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The 2019 recruiting cycle is winding down with spring almost here, so ESPN updated their Class of 2019 rankings.
As usual, it includes a host of Kentucky commitments and targets near the top. Five-star guard Anthony Edwards checked in at No. 5, as he’s wrapping up his official visit to Lexington, but there’s a lot of work to be done to overcome the Georgia Bulldogs and Florida State Seminoles.
Right behind him is five-star forward Jaden McDaniels, who is one of the last elite recruits Kentucky has a very legitimate shot with, though the hometown Washington Huskies are a major threat to keep him from making it to Lexington.
James Wiseman (1), Cole Anthony (2), Vernon Carey (3) and Isaiah Stewart (4) round out the top five.
Kentucky’s highest-ranked pledge is five-star forward Kahlil Whitney, who checked in at No. 9. He remains the Wildcats’ top pledge in all of the major rankings, and he may very well finish as Kentucky’s top recruit of 2019.
Right behind Whitney is five-star forward Matthew Hurt at No. 10. Kentucky is still very much in the mix for Hurt, though it’s going to be tough to beat out the Kansas Jayhawks for him.
One of the biggest fallers in this ranking was Keion Brooks, who is now a four-star forward and the No. 38 overall prospect. Kentucky is still recruiting him, but the Indiana Hoosiers remain the team to beat.
Four-star Kentucky commit Dontaie Allen is not in the top 100 of this ranking. A big part of that is due to his torn ACL suffered a month ago, which will undoubtedly lead to a big drop in all of the recruiting rankings, as unfair as that may be.
For what it’s worth, former Kentucky recruit Oscar Tshiebwe is now a four-star recruit and ranked No. 37 overall. That was someone Kentucky really wanted but ultimately lost out on to the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Go here to check out the full rankings.
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