**๐ก๐ถ๐ธ๐ผ๐น๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ฎ: ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ป ๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐บ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ถ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ ๐๐๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐๐ธ๐ฒ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ท๐ผ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐๐ฐ๐ธ๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐…**
The decision to decommit from Duke basketballโone of the most storied programs in NCAA historyโwasnโt one I made lightly. For months, I had envisioned myself wearing that iconic blue and white jersey, playing under Coach Jon Scheyer in Cameron Indoor Stadium, and becoming part of a legacy that includes names like Zion Williamson, Grant Hill, and Kyrie Irving. But sometimes, life throws you a curveball, and you have to trust your gut. My gut told me Kentucky was where I needed to be. This is the real story behind my flipโthe reasons nobodyโs talking about, the conversations that changed everything, and why I believe Lexington is the place where my game will reach its full potential.
First, letโs get one thing straight: Duke didnโt do anything wrong. The coaching staff was incredible to me from day one. They believed in my game, made me a priority, and treated me like family. But as my recruitment process unfolded, I started to realize that the *fit* had to be about more than just tradition or prestigeโit had to be about development, playing style, and where I could grow into the best version of myself. Thatโs when Kentucky entered the picture in a major way.
The turning point came during an in-home visit with Coach John Calipari. He didnโt just talk to me about winning games or putting up statsโhe laid out a *blueprint* for how he sees my game translating to the next level. Calipariโs track record with guards speaks for itself: Derrick Rose, John Wall, Devin Booker, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murrayโฆ the list goes on. He didnโt promise me a starting spot or guaranteed minutes (and I respect that), but he did promise something even more valuable: a system that would push me to my limits and prepare me for the NBA grind. At Duke, the offense is more structured, more set-play heavy. At Kentucky, thereโs more freedom to create, to play in transition, to *experiment*โand as a combo guard who thrives in space, that matters.
Then thereโs the roster construction. Kentuckyโs 2024 class is stacked, but not in a way that feels overcrowded. At Duke, I wouldโve been part of a loaded backcourt with multiple five-star guards fighting for the same role. At UK, the pieces fit together differentlyโthereโs a clearer path to impact early, and Calipariโs system is built to highlight versatile guards who can score and distribute. I didnโt want to just be another name in the rotation; I wanted to be *the guy* who changes games. Kentucky gave me that belief.
But the biggest factor? The underdog mentality. People forget that Kentucky wasnโt even in my top five originally. They came in late, but when they did, they came *hard*. Thereโs something special about proving yourself in a place that wasnโt the obvious choice. Duke is Dukeโtheyโll always get the benefit of the doubt. Kentucky? Theyโve had down years, theyโve faced criticism, and theyโve had to fight to reclaim their spot at the top. That hunger resonated with me. Iโve always played with a chip on my shoulder, and now I get to do it for a program that does the same.
Some people will say I flipped for NIL money. Let me shut that down right now: this wasnโt about the highest bidder. Both Duke and Kentucky have powerhouse collectives, and both schools couldโve made competitive offers. This was about *where I would become the best player I can be*. Kentuckyโs player development, Calipariโs NBA connections, and the way theyโre building this roster just made too much sense to ignore.
So yeah, leaving Duke was one of the hardest decisions Iโve ever made. But when I put on that Kentucky jersey for the first time, I know Iโll feel itโthat this is where I was meant to be. The Wildcats arenโt just getting a recruit; theyโre getting a player with something to prove. And trust me, I plan on proving it every single night.
