An update on Kentucky's shot at Jalen Duren

(Photo: Instagram/JalenDuren)

Since telling you Kentucky is out of the Kofi Cockburn sweepstakes yesterday, I did some digging to see how realistic those Jalen Duren dreams are, and if John Calipari has a shot at signing his first No. 1 overall recruit since Skal Labissiere from the 2015 class.

Duren’s camp has been very quiet throughout his entire recruitment and most scoop has been kept under lock and key as we all anxiously await the winner from a final five of Kentucky, Memphis, Miami, the G League and the Australian NBL. Even today with Duren down at the Peach Jam around all of those coaches and scoop-chasers, with his final decision on the horizon, the predictions have been widespread.

One that stands out, recruiting expert Andrew Slater tweeted a palm tree to insinuate Miami (I think?), while other online speculation may tell you the G League or Memphis. Again, Duren and his family have done great at keeping things internal.

From a UK perspective, I totally understand the leak, but also not a 🔒 they get Jalen. 🌴 https://t.co/HSNfsFum9d

— 𝒜𝓃𝒹𝓇ℯ𝓌 𝒮𝓁𝒶𝓉ℯ𝓇 (@Andrew__Slater) July 14, 2021

As for Kentucky, there has been little out there to point towards Lexington in the race for Duren, but I do have one small update to assure Big Blue Nation that the UK hat is still on his table.

A source told KSR Duren and his family were very eager to hear the Name, Image, Likeness presentations at the three universities in his top five, and they came away impressed by presentations at both Kentucky and Memphis, specifically. I did not get any indication as to which way Duren is leaning or how much weight those presentations carry in the final decision, but it sounds like Kentucky checked the boxes it needed to check on its end, and for that, the Wildcats are still in contention.

I realize this is a very vague update and that some of you will yell at me in the comments for wasting your time, but with interest so high in Duren right now, I wanted to share what I’ve heard about UK’s current position.

Now if you were to ask me Kentucky’s percentage chance or to make a prediction for Duren’s choice, I can’t help you there. No guessing from me, just trying to be a good friend to you and pass along that Duren had high and very specific expectations from his college visits and recruitment, and Kentucky’s message was what Duren needed to hear to stay in the fight in the final round.

Basically what I’m saying is…