By Josh Ellis

Adebayo announced out of the blue on Monday that he would make his college decision on ESPN’s Mike and Mike radio show. Up until Monday night experts picked the High Point Christian Academy standout to pick North Carolina State, but rumors soon swirled that Adebayo would pick UK after his commitment date was set.

The 6-foot-9 232-pound five-star prospect did just that. He chose UK over North Carolina State, Auburn and Arizona.

When Calipari visited him twice in September and Adebayo made and official visit to UK on Oct. 9, it seemed the tide began to turn in the Cats’ favor.

The Pinetown, N.C., native is the No. 3 power forward and the No. 10 overall player in the 2016 class according to the 247Sports Composite, which complies an average ranking from all the major recruiting services.

Adebayo, who got the nickname “Bam” from his mom when she was watching the Flintstones and saw him pick up a coffee table at the age of one, has tremendous power and presence in the post. He has an NBA-ready body and can throw down monstrous dunk after monstrous dunk, another explanation for why people call him “Bam.”

Calipari has already established a strong future for the UK frontcourt with commitments from Wenyen Gabriel and Sacha Killeya-Jones, and the addition of Adebayo will make a strong case for the No. 1 class ranking in the 247Sports Composite.

UK 2016 Basketball Commits

Wenyen Gabriel No. 4 PF 6’9″ 195 SIGNED 11/11/2015

Sacha Killeya-Jones No. 8 PF 6’10” 207 SIGNED 11/14/2015

De’Aaron Fox No. 1 PG 6’4″ 170 COMMITTED 11/12/2015

Edrice Adebayo No. 3 PF 6’9” 232 COMMITTED 11/17/2015

*All player position rankings are according the the 247Sports Composite.