Five-star forward Karl Towns chooses UK

Kentucky received some expected, but exciting news on Tuesday morning when five-star forward Karl Towns verbally committed to the Wildcats.

Kentucky fans will have to wait a while to see him in the blue and white, but not as long as originally planned. Towns said he's reclassifying to the 2014 high school class.

In a press conference at his high school at on Tuesday morning, Towns officially announced what everyone had expected - he's going to be a part of Big Blue Nation.

Towns, a 6-foot-10 combo forward from Metuchen (N.J.) St. Joseph's, officially chose Kentucky over other offers from Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Michigan, Michigan State, Seton Hall, Rutgers and Florida.

The recruitment was generally considered a three-way battle between Kentucky, Duke and Florida that ended up being just a formality.

Since visiting Kentucky in October for Big Blue Madness it had appeared that an eventual commitment from Towns was imminent.

Speculation began that Towns had made his decision to play for the Big Blue in mid-November when the five-star announced that he would be announcing his decision just before the start of his high school season.

Often compared to a young Dirk Nowitzki, Towns is an inside-outside forward with an exceptionally refined skill set. .

"He can shoot it from NBA range, but now that he's developed a low post game he's a total offensive threat," his father, Karl Towns Sr., said in an interview this fall. "Guys have been working with him for years on his ballhandling. In fact, Rod Strickland is someone who has really helped him. He's got the whole package inside and outside; he's not just a spot-up shooter anymore."

While the Wildcats already have five players signed in the 2013 class through the fall signing period, Towns is the only underclassman who is verbally committed to Kentucky coach John Calipari.

Check back with Cats Illustrated on Tuesday afternoon for more analysis on the Towns' commitment, including quotes from the family.