The Wildcats

Kentucky first formed a connection with Towns in 2011 when he played for the Dominican Republic’s under-17 national team, which was coached by Oliver Antigua, the brother of the former Kentucky assistant Orlando Antigua.

One year later, as a 16-year-old rising sophomore, Towns was named to the Dominican national team as it attempted to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. The coach of the Dominican team just so happened to be Calipari, and the coincidence raised a few eyebrows from competing recruiters.

Calipari, who became the Dominican team’s coach in 2011, has insisted he knew nothing about Towns, then only in eighth grade. But Calipari did something else that benefited Kentucky down the road. He and the assistant Del Harris urged Towns (who was six years younger than anyone else on the team) to practice his inside game with his N.B.A. teammates Al Horford and Francisco Garcia, building confidence in Towns’s post game.

Towns hit 127 3-pointers over three seasons at St. Joseph; with the Wildcats this season, he has attempted only eight. He was named the Southeastern Conference’s top freshman and a freshman all-American, after averaging 10.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 20.8 minutes of play this season entering Saturday.

“My team needed me to be a force around the basket,” Towns said. He added, about his shooting ability, “It’s always in my back pocket if I need it.”

Towns has jockeyed back and forth with Duke’s Jahlil Okafor as the projected top pick in June’s N.B.A. draft by most accounts, although his parents said the decision rested with him. Asked repeatedly about his plans Friday, Towns volleyed each inquiry.

“I haven’t declared to go anywhere yet,” he said.

The signs, since high school, point toward the pros. He always seemed to be rushing through, tasting as many opportunities as possible while speeding on toward what was prophesied: an N.B.A. career, hopefully long, hopefully successful, but prepared for something else, if not.