COMMITMENT: Four-star tight end picks Kentucky
Four-star tight end Brenden Bates has committed to Kentucky. He's the highest-ranked commitment for the Cats from the 2018 recruiting class.
On Wednesday morning Cats Illustrated reported at the House of Blue premium forum that Bates would be a player to watch in the near future.
Now the four-star prospect from powerhouse and prep talent factor Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller is a Kentucky commitment.
The 6-foot-5, 220-pound junior is ranked the No. 10 tight end in the nation, the No. 8 player in Ohio and the No. 222 prospect on the Rivals250 from the 2018 class.
Some of Bates' other offers are from Cincinnati, Duke, Indiana, Iowa, Louisville, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Toledo, Vanderbilt and West Virginia.
Bates attended both of Kentucky's junior days in the early part of 2017. After his trip to UK at the end of January, Bates told Cats Illustrated that the facilities were unbelievable and he loved the atmosphere around campus. On that first trip Bates spoke extensively with tight ends coach and Ohio recruiter Vince Marrow, who told Bates that he would be a great fit in Kentucky's offense.
Then, after Bates' trip to Kentucky for UK's junior day at the end of February, he told Cats Illustrated that he had learned a lot about the living arrangements on campus. That second trip gave Bates a better opportunity to speak at length with the coaching staff.
Bates had unofficially visited Cincinnati twice before his commitment to Kentucky. There was talk that Bates could unofficially visit Ohio State, Louisville and Duke, but Marrow was able to seal the deal with his first commitment from Ohio in the 2018 cycle.