Former UK recruit Frank Anselem commits to Syracuse

Former Kentucky Wildcats recruit Frank Anselem has made his college decision.

On Wednesday, Anselem announced his pledge to the Syracuse Orange. His other finalists included San Diego State, New Mexico and Georgia.

Ranked 142nd overall by 247 Sports, the 6-10 Anselem was a four-star center who also held offers from Kansas, Florida, Tennessee, LSU, Arizona and Alabama among many others, though most of those offers were for when he was still a 2021 recruit.

The Wildcats were in the thick of Anselem’s recruitment after he reclassified from the 2021 class this spring, but they were cut after taking a commitment from Wake Forest transfer Olivier Sarr. Anselem reportedly believes he’s a one-and-done caliber prospect who wanted to join a program where the starting center spot is more up for grabs.

Even so, Kentucky was hoping to land both Anselem and Sarr, seeing as how the latter will only be at UK for one season, though there’s still a chance the NCAA doesn’t grant him immediate eligibility. That’s likely why Kentucky still wanted Anselem, who would have provided them with some much-needed depth in the event Sarr is ruled ineligible for next season.

Alas, Anselem wanted to go somewhere where immediate playing time was more of a sure thing, and now he’ll do so at Syracuse.