Kentucky tops Sports Illustrated’s 2020 recruiting rankings

Sports Illustrated believes no one’s 2020 recruiting class is better than the Kentucky Wildcats.

While ranking the top 10 classes for 2020, Sports Illustrated ranked John Calipari and the Cats class No. 1.

The explanation reads “Good luck stopping the Wildcats on the wing next season with two probable NBA lottery picks occupying the space. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) shooting guard Brandon Boston and Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, New Hampshire) shooting guard Terrence Clarke will be a nightmare combo for the opposition. Kentucky also has elite and versatile forwards in Vashon’s (St. Louis, Mo.) Cam’Ron Fletcher and Camden’s (N.J.) Lance Ware, who should be ready to produce from day one.”

Earlier this week, there was fear top-ranked recruit Terrance Clarke could end up bypassing college and heading straight for the NBA’s G League, but he announced he would stay in Lexington keeping the class intact.

It may be more important than ever for UK to have the nation’s best class as eight of their nine players from their 2019-20 rotation are either going pro, transferring or graduated.

Here’s how Sports Illustrated ranked the nation’s top 10 recruiting classes:

1. Kentucky Wildcats
2. Duke Blue Devils
3. North Carolina Tar Heels
4. Tennessee Volunteers
5. LSU Tigers
6. Auburn Tigers
7. Oklahoma State Cowboys
8. Gonzaga Bulldogs
9. Arkansas Razorbacks
10. Texas Tech Red Raiders