Wildcats show interest in 5-star big man Franck Kepnang

The Kentucky Wildcats reportedly have interest in Franck Kepnang, a five-star, 6-10 center in the Class of 2021,

They haven’t quite offered him anything and have no commits yet in 2021, but Kepnang is now someone to keep track of in the coming months based on what Corey Evans of Rivals.com is reporting:

“The 7-footer is a physical presence to the nth degree and he knows exactly what he does best. While he did hoist up a perimeter jumper that is a bit out of his range, it was more about dominating his region around the basket. A two-handed rebounder and finisher, Kepnang is super-efficient off of the drop-off pass and on the weakside putback.... Kentucky is the latest to enter the recruitment of the PSA Cardinals’ product.”

If the PSA Cardinals sound familiar, it’s where former Wildcat Quade Green played on the AAU circuit, so there’s already a slight connection there.

Kepnang is already in elite territory as a five-star recruit at 247 Sports Composite, which measures all of the recruiting services. The Pennsylvania-native has already drawn interest from Syracuse, UCLA, Pittsburgh, Georgia and Vanderbilt. Kentucky would be the first big-time basketball program to get in the race for the talented big man.

Calipari’s Wildcats have a strong history of securing and developing elite centers. Just looked at DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis for a few examples of how Lexington prepares big men for the next level.

They will undoubtedly have competition for a player that Evans’ says resembles Kansas’ center Udoka Azubuike. That type of size is oftentimes unparalleled at the collegiate level.

With time on their side, Calipari should do his best to bring in the next great Kentucky big. A rim-rolling, paint-seizing big man is what the Wildcats need to help their guards also take their game to the next level.

Expect the interest in Kepnang to increase in the coming months as the 2020 class wraps up and Kentucky focuses more on 2021.