Kentucky Basketball: All the recruits UK is keeping an eye on this week

This time of year might be a busier time for John Calipari than the actual season.

The recruiting king is on his game again, as he’s out watching every player he possibly can this summer. Kentucky coaches have watched a confirmed 18 recruits this week. We’ve compiled a list of all of them.

Kahlil Whitney

Suddenly the most well-known Kentucky target, awareness of Whitney is rising quickly, not only among Kentucky fans but within recruiting circles around the country. He’s a five-star small forward who’s ranked the No. 19 player in the nation by 247 Sports. He will take an official visit to Lexington next week, and a commitment may come soon thereafter.

James Wiseman

The 2019 recruit who everyone knows, Wiseman is the No. 1 player in the class. The five-star center hasn’t had the best summer, but with his entire body of work, it’ll be tough to dethrone him from that No. 1 spot. Wiseman has 16 offers, but the 6-11, 210-pound center has admitted that his recruitment is almost a two-horse race between Kentucky and Memphis.

Kira Lewis

A four-star recruit on the rise, Lewis is ranked the No. 4 point guard in the class of 2019 by 247 Sports. The 6-3, 162-pound guard is a native of Hazel Green, Alabama, and the Crimson Tide have received all nine predictions in Lewis’ crystal ball thus far. Kentucky has not yet extended an offer, though he thinks one will eventually come.

Matthew Hurt

Hurt is one of the biggest names of the 2019 class, as he’s ranked the No. 6 overall player by 247 Sports. Hurt, a power forward, stands 6-9, 215 pounds. Kansas was thought to be the runaway favorite, but Kentucky is in better shape than they’re given credit for. Hurt himself may actually favor the Wildcats.

Bryan Antoine

Antoine is currently at the top of his position, as he’s ranked the No. 1 shooting guard by 247 Sports. The five-star scorer stands 6-4, 168 pounds. His overall ranking for the 2019 class is 10th, and he currently has 17 offers. Duke is the heavy favorite here entering the fall.

Aidan Igiehon

A five-star center that has kind of flown under the radar a bit, Igiehon has not yet been offered by Kentucky. The 6-10 big man is currently ranked the No. 23 player in the class of 2019 by 247. Igiehon has made it sound like Kentucky would be a major player if they offer, but thus far, no offer has come.

Scottie Lewis

Lewis is a five-star small forward—another versatile player that Calipari likes—who’s ranked the No. 9 player in the class by 247. Lewis stands 6-5, 184 pounds. kentucky is in good shape, but St. John’s has actually been getting more buzz as of late.

Scottie Barnes

A class of 2020 recruit that Calipari really likes, Barnes is yet another small forward that Calipari has watched this week. He stands 6-7, 175 pounds, and is ranked the No. 3 player in the class by 247 Sports. He’s one of the few 2020 players that Kentucky has offered.

CJ Walker

Walker is a four-star power forward from Orlando. He’s ranked in the top 50 by 247 Sports for the class of 2019. There hasn’t been a lot of connection between Kentucky and Walker, but Calipari has watched him this week. He has not yet been offered by Kentucky, but they are showing more interest as of late.

Vernon Carey

Carey is the No. 2 player in the class of 2019 on 247’s rankings. The five-star power forward stands 6-10, 275 pounds and is believed to be down to Duke, Miami, Michigan State and Kentucky. Kentucky is in better shape for Wiseman, but Carey is someone they would also love to have.

DJ Jeffries

Jeffries is already a UK commit. The four-star small forward stands 6-7, 185 pounds, and is the No. 37 player in the class of 2019, per 247 Sports Composite. After a strong summer, expect him to get a big bump when the new rankings come out.

Armando Bacot

Bacot is a 4/5 big man who’s rated the No. 26 player in the class by 247. The five-star big stands 6-10. He has 37 offers. Kentucky hasn’t offered yet but they have been showing more interest recently, so an offer may not be far off. There has speculation he could reclassify into 2018, but for now, he’s planning to stay in 2019, which is the only way he’ll score a Kentucky offer.

Hunter Dickinson

Dickinson is by far the largest presence you’ll see on the court any day of the week. The 7-2 big man is a member of the class of 2020. He already has 13 offers. Kentucky isn’t one of them, but the Wildcat coaching staff has shown interest this week.

Evan Mobley

Mobley is the No. 2 player in the class of 2020. He’s a 6-11 center from Temecula, California. Mobley currently has seven offers, one from Alabama. Kentucky hasn’t been mentioned much in this recruitment, but Mobley is a player fully capable of making a major impact at ny blue-blood program.

Jalen Johnson

Johnson is another 2020 star, as he’s the No. 6 player in his class. He’s a 6-8 small forward, and is the No. 1 player in the state of Wisconsin. He’s someone Kentucky has been showing more interest in recently, and an offer may not be far off.

Jaemyn Brakefield

Brakefield is a five-star power forward from Huntington, West Virginia. He’s a member of the 2020 class, and even though he hasn’t yet been offered by Kentucky, they’re the favorite in his crystal ball.

Jalen Suggs

Suggs is a five-star dual athlete from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Currently attending Minnehaha Academy-Upper School, Suggs is playing both football and basketball, and is excelling in both. He stands 6-4 and plays guard in basketball. He’s part of the 2020 recruiting class.

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