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When De'Aaron Fox committed to Kentucky Thursday night, the Wildcats locked up a top-five recruiting class for 2016.
In the long run, they may have even secured the top class if they're able to land 1-2 more highly-touted prospects. The biggest of which that UK is still firmly in the mix for is five-star shooting guard Malik Monk.
It's no secret that Fox and Monk have thought strongly about teaming up in college. Great players attract other great players so they can accomplish great things, something that's happened a lot at Kentucky under John Calipari's watch. Right after Fox committed to UK on Thursday, he made it clear Monk was the guy he was going after to join him in UK's 2016 class.
When asked if he wants any other prospects to join him, Fox said, "Just one right now. A guy that goes by the name Malik Monk. I’m trying to get him on board with me."
Fox also had some interesting quotes for Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader:
De'Aaron Fox on Malik Monk: "Everybody's preaching John Wall-Eric Bledsoe 2.0. I honestly feel like we can be better than them." (I do, too)
— Ben Roberts (@NextCats) November 12, 2015
More De'Aaron Fox, on future conversations with Malik Monk: "Now, I'm definitely like, 'Yo, you're coming to Kentucky with me."
— Ben Roberts (@NextCats) November 12, 2015
If Kentucky were to add Monk to a class that already has Fox to go with five-star forwards Wenyen Gabriel and Sacha Killeya-Jones, it would challenge Duke for the top spot in 2016, and at worst finish second behind only the Blue Devils.
As of now, it looks like the biggest challenger for Monk, a 6-4, 187-pound guard out of Bentonville (AR), is the home-state Arkansas Razorbacks. There's still no definitive word from Monk on if he'll wait to announce his decision during the spring or do it now during the early signing period.
If Monk does so now, UK has all of the momentum in his recruitment and may very well end up adding him and securing another massive recruiting haul for Calipari and Kentucky.