Marques Bolden recruiting update; Decision between Duke and Kentucky likely in April

The recruitment of Marques Bolden is winding down with the Kentucky Wildcats and Duke Blue Devils battling for the five-star center.

Scout.com's Evan Daniels just did an interview with Bolden to get the latest scoop on his recruitment. Bolden reiterated that his recruitment was down to Duke, UK, TCU and Oklahoma. He's taken official visits to Duke, UK and Oklahoma, though the Cats and Blue Devils are viewed as the teams to beat.

"It's going pretty good," he said of the recruiting process. "I've been talking to Duke a lot lately, but it hasn't picked up because they understand that I'm in the playoffs. The schools are respecting that and not all over me."

As to what sticks out to Bolden about Duke:

"Really just the opportunity to come in and play," Bolden said. "I know that they are losing a lot. Really just playing and learning from a great coach like coach K. There's a lot really that sticks out about them."

And for Kentucky:

"Really just the success they've had with their bigs," Bolden said when asked about the Cats. "They make it look so easy. You saw what Devin Booker said about them, right? He said it was basically the blueprint to the NBA because it's basically how it's going to be, with all the good players on one team and you have to learn how to be yourself, do what you can do and just play with a bunch of unselfish guys."

Bolden didn't give a firm date for when he'll commit, but did admit the decision should be made before the high school all-star games begin on April 3 with the McDonald's All-American Game, followed by the Nike Hoop Summit on April 9.

"I don't really know," he said. "Probably next month. I don't want to go into the games uncommitted, I'll be committed by Hoop Summit game. I'm not trying to go into those [games] uncommitted."

Back in January, 247 Sports national recruit director Jerry Meyer told the Lexington Herald-Leader he believes Bolden will end up in Lexington. There's no question UK could use the 6-foot-11 big man from Texas, who is ranked by Scout.com as the No. 1 center and No. 12 overall player in the class of 2016, while 247 Sports has him ranked as the No. 20 overall prospect.

As much as UK's frontcourt has struggled this year, getting Bolden would help ensure that doesn't happen again next season.