2020 four-star center Cliff Omoruyi cuts list to five, includes Kentucky

by:Jack Pilgrim01/13/20
[caption id="attachment_280329" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Photo: Jody Demling/247Sports[/caption] 2020 four-star center Cliff Omoruyi has trimmed his list down to five schools, and the Kentucky Wildcats made the cut. This evening, the 6-foot-11, 240-pound center out of Roselle, NJ included Kentucky with Arizona State, Auburn, Connecticut, and Rutgers in his final list, cutting the likes of Memphis, North Carolina State, and Miami (FL) from his list of eight. In his initial trim from 13 to eight back in November, Omoruyi cut Maryland, Louisville, Pitt, St. John’s, and Temple. Here was the official announcement: https://twitter.com/wizcliff77/status/1216857041106604032?s=20 Omoruyi, who plays at Roselle Catholic High School, is currently listed as a consensus top-55 recruit, with 247Sports having him ranked the highest at No. 42 overall. Kentucky offered Omoruyi back in April, with the four-star prospect originally out of Nigeria telling KSR in June that UK was his “dream school” growing up. “I was happy [to receive an offer] because Kentucky was one of my dream schools growing up,” he said. “Like when I was back in Nigeria, I used to hear most about Kentucky.” At the time, KSR was told that Omoruyi was “emotional” upon receiving an offer from John Calipari and the UK program. For a player that has had such a long journey to get where he is now, it was certainly special to hold a scholarship from one of the most prestigious schools in college basketball history. When it comes to his meeting with Calipari for the first time on April 12, Omoruyi said he couldn’t contain his excitement, screaming and jumping up and down when the Kentucky head coach came to his school. “Yeah, that was my first time meeting him in person,” the four-star big man said with a smile. “They told me it was some coach, but I started screaming a lot when [I realized it was Coach Cal.] I went crazy.” After Calipari’s initial visit, the Kentucky head coach visited Omoruyi again on June 30, followed by another trip to see him on October 10. UK assistant coach Tony Barbee also visited the 6-foot-11, 230-pound center on September 17. Back in December, Kentucky signee Devin Askew told KSR that Omoruyi was "[his guy]" and that he was going to do "whatever [he] can do to get him" in Lexington. “Cliff is my guy, yeah, that’s my guy,” Askew told KSR. “First time we ever played together and I met Cliff was at the Elite 100 Sophomore Camp in St. Louis. We were on a team together, and I loved playing with him. He’s a big that makes the game easier for you, he’s big. Shoot, whatever I can do to get him [to Kentucky], man, let’s do it.” Kentucky has received signatures from Askew, along with five-star guards Terrence Clarke and BJ Boston, five-star forward Isaiah Jackson, and four-star forwards Lance Ware and Cam’Ron Fletcher in the class of 2020. Jackson and Ware are UK’s lone signings in the frontcourt. With Kentucky expected to lose all three of EJ Montgomery, Nick Richards, and Nate Sestina this summer, along with the fact that Calipari and the UK coaching staff pushed for the likes of Kerry Blackshear Jr., N’Faly Dante, and Jaden McDaniels last offseason, the Wildcats will likely look to add two more pieces in the frontcourt. Will Omoruyi be one of them? While we wait for more on his final decision, which is expected during the spring signing period, check out some of his most recent highlights below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e7ciGn_CMk https://youtu.be/AOjO4O6zw9Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItuJFBg2WGU

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2024-04-25