Irish basketball standout Daniel Orton officially a Wildcat

BY BRANDON CHATMON

Published: November 13, 2008

Daniel Orton, the gem of Kentucky’s basketball recruiting class, signed with the traditional SEC power on Wednesday morning after orally committing to the Wildcats on Oct. 12.

As Orton signed his name and officially became a Kentucky Wildcat, the Bishop McGuinness senior must have been battling mixed emotions.

On one hand, he was fulfilling a dream — the shot-blocking big man had just joined one of the top college basketball programs in NCAA history.

At the same time, he knew he would spend the majority of his high school senior season on the bench, after having knee surgery last week.

The 6-foot-10, 260-pounder played his junior season on a torn ACL. Although the injury had healed heading into his senior season, he still felt a looseness and pain in the knee.

Knowing things could only get worse, Orton decided to have surgery, which will keep him off the basketball court from four to six months.

"(It) was really easy for me to make the decision,” Orton said.

"I guess playing through pain for so long... you’re just ready to be done with all that pain.”

Orton wanted to ensure he would be 100 percent when he suits up for Kentucky in the fall of 2009.

"I wanted to get it (my left knee) taken care of before college,” he said. "I don’t want to disappoint when I get to Kentucky.”

Orton, who chose Kentucky over Kansas, is ranked No. 10 on the ESPN 100, No. 12 on the Scout 100 and No. 22 on the Rivals 100.

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