John Calipari stops in for 2024 four-star wing Billy Richmond
Make that four recruits in four days for John Calipari as he looks to get Kentucky‘s 2024 signing class rolling.
The UK coaching staff — including assistants Orlando Antigua and Chin Coleman — started the weekend with trips to Indiana to meet with five-star center Flory Bidunga, then Texas to see Tre Johnson, two top-five prospects in the junior class. Inarguably the program’s top two targets in 2024.
From there, Coach Cal made his way to Philadelphia to meet with a new prospect in four-star point guard Ahmad Nowell, a high school teammate of Kentucky signee Justin Edwards at Imhotep Charter. He added a trip to see former Wildcat Tyrese Maxey drop 33 points for the 76ers in Game 2 of the NBA Playoffs.
Calipari didn’t leave the area without another quick pitstop to visit another prospect in the junior class, four-star guard Billy Richmond of Camden High School — teammate of Kentucky signees DJ Wagner and Aaron Bradshaw.
Just a 15-minute drive from Philadelphia to Camden, the Kentucky head coach got the chance to visit with the athletic 6-foot-6 prospect, who received a scholarship offer from the Wildcats back on January 1.
“When (Calipari) called me, my mouth dropped,” Richmond told KSR following the offer. “I couldn’t really say anything, just didn’t even know what to say. It was unexpected, but I’m grateful and I’m blessed.”
What does he know about the program and what is the intrigue?
“I know a lot (about Kentucky). The fans, I know they go crazy. They’re one of the greatest fanbases of all time,” he added. “And I’ve got a cool relationship with Coach Cal. He’s cool with my dad, coached my dad. And Coach Chin (Coleman) too. They’ve just got a cool coaching staff.”
Richmond previously told KSR he was planning to make a decision “probably around AAU, during EYBL” and was looking for “a coach who trusts me and a coach that I trust, a place I can play with great teammates and somewhere that fits my style.”
A defensive-minded wing who plays above the rim? There’s a clear fit for the four-star prospect under Calipari in Lexington.
Kentucky coaches on the recruiting trail
Schools are in the middle of a contact period, which runs from April 6-19, then again from April 24-27 and May 1-4. We’ll also get an evaluation period from April 21-23 and April 28-30 before things ramp back up in June and July.
The quiet period as a whole lasts from April 20-July 5, meaning athletes can talk to coaches on college campuses during visits, but can’t watch them compete in person or talk outside of visits — unless in an evaluation or contact period.
The in-person visits are just getting started.
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