Vanderbilt couldn’t keep Alex Poythress from leaving the state.
The 6-foot-8 forward from Clarksville announced on Thursday afternoon he was signing with Kentucky. He chose the Wildcats over Vanderbilt, Memphis and Florida.
Considered one of the top 20 prospects in the country, Poythress averaged more than 22 points, eight rebounds and three blocks a game as a junior last season at Northeast High School.
The early signing period began Wednesday and runs through Nov. 16. Vanderbilt has received two verbal commitments but has yet to receive a national letter of intent. Small forward Kevin Bright, from Germany, and shooting guard A.J. Astroth, from Tampa, have both committed to the Commodores.
This signing class is crucial for Vanderbilt as it loses five scholarship seniors and possibly junior shooting guard John Jenkins, who might leave early for the NBA Draft.