:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49792789/ChURHXpWwAAWWqI.0.0.jpg)
With the summer recruiting period approaching fast, the guys at ESPN have updated their college basketball 2017 recruiting rankings.
To no surprise, many of the top prospects are being recruited heavily by the Kentucky Wildcats. Coming in at the top spot once again is five-star center DeAndre Ayton, who is ranked as the top player by nearly every recruiting service.
However, some other UK targets are strongly in the running to finish the 2017 cycle as the No. 1 prospect, including five-star forwards Wendell Carter Mohamed Bamba. Carter came in at No. 2 in the updated ESPN rankings, followed by Bamba at No. 3.
But while UK is recruiting those three, the Cats are in much better position with five-star center Nick Richards, who climbed all the way to No. 8 in the new ESPN rankings. Thus far, Richards has been ranked around the 20s, so it's good to see him get a nice bump. I feel good about UK getting 1-2 of these four elite big men.
Other notable UK targets include five-star wing Kris Wilkes at No. 11, five-star guard Hamidou Diallo at No. 12, five-star wing John Petty at No. 17, five-star forward Jarred Vanderbilt at No. 20, and five-star point guard Trae Young at No. 21.