Cason Wallace, Chris Livingston building chemistry before arriving in Lexington

Three high-profile All-American events, three selections for Kentucky basketball’s pair of senior signees in Cason Wallace and Chris Livingston. It started with the McDonald’s All-American Game back in March, followed by the Jordan Brand Classic this week in Chicago. And then here in a few weeks, the duo will head to Memphis together for the Iverson Classic.

The top-10 prospects were split up on different rosters for McDonald’s and Iverson, but this week in Chicago, they were teammates on Team Flight at Jordan. Beyond spending time together off the floor, they were also able to build chemistry on it, suiting up together in practice on Thursday and then again for the game on Friday.

It was an opportunity to get a head-start together as teammates before arriving on campus this summer. The families of both Wallace and Livingston told KSR the players are set to report to Lexington the second weekend of June.

Until then, events like the one this week in Chicago are crucial.

“I actually haven’t met (Cason) or seen him before this summer, so seeing him at these All-Star games is huge,” Livingston told KSR. “We get to chop it up, find rapport with each other even playing against each other. We’re learning each other in the game of basketball before we can learn about each other off the floor.”

“He’s really cool, just chopping it up with him the last few events,” Wallace added. “It’s good to just pick each other’s minds.”

So what have the Kentucky signees learned about each other through two events, starting with the McDonald’s All-American Game and now the Jordan Brand Classic? Both players are versatile and can play multiple positions.

“It’s going to be tough, because he’s a very versatile player like me,” Livingston said of Wallace. “He’s a tough combo guard, about 6-5, pretty tall and strong. He plays really well defensively, can shoot it and get to the rim, but he also gets his teammates involved. He’s just a really good player.”

Known as a defensive standout himself, Wallace was pleased to find out Livingston thrives on that end of the floor, as well.

“He’s a good player, can create his own shots,” Wallace said of Livingston. “He plays defense, so I think we’ll get along pretty good on the court.”

Wallace is comfortable playing the one, two or three offensively, and he’s certainly capable of guarding those positions on the other end of the floor, as well. What position does the standout guard see Livingston playing in Lexington? Whatever he wants.

“Positionless,” Wallace told KSR. “If he’s got the ball in his hands, great. If he don’t, he’s coming off screens, you know? We can play on or off the ball.”

How’d things turn out? The two future Wildcats looked the part as teammates for the first time, as Livingston finished with 21 points (8-16 FG, 2-5 3PT), eight rebounds and three steals, while Wallace added 15 points (6-11 FG, 3-3 FT), four rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

Less than two months from now, both five-star prospects will be making their way to Lexington.