Joshua Paschal is a name that Cats Illustrated members have heard about for many months. He's the younger brother of a former Wildcat, has visited Lexington many times, and has been on UK's recruiting radar since he emerged as a big-time recruit at Olney (Md.) Our Lady of Good Counsel.
But it's been a while since Paschal has visited Lexington. When Cats Illustrated asked Paschal about his last trip to UK, first he said it was last summer but then amended that to indicate he visited in the fall. It's been a while, either way, and Paschal has visited plenty of other schools in the meantime.
"I've visited North Carolina," Paschal said, indicating that UNC is a school that has come on strong recently. "I visited Maryland, of course, and I hear from Maryland on a regular basis. I visited Clemson, too. Those were for junior days."
He shared his thoughts on each visit.
North Carolina: "I just liked the way they set up the junior day and I liked their position coach and how their coaches have a special connection to the place. I just liked the vibe from North Carolina."
Clemson: "It was everything I expected. I liked it a lot because the coaches were really down to earth and I was glad I got to know them on the visit. The campus was amazing and everything down there is just beautiful. I also got to see a practice and I loved it."
Maryland: "It was a really good atmosphere. It was a better atmosphere than it was before with the new coaches they've got. You can tell it'll be a different atmosphere. I know one player there, Adam McLean, and I know a player coming in like Travon Stott."
It's worth noting Paschal has not spoken with Chad Scott, a former Kentucky assistant turned UNC assistant. So that's not a factor in UNC's interest.
Clemson is the one school of the three above that has been involved with Paschal for the longest. How much of a priority is Paschal for the Tigers, at least from his vantage point?
"They want me to take my time," Paschal said. "They always say, 'Take your visits,' because they know Clemson will be the best fit for me in the end."
Beyond the schools that Paschal has recently visited he told Cats Illustrated that the schools in the most regular contact with him are Clemson, Tennessee, Rutgers and Kentucky, later adding that UNC and Maryland would be in that mix as well. Ohio State had previously been linked to Paschal's recruitment but he did not mention the Buckeyes as a main suitor.
Tommy Mainord was formerly Paschal's recruiter from the UK staff. More recently two other individuals have taken the reins.
"It's Coach (Andy) Buh and I talk to my brother (TraVaughn Paschal) a lot. Whenever I need to know something about the school I just ask him and he explains how it was for him and everything," he said. "I've gotten to know Coach Buh pretty good. I think he's a really good guy ... a really good guy."
Paschal added that he "will definitely" visit Kentucky again. He plans to make a big round of college visits in the summer and he will also take all of his official visits. There's a chance he could be at Kentucky in the summer and again officially.
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Cats Illustrated's Take: It was once a three-horse race between UK, Clemson and Ohio State, with the Cats leading because Paschal was presumed to be lower on the Tigers' and Buckeyes' board than UK's. North Carolina and Maryland have introduced a couple of new variables to the equation. It's slightly concerning that he hasn't visited UK in so long. Since he's a player that will wait a long time to make a decision, apparently, how Kentucky fares on the field in Mark Stoops' fourth year will be key in determining the Cats' chances. If UK could add Paschal to the James Hudson-Quinton Bohanna duo on the defensive line then they would have the nucleus of arguably their best defensive line recruiting haul in the modern era. Paschal's the kind of defensive lineman that Jimmy Brumbaugh likes, because he could play multiple positions on the Kentucky front.
But it's been a while since Paschal has visited Lexington. When Cats Illustrated asked Paschal about his last trip to UK, first he said it was last summer but then amended that to indicate he visited in the fall. It's been a while, either way, and Paschal has visited plenty of other schools in the meantime.
"I've visited North Carolina," Paschal said, indicating that UNC is a school that has come on strong recently. "I visited Maryland, of course, and I hear from Maryland on a regular basis. I visited Clemson, too. Those were for junior days."
He shared his thoughts on each visit.
North Carolina: "I just liked the way they set up the junior day and I liked their position coach and how their coaches have a special connection to the place. I just liked the vibe from North Carolina."
Clemson: "It was everything I expected. I liked it a lot because the coaches were really down to earth and I was glad I got to know them on the visit. The campus was amazing and everything down there is just beautiful. I also got to see a practice and I loved it."
Maryland: "It was a really good atmosphere. It was a better atmosphere than it was before with the new coaches they've got. You can tell it'll be a different atmosphere. I know one player there, Adam McLean, and I know a player coming in like Travon Stott."
It's worth noting Paschal has not spoken with Chad Scott, a former Kentucky assistant turned UNC assistant. So that's not a factor in UNC's interest.
Clemson is the one school of the three above that has been involved with Paschal for the longest. How much of a priority is Paschal for the Tigers, at least from his vantage point?
"They want me to take my time," Paschal said. "They always say, 'Take your visits,' because they know Clemson will be the best fit for me in the end."
Beyond the schools that Paschal has recently visited he told Cats Illustrated that the schools in the most regular contact with him are Clemson, Tennessee, Rutgers and Kentucky, later adding that UNC and Maryland would be in that mix as well. Ohio State had previously been linked to Paschal's recruitment but he did not mention the Buckeyes as a main suitor.
Tommy Mainord was formerly Paschal's recruiter from the UK staff. More recently two other individuals have taken the reins.
"It's Coach (Andy) Buh and I talk to my brother (TraVaughn Paschal) a lot. Whenever I need to know something about the school I just ask him and he explains how it was for him and everything," he said. "I've gotten to know Coach Buh pretty good. I think he's a really good guy ... a really good guy."
Paschal added that he "will definitely" visit Kentucky again. He plans to make a big round of college visits in the summer and he will also take all of his official visits. There's a chance he could be at Kentucky in the summer and again officially.
*************************
Cats Illustrated's Take: It was once a three-horse race between UK, Clemson and Ohio State, with the Cats leading because Paschal was presumed to be lower on the Tigers' and Buckeyes' board than UK's. North Carolina and Maryland have introduced a couple of new variables to the equation. It's slightly concerning that he hasn't visited UK in so long. Since he's a player that will wait a long time to make a decision, apparently, how Kentucky fares on the field in Mark Stoops' fourth year will be key in determining the Cats' chances. If UK could add Paschal to the James Hudson-Quinton Bohanna duo on the defensive line then they would have the nucleus of arguably their best defensive line recruiting haul in the modern era. Paschal's the kind of defensive lineman that Jimmy Brumbaugh likes, because he could play multiple positions on the Kentucky front.
