Kentucky Wildcats Recruiting

Friday Headlines: UK and Kofi Cockburn

Is this match already on the verge of happening?

By John Morgan Francis@MonJorgan Updated Jul 2, 2021, 1:32pm EDT

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Kentucky Wildcats basketball head coach John Calipari seems to continue to make all the right moves this offseason. After landing quality transfers, key players returning for another season and being one of the top landing spots for stud recruit Jalen Duren, you’d think Calipari might slow down just a tad.

But last season must have really lit a fire under the all-time great coach, as he’s working other angles to try and secure one of the better big men in college basketball.

Thursday afternoon, Illinois Fighting Illini star Kofi Cockburn entered his name in the transfer portal. You might ask how Kentucky would have any angles on this... Well it just happens to be that new assistants Chin Coleman and Orlando Antigua were of course Cockburn’s coaches last season at Illinois and clearly have a solid relationship with him.

Cockburn is still mulling the NBA Draft, but entering his name in the transfer portal hints that he could skip out on this year’s draft and join a team like Kentucky to not just compete for a national title but also maximize his chances at National TV games and/or NIL.

His potential decision to join Kentucky would also be an excellent security blanket if the Wildcats end up missing out on top-recruit Jalen Duren.

So yes, John Calipari is indeed on fire this offseason.

Tweet(s) of the Day

To be clear, I'm not saying that others aren't going to try to recruit him. Not saying he couldn't end up somewhere else. Not saying he even comes back to college. I'm just telling you, the sentiment is damn near universal that he ultimately ends at Kentucky. At least right now
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) July 1, 2021

After a few conversations tonight, believe Kofi Cockburn to Kentucky has legs if he pulls his name out of the draft.
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) July 2, 2021

Kofi Cockburn is by far the best transfer in the portal this offseason, and arguably the best in at least the last few years. First-team All-Big Ten, averaged 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds. https://t.co/ON52LwgmBo
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) July 1, 2021

Oh boy!

Now that Shohei Ohtani is officially in the ASG we're just going to leave this here. pic.twitter.com/2Y2rHLUwFG
— Flippin' Bats Podcast (@FlippinBatsPod) July 2, 2021

This is nuts.