Michael Gilchrist don't need no stinking sleep

Mike Gilchrist has long been considered the best prospect in the class of 2011, and many believe it is a runaway.

A 6'6" wing, Gilchrist is a talented slasher that can get to the rim and has developed a nice mid-range game. His range is ever-improving, but his offense arsenal isn't the only reason he is so highly regarded. Gilchrist plays the game hard, he is a willing and capable defender with the athleticism to defend guards on the perimeter and the length to hold his own on the block. He is also an excellent rebounder on both ends of the floor. Simply put, Gilchrist is one of the most polished all-around players in the country, and with impressive physical tools and a jump shot that needs perfecting, his ceiling is quite high.

Mike Gilchrist, who teamed with Duke-bound Kyrie Irving at St. Patrick's, is headed to Kentucky next year.
(photo credit: NJ.com)

For someone that has essentially been the No. 1 recruit in his class since he was a freshman, you would think that it would be tough for him to impress scouts.

Well, that is until you read these articles from Adam Zagoria and Mike DeCourcy.

You see, Gilchrist was in Germany with guys like James McAdoo, Austin Rivers, Tony Wroten, and Brad Beal -- essentially a who's who of the class of 2011 -- where the US U17 squad won a gold medal in the world championships. Gilchrist didn't land back in the States until 10:40 pm Monday night, when he landed in Charlotte. He didn't make it to his hotel room in Augusta, GA, until 5:00 am on Tuesday morning.

Gilchrist, playing for Team Final, had a game scheduled for 9:00 am on Tuesday morning in Nike's Peach Jam AAU Tournament. So after flying into Charlotte, via Washington DC, from Germany, then driving six hours to get to Augusta, Gilchrist slept for all of two and a half hours before getting woken up by his AAU coach.

Gilchrist wasn't scheduled to play -- they were going to have him watch the game from the sidelines -- but he suited up ... and dropped 26 points and 9 boards on Mean Streets, an AAU team that just happens to have Anthony Davis, a fellow top five recruit in the class of 2011.

That, my friends, is impressive.

Gilchrist has already committed to Kentucky.

You think John Calipari was happy with what he saw?