KK Curry Recruiting Report (2018)
In the first half of 2017, Cleveland High School guard Ikcaven “KK” Curry (#9 PrepHoopsTN) added several D1 options to an expanding list.
“He has offers from Middle Tennessee, ETSU, Chattanooga, South Alabama, Murray State, and UAB,” offered Team NLP AAU Coach Steve Cook.
September and October generally become prime visiting months for 2018 stars like KK.
“We are going to do a Florida at UAB football game (11/18),” said Coach Cook. “Go down to UAB and do that. Once we get closer to basketball season we are going to take official visits, hopefully go to practices, go to game.”
The UAB visit will give Curry a second chance to see their program. He wants to see a typical college Saturday.
“Get a feel for the student body,” said Coach Cook.
As August neared a close, KK Curry elected to transfer to a prep school. He is now familiarizing himself with a new student body.
Transfer!
“KK has officially transferred high schools,” said Coach Cook. “He is going to St. Thomas More in Oakdale, CT.”
Curry, Curry’s family, and coaches formally decided to make the transfer about three weeks ago.
Back in June Stameshia Curry, KK’s mother, told The Chattanoogan that KK was not transferring for sure.
“Ever since he was a sophomore private schools and academies have wanted him to come play for them,” Curry’s mother said to The Chattanoogan in June. “I know he’s a good basketball player with a lot of talent and ability, but I’m his mom. I graduated from Cleveland High School and I haven’t looked at any private schools or academies and I want this to stop. I don’t plan to pull my sons out of Cleveland High School. If they do leave, I will tell the coaches and call you.”
This transfer will push back his intended visits to East Tennessee State and possibly Middle Tennessee.
Curry intended to visit East Tennessee State earlier this month. It would have been his first visit to that deeply interested program.
“(ETSU) Coach Forbes is very high on him,” said Coach Cook in early August. “ETSU is really trying to build a great relationship with him.”
Last winter Curry had budding interest from Alabama, Vanderbilt, and Clemson the most likely visit destinations are teams that have offered to date.
Clemson did lure John Newman III (NC) into a verbal commitment right out of AAU season. Considering the program has two other young wings their interest in Curry might be on the wane.
“Once KK gets settled in to school there, we will start taking visits to ETSU, MTSU, UAB, and UT-Chatt at the end of the calendar year,” said Coach Cook. “More around November and December.”
Evaluation
What does KK Curry do well on the floor? What skills does he offer both St. Thomas More now and a D1 college soon thereafter?
“He will definitely be a wing, slasher,” said Coach Cook. “He has worked a lot on his jumpshot this past year…becoming a more consistent jump shooter in the mid-range.”
Curry’s slashing and body impressed high school coaches early in his prep career, but like most gifted slashers he needed to fine tune that shooting touch.
Coach Cook sees that progression moving along swimmingly.
“What college coaches have fallen in love with him he is 6’5” and has extremely long wingspan,” said Coach Cook. “Very athletic. Very fast. Can get up and down the court. Can score. People wouldn’t say he is a shooter but he can put up points in a hurry.”
The ability to score, rebound, and ideally defend college wings make up the Curry file.
“He was our #1 offensive option this summer,” said Coach Cook. “He led us in scoring a about 17-18 ppg. That is a lot of points with the amount of talent we have on our team this year.”
Curry’s recruiting will probably soar by playing against and with many more D1 hoopers. St. Thomas More gets a difficult schedule and often lures in low-major and mid-major coaches to regular season games.
Frankly the level of winter exposure just isn’t the same in Cleveland, Tennessee that it will be in Connecticut where dozens of D1 assistant coaches can hop over to his practices and make it home for dinner.