UCF Basketball's incoming freshman recruiting class is winding down their senior seasons.

In November, the Knights signed a trio of players for their inaugural Big 12 high school class: Joey Hart, Comeh Emuobor and Petras Padegimas. Coach Johnny Dawkins spoke about the group during a recent interview session.

"I know they're all playing well and doing well for their teams," Dawkins said. "They're very competitive. They're all getting better in all the things that we want. I think they'll be a really good freshman class for us. A balance that we want to have. We don't want to be a team that relies on older players from the portal. We want to be a team that's balanced between high school and portal. We want to make sure we do that right. I think we've tried to do that. We've tried to balance it out. We really like our freshman class."

Joey Hart, making a case to be Mr. Basketball in Indiana, has led Linton-Stockton to a 23-1 record as they continue sectional play within their playoff structure. Averaging 24 points per game, Hart's senior year has been a highlight reel with one outlet calling him "one of the best dunkers" in the state.

He is being regarded as a major steal for UCF as his other primary suitors included Evansville, Ball State and Toledo.

Johnny Dawkins on Hart:

"He's a very mature player. I loved his work ethic. He's a gym rat. He wants to get better. He's a tough kid. He knows what he's doing out there. He doesn't back down. Competes. I really like that about him. I saw it when we were following him in the summers. He just has a great ability, in that moment, you can always count on him. He seems to always step up and make the play that needs to be made. Just very excited and very fortunate we were able to get him."

A native of Raleigh, N.C., Comeh Emuobor has spent this season at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. He committed to UCF last September following an official visit. Other offers included UMass, Virginia Tech, Illinois, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Alabama, Mississippi State, Arizona State and Kansas State.

Emuobor's updated stats were not readily available, though Brewster Academy is 30-4 this season and gearing up for the playoffs (NEPSAC) where they will compete against other independent schools in New England.

Johnny Dawkins on Emuobor:

"I thrink he's going to bring energy, effort and toughness. He's a strong, physically built player. He plays really hard on both ends of the floor. His motor is always running. He's very competitive. I think for us, he becomes a guy defensively or offensively, whether it's making plays, offensive rebounds, and defensively he can guard multiple positions. He also brings a real tough mindset and a physical way of playing."

A newcomer to the United States from Lithuania, Petras Padegimas has been a standout at DME Academy in Daytona Beach. Padegimas averaged 19.5 points and 8.0 rebounds, earning a spot on the SIAA First Team. In a play reminiscent of Christian Laettner's 1992 Elite Eight shot, Padegimas recently lit up social media with his own buzzer beater to defeat IMG Academy.

Padegimas flew under the recruiting radar, ultimately signing with UCF over FAU and High Point.

Johnny Dawkins on Padegimas:

"Petras brings us another versatile player. 6-8 and he's about 225, 230 walking in the door to college. I think in the league where we're headed, in that type of environment, he's like the other two players in that physically they're almost ready (for the Big 12). He brings that physicality. He's explosive and athletic around the rim. He's a capable shooter on the perimeter. He plays extremely hard and he's a gym rat. He works at it and wants to be really good."