Kentucky Basketball Recruiting: James Wiseman among UK targets to play in Marshall County Hoopfest

This year’s Marshall County Hoopfest is going to be a huge recruiting and scouting opportunity for John Calipari, as No. 1 2019 prospect James Wiseman, UK pledge D.J. Jeffries, and two of the best in-state high school stars in Zion Harmon and Dontaie Allen will headline the event.

Wiseman, a 6-11, 210-pound center, is the prized possession of the 2019 class, and will be far and away the best player on display in Marshall County. He’s essentially Calipari’s top 2019 priority right now.

“Wiseman is that 7-footer with athleticism and enough skill to dominate a game in high school and impact a game in college immediately,” ESPN’s Paul Biancardi said, according to Larry Vaught. “He is a true difference maker. He he not jus potential — he is productivity. No matter when or how he cuts his lists down, we all know who the two favorites in the race will be.”

Allen and Harmon will face off against each other when Allen’s Pendleton County team takes on Harmon’s Marshall County team in the Marshall County Hoopfest.

Allen is a member of the class of 2019 and is a three-star recruit. He has 13 Division I offers, including an offer from SEC foe Vanderbilt and in-state programs Western Kentucky and Northern Kentucky. Kentucky has shown interest but has not extended an offer.

This is the first time Pendleton County will play in the Marshall County Hoopfest, according to Vaught.

“The Allen versus Harmon matchup should be good for ticket sales. Both are exciting players that have bright futures,” Pendleton County head coach Keaton Belcher said, according to Vaught. “For our kids to be able to experience playing at the Marshall County Hoopfest is something I hope they remember forever.”

Harmon will certainly enjoy the opportunity to show out against another top-tier player in the state of Kentucky. Harmon is one of the most accomplished players in the class of 2021. He played on Bowling Green High School’s state championship team in the eighth grade, and led the state in scoring as a freshman last year.

Harmon is rated as a five-star recruit by ESPN, ranking him the No. 8 player in the class. He already has four offers, two of which are from the SEC (Tennessee and Vanderbilt). Kentucky and Louisville have both shown interest, and Harmon’s father has said their side is hoping for an offer from both.

As for Jeffries, who plays for Olive Branch High School in Mississippi, he committed to Kentucky in the spring. The 6-7 wing is rated No. 34 overall in the 2019 Class by 247 Sports Composite, which measures all of the main recruiting rankings. He’a also an AAU teammate and good friend of Wiseman.

Read more about the 2018 Marshall County Hoopfest here.

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