By Brian McLaughlin

updated 2:58 p.m. ET May 6, 2009

On Wednesday, Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari picked up another impressive recruit when the news broke that five-star rated point guard Eric Bledsoe signed with the Wildcats. The 6-foot-1 point guard out of Parker (Birmingham, Ala.) had also seriously considered Memphis, and had scholarship offers from Florida, Ole Miss, Rutgers, Cincinnati and Alabama, among others.

"It was real tough," Bledsoe told The Memphis Commercial-Appeal. "You have a couple good schools and I just picked one of them ... You’ve got coaches calling you every day, new coaches coming. I’m kind of glad it’s over with. When I came (to Memphis last week for a visit), they treated me like I was O.J. Mayo. I thought I was going to come in and check in the hotel, but there were cameras everywhere." 

Calipari was able to get PF DeMarcus Cousins and SF Darnell Dodson to follow him to Kentucky from Memphis. Cousins was committed to the Tigers, while Dodson had signed with them in the fall but was granted his release when Calipari left.

The coach also was able to convince five-star center Daniel Orton to stick with the Wildcats after the coaching change. Orton had signed during the early national signing period late last fall. Also on board with Kentucky is four-star SG Jon Hood, who signed last year.

A trickle-down effect could take place with Bledsoe's signing. Still waiting to sign is the nation's top guard, John Wall. Wall, who played his high school basketball in Raleigh, N.C., also is considering Kentucky, and was considering Memphis before Calipari left the Tigers. Wall also has listed Duke, N.C. State, Miami (Fla.), Baylor, Florida and Kansas as possibilities for his services. He has until May 20 to sign with the school of his choice.

Bledsoe averaged 20 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds as a senior last year. He is rated a five-star prospect by Rivals.com.

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