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The Kentucky Wildcats are once again expected to have a major recruiting haul, this one being in the Class of 2018.
UK is believed to be at or near the top of several major recruits’ lists, including multiple top-10 players. According to Rivals’ latest predictions for the top uncommitted players, UK could land the No. 1, 2 and 3 players in 2018.
The Cats are in the mix for the nation’s No. 1 player, Marvin Bagley III. Rivals has it as a split between Arizona, UCLA and UK, with two expert picking the Cats.
Where he will be: The nation's top ranked player, Bagley III will be one of the headliners at the summer's most competitive event, Nike's Peach Jam, during the first live period.
Who is involved: Bagley III has a final six of Arizona, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA and USC.
Pre-live period prediction: Kentucky (Bossi, McDonald), Arizona (Evans), UCLA (Peek)
Rivals also says it’s a pretty good chance UK will land Zion Williamson, who they rank the No. 2 player in his class, but is probably the most well-known recruit. Three experts picked Williamson to go to UK, but Williamson has already said he’s planning to wait until the spring before making a decision, so a lot can change between now and then.
As for Bol Bol, the supremely-talented forward that holds a UK offer, one Rivals expert is projecting him to pick the Cats, even after John Calipari cut Bol from his USA U19 team in Egypt.
Where he will be: Part of a loaded California Supreme frontcourt, Bol will be found playing at the Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C. during the first live period.
Who is involved: Bol hasn’t released an official list but has offers from Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky, St. John’s, USC, UCLA and others.
Pre-live period prediction: Arizona (Peek), Kentucky (McDonald), UCLA (Evans), USC (Bossi)
Moses Brown, five-star center and the No. 7 player in his class, is also picked to go to UK. Three experts are picking the Cats for Brown, who does not yet hold an offer from UK, but that could change very soon with the July live recruiting period starting.
And of course, all of the Rivals experts expect five-star point guard Immanuel Quickley to pick UK. It’s no secret that UK is the heavy favorite for Quickley, who just spent a great deal of time with John Calipari in Egypt.
Where he will be: The top-ranked point guard on the Adidas Gauntlet Circuit, look for Quickley to begin the month with The Team BBC in Spartanburg before finishing things out in Las Vegas.
Who is involved: Quickley has a final four of Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland and Miami.
Pre-live period prediction: Kentucky (Bossi, Evans, McDonald, Peek)
UK also got a pair of picks for five-star forward Louis King, who just spent almost a month with John Calipari’s USA U-19 squad. However, King does not yet have an offer, and it’s hard to see one coming if UK is able to land Williamson, Bagley, Bol and Quickley while also going hard after Cameron Reddish and R.J. Barrett (assuming he reclassifies into 2018).