Arizona & Kentucky Wildcats battling for elite pair of hoops recruits

Apr 6, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Wichita State Shockers forward Carl Hall (22) reaches for the ball during the semifinals during the 2013 NCAA mens Final Four at the Georgia Dome. Louisville Cardinals guard/forward Luke Hancock (11) defends at right. Mandatory Credit: Chris Steppig/NCAA Photos via USA TODAY Sports /

With the 2013-14 college basketball season approaching fast, many of the nation’s top recruits are winding down their recruitment in hopes of committing to a college during the early signing period in November. The Kentucky Wildcats will likely open the season No. 1 in most major polls, but one team that could spoil there hopes of claiming their ninth national championship are ironically another Wildcats team.

Arizona is projected to be somewhere in the top-10 when the season opens, and with a wealth of talent that Sean Miller has assembled, we could very well see a Cat fight of epic proportions in the NCAA Final Four at some point.

But before the two squads hit the hardwood with their current teams, they’ll be looking to lock-up the recruits who they hope will make-up their future teams. Two players in particular they’re battling for are Mater Dei High (Calif.) wing Stanley Johnson and St. John’s School (Texas) small forward Justise Winslow.

Johnson is ranked No. 8 in the Class of 2014 by Rivals, and Winslow is listed as No. 16, also by Rivals, and the two have made it clear they want to play together in college:

Stanley Johnson on his potential package deal w/ Justise Winslow. "I'll be honest I think it's gonna happen. We'll see; long process."
— Jason Jordan (@JasonNCJordan) September 19, 2013

The commons schools between the two 2014 wings are Arizona, Duke, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky and UCLA, though the two are keying in on Arizona, UK and Florida.