Cason Wallace, Chris Livingston earn ESPN recruiting superlatives

Kentucky signees Cason Wallace and Chris Livingston have earned end-of-year superlatives from ESPN’s Paul Biancardi, just two of ten players to make the list.

There were ten separate superlatives to earn, ranging from the best bucket of the class to the player with the most energy and highest potential, among others. Of the ten selections, Wallace was named the most consistent player in the class, while Livingston was named the best finisher.

Here are the ten superlatives:

• Bucket — Keyonte George (Baylor)
• Consistent — Cason Wallace (Kentucky)
• Combo Guard — Amari Bailey (UCLA)
• Defender — Jalen Hood-Schifino (Indiana)
• Energy — Adem Bona (UCLA)
• Finisher — Chris Livingston (Kentucky)
• Footwork — Jaxon Kohler (Michigan State)
• Shot Blocker — Dereck Lively (Duke)
• Potential — Kel’el Ware (Oregon)
• Production — Kyle Filipowski (Duke)

Livingston is listed at No. 12 overall in the final ESPN rankings, followed by Wallace at No. 20 overall. Wallace comes in at No. 7 overall in the 2022 On3 Consensus, with Livingston ranked No. 19 overall, both five-stars.

Wallace averaged 19.9 points, 7.4 boards and 6.1 assists per game as a senior at Richardson High School in Texas.

“Cason is a winner and a competitor who reminds me of Eric Bledsoe and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander,” UK head coach John Calipari said of Wallace. “I don’t like to make a lot of comparisons like that, but he has a quiet demeanor with a game that speaks loudly. He can shoot it and create for his teammates, but what really separates him is his defense. He is already an elite on-ball defender who takes a lot of pride in that part of the game.”

Livingston put up 18.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.9 steals per contest during his senior season at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia.

“Chris has everything that you look for in a wing: athleticism, speed, skill and a physicality to him,” Calipari said of Livingston. “He can play and guard multiple positions and he can score the ball at all levels, but he can also impose himself physically on both ends of the floor. Chris can really be a challenge for opposing defenses.”

Both players were named to the McDonald’s All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic and Iverson Classic.

The duo of Kentucky signees is expected to arrive on campus in June.