Raleigh forward to visit Kentucky

C.J. Leslie, Raleigh Word of God's outstanding basketball forward, plans to be in Lexington, Ky., on Friday night for the Wildcats' Midnight Madness.

But that doesn't mean that the University of Kentucky is the favorite to land the 6-foot-8, 200-pound forward who is rated among the best in the country.

"I am wide open," Leslie said. "I haven't narrowed my list down at all. I just want to check out their Midnight Madness."

Former Word of God teammate John Wall, a freshman at Kentucky, was in town last weekend, and Leslie and Wall spent time together on Friday and Saturday. Leslie will see Wall again this weekend in Lexington.

"It would be fun to play with him at point guard in college, but I'm still gathering information," Leslie said. "I really am wide open."

Leslie also recently played with N.C. State commitment Ryan Harrow of Marietta (Ga.) Walton. Leslie had been committed to State until March, when he decided to open the recruiting process.

Harrow is related to current Word of God coach Erasto Hatchett.

This fall, Leslie had in-home visits with the coaches from Kentucky, Florida, Maryland, Oregon, Georgia Tech, Georgetown, N.C. State and Florida International, which is now coached by Isiah Thomas, one of Leslie's favorites when he was growing up.

But, he said, the University of North Carolina is no longer recruiting him.

Leslie said he was looking for a school where he would fit in.

"I'd like to go somewhere where my style of play would fit in," he said. "I want to go to a school where I will get better."

Scout.com has Leslie No. 12 on its list of top seniors, but some analysts say Leslie is as good a prospect as any player in the country.

He said he didn't know if he would sign in the fall or next spring.

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