy Gillispie era begins and the debate will start with this top 30 sophomore. One who understands the world he's entering!

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