Kentucky basketball’s recruiting big board for the class of 2020

[caption id="attachment_265791" align="alignnone" width="828"] @marsreel[/caption] After managing yet another top-two recruiting class in 2019, John Calipari and the Kentucky basketball program is now all-in on what is expected to be a massive haul in 2020. They've already locked up commitments from top-ten guard BJ Boston and four-star forward Cam'Ron Fletcher, and we're still three months away from the start of the early signing period. So where does Kentucky turn next? Note: this post will be updated as prospects are added and taken off the recruiting board, offers come, and/or levels of interest change. Let's take a look at the entire UK recruiting blueprint from top-to-bottom:

Commitments

BJ Boston

	Brandon Boston Jr. Shooting Guard | 6-7| 175 lbs. Chatsworth, CA | Sierra Canyon AAU: Athletes of Tomorrow (AOT) (EYBL)
	ESPN	No. 7 | 3 SG	Top247	No. 15 | 3 SG
	Rivals	No. 10 | 2 SG	247 Comp.	No. 10 | 2 SG

Offers: Chose Kentucky over Duke, Auburn, Oregon, and Florida Quick analysis: Smooth, pure scorer with phenomenal length. Brandon Ingram comparisons are legitimate. Boston is also a popular player in his class, with several elite prospects wanting to team up with him in college. Securing a commitment from him this early in the game was massive for the program.

Cam’Ron Fletcher

	Cam’Ron Fletcher Small Forward | 6-6 | 195 lbs. Saint Louis, MO | Vashon High School AAU: Bradley Beal Elite (EYBL)
	ESPN	No. 45 | 11 SF	Top247	No. 37 | 8 SF
	Rivals	No. 37 | 9 SF	247 Comp.	No. 36 | 2 PF

Offers: Chose Kentucky over Missouri, Michigan State, North Carolina, and Alabama Quick analysis: A strong, athletic wing with elite perimeter defender potential. Kentucky recruited him to play like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in Lexington, a pitch the St. Louis native was extremely fond of. Projects as a two-year player.

Major targets

Jalen Green

	Jalen Green Combo Guard | 6-6| 170 lbs. Napa, CA | Prolific Prep AAU: Team Why Not (EYBL)
	ESPN	No. 3 | 1 SG	Top247	No. 4 | 2 CG
	Rivals	No. 3 | 1 SG	247 Comp.	No. 3 | 2 CG

Offers: Kentucky, Memphis, Kansas, Oregon, Florida State, UCLA, and Arizona, among others. Interest in Kentucky: Very high Rumored favorites: Kentucky, Memphis, and overseas Commitment timetable: Announcement date set for December 25 Quick analysis: Kentucky has a dream scenario in mind, and it includes Jalen Green. Memphis remains a serious threat and are currently neck-and-neck with the Wildcats at the top of the list, with other outside whispers circling that he could end up playing overseas, as well. Those are the three options for the consensus top-five prospect.

Josh Christopher

	Josh Christopher Shooting Guard | 6-6| 200 lbs. Bellflower, CA | Mayfair AAU: Vegas Elite (EYBL)
	ESPN	No. 10 | 2 SG	Top247	No. 8 | 1 SG
	Rivals	No. 11 | 3 SG	247 Comp.	No. 9 | 1 SG

Offers: Kentucky, Arizona State, Missouri, Michigan, and UCLA, among others Interest in Kentucky: Very high Rumored favorites: Kentucky, Arizona State, and Missouri Commitment timetable: No decision date set, rumored to commit during early signing period Quick analysis: Kentucky is seen as the heavy favorite to land the top-ten shooting guard prospect, though family ties to Arizona State and Missouri are worth noting. There are also rumblings that UCLA is the darkhorse here due to his relationship with Shareef O'Neal, though I don't see the Bruins being the landing spot. I believe Christopher will begin taking visits in the very near future and make a decision in the coming months. Christopher, Green, and BJ Boston have been in discussions about playing together in college, so Kentucky securing a commitment from Christopher early to join Boston could be huge in their chances to land Green.

Isaiah Todd

	Isaiah Todd Power Forward | 6-11| 200 lbs. Raleigh, NC | Word of God Christian Academy AAU: Nightrydas Elite (EYBL)
	ESPN	No. 8 | 2 PF	Top247	No. 20 | 3 PF
	Rivals	No. 13 | 2 PF	247 Comp.	No. 14 | 2 PF

Offers: Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, Michigan, and Memphis Interest in Kentucky: Very high Rumored favorites: Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, and overseas Commitment timetable: No decision date set, rumored to commit during early signing period Quick analysis: With superstar potential as a face-up scorer, I get the sense that Todd is John Calipari's favorite prospect in the class of 2020. Kentucky will have to fight off North Carolina and Kansas in the college ranks, and there is also rumored interest in a move to play professionally in Australia, but I like the Wildcats' chances right now.

Lance Ware

	Lance Ware Power Forward | 6-9| 215 lbs. Burlington, NJ | Camden AAU: NY Renaissance (EYBL)
	ESPN	No. 48 | 10 PF	Top247	No. 41 | 6 PF
	Rivals	No. 52 | 8 PF	247 Comp.	No. 47 | 7 PF

Offers: Kentucky, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, and Providence, among others Interest in Kentucky: Very high Rumored favorites: Kentucky Commitment timetable: Ware is expected to take five official visits in the coming weeks and make a decision this Fall Quick analysis: While Michigan recently received a Crystal Ball pick at 247Sports recently, Kentucky is still seen as the heavy favorite in Ware's recruitment and will likely be the choice when it comes time for a decision. The 6-foot-9 forward has seen his stock spike this Summer, and there is a sense that he could wind up being a top-20 prospect by the end of his high school season. Strong, athletic, and fundamentally sound, there is a bit of PJ Washington to his game.

Toss-up prospects

N’Faly Dante

	N'Faly Dante Center | 7-0| 230 lbs. Wichita, KS | Sunrise Christian AAU: MoKan Elite (EYBL)
	ESPN	No. 18 | 4 C	Top247	No. 13 | 4 C
	Rivals	No. 9 | 3 C	247 Comp.	No. 12 | 3 C

Offers: Kentucky, Oregon, LSU, Kansas, Iowa State, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, and St. John's, among others Interest in Kentucky: High Rumored favorites: Kentucky and Oregon Commitment timetable: A decision is expected in the next few weeks, with a reclassification to 2019 still on the table. Quick analysis: While Dante's camp has gone mostly silent over the last two weeks, the general consensus in recruiting circles right now is that the 7-foot-0 center is right on the cusp of a reclassification to 2019. He told KSR at Peach Jam that he would make the jump if he could get his academics in order, and this is looking to be the case. I'd likely lean Oregon over Kentucky 60/40 right now, though both remain legitimate options for him. As a player, Dante has seen his game take a major leap, being named MVP of Peach Jam last month. Considered one of the top shot-blockers in the nation with a legitimate NBA body, the project player we once saw is now considered an instant-impact talent at the college level.

Cliff Omoruyi

	Cliff Omoruyi Center | 6-11| 230 lbs. Roselle, NJ | Roselle Catholic AAU: NY Lightning (EYBL)
	ESPN	No. 51| 10 C	Top247	No. 46 | 11 C
	Rivals	No. 54 | 10 C	247 Comp.	No. 51 | 11 C

Offers: Kentucky, Florida, Louisville, Auburn, Arizona, Maryland, Connecticut, and Rutgers, among others Interest in Kentucky: High Rumored favorites: Kentucky Commitment timetable: Expected to take visits in the coming weeks and make a decision this Fall Quick analysis: Omoruyi is extremely raw and is seen as a multi-year project player with high-level potential at the college level, making his recruitment an interesting one. Kentucky is his favorite school - he has said as much - but it just depends on how much of a priority the UK coaching staff makes him. If they truly want him, there is a sense around Omoruyi's camp that they can get him. If other serious opportunities - reclassifications, high-risers in the rankings, etc. - present themselves, the four-star prospect out of Roselle, NJ could wind up elsewhere. I will also note that Omoruyi looked the best I've ever seen him at the tail-end of the NBPA Top 100 Camp a while back back, so maybe he ends up being that high-riser in the coming months. If that's the case, even better. It will be interesting to see Kentucky's level of contact in the near future.

Greg Brown III

	Greg Brown III Power Forward | 6-9| 205 lbs. Austin, TX | Vandegrift AAU: Texas Titans (EYBL)
	ESPN	No. 5 | 1 PF	Top247	No. 9 | 1 PF
	Rivals	No. 7 | 2 SF	247 Comp.	No. 8 | 1 PF

Offers: Kentucky, Texas, North Carolina, Auburn, and Memphis, among others Interest in Kentucky: High Rumored favorites: Texas Commitment timetable: Expected to take visits in the coming months, but will likely wait until the Spring to make a decision Quick analysis: An uber-athletic forward with an endless motor, Brown is a sure-fire top-ten talent and would be a massive get for any of the five programs on his list. The 6-foot-9 big man recently shocked the world by including Kentucky in his final five after leaving the Cats out of his top ten and failing to talk about them in any recent media opportunities. Little did we know, UK extended a scholarship to Brown after Peach Jam, with sources telling KSR that both the Kentucky coaching staff and Brown’s inner-circle have made a point to keeping their mutual interest as quiet as possible and that the shock value we saw on Tuesday night when he included the Cats was by design. To take it a step further, another source told KSR on Wednesday afternoon that Jalen Green is also interested in playing with Brown in college, as well, which makes plenty of sense given UK’s recent spike in interest. Green is Kentucky’s top target in the class of 2020, after all. Texas has been seen as the heavy favorite dating back to 2017, as the Longhorn staff has done a tremendous job building a personal relationship with Brown and his family. Anything can change when visits are made, and with the five-star prospect opting to wait till the Spring to decide, there is plenty of time to make up ground. As of today, though, I'd still put Texas ahead of the pack.

Waiting on offers

Makur Maker

	Makur Maker Center | 6-11 | 235 lbs. Orange County, CA | Pacific Academy AAU: Dream Vision (adidas Gauntlet)
	ESPN	No. 11 | 2 C	Top247	No. 2 | 2 C
	Rivals	No. 5 | 2 C	247 Comp.	No. 5 | 2 C

Offers: UCLA, Oregon, USC Interest in Kentucky: High Rumored favorites: Overseas Commitment timetable: A decision date is unknown, but the expectation is that he waits for the Spring Quick analysis: The "7-foot guard" is one of the most interesting prospects in the class of 2020 simply because no one has any idea what he will do moving forward. Declared ineligible Orange Lutheran High School for this coming winter due to using up all eight semesters of athletic eligibility, Maker moved to Pacific Academy for the remainder of his high school career. His guardian recently told Ben Roberts of the Herald-Leader  that Maker will absolutely be playing college basketball in 2020-21, though just about all the speculation out there right now is that he will follow in the footsteps of family members Thon and Matur Maker by going straight to the pros out of high school. If he's serious about going to college and there are no eligibility concerns, I expect Kentucky to offer, and the interest would be mutual. He told KSR at the NBPA Top 100 Camp that he's highly interested in the Cats and hopes to visit. As of today, though, Maker's status isn't clear, and an offer likely won't come until that happens.

Daishen Nix

	Daishen Nix Point Guard | 6-5| 205 lbs. Las Vegas, NV | Trinity International Schools AAU: Simply Fun Basketball
	ESPN	No. 22 | 5 PG	Top247	No. 10 | 1 PG
	Rivals	No. 14 | 2 PG	247 Comp.	No. 15 | 1 PG

Offers: UCLA, Kansas, Maryland, Gonzaga, Arizona, and Alabama, among others Interest in Kentucky: High Rumored favorites: UCLA, Kansas, and Maryland Commitment timetable: Nix is in the process of scheduling visits and is expected to make a decision during the early signing period Quick analysis: The elite passing guard told KSR at the NBPA Top 100 Camp that he is very interested in Kentucky, wants to visit, and is hoping for an offer sooner rather than later. After playing with BJ Boston throughout the week, he also said he loved the chemistry they built together and would love to play with him in college. That being said, his shooting is still a major concern and there is hesitation within the UK coaching staff about bringing in another liability on the perimeter, thus making a scholarship in question. They believe he is one of the best passers in all of high school basketball and appreciate that aspect of his game, but worry about another Isaiah Briscoe situation coming to fruition. If Kentucky were to lose confidence in either Jalen Green or Josh Christopher, I could see the Cats prioritizing Nix in the coming months. With a decision expected during the early signing period, though, I don't know if the timing will work out.

JT Thor

	JT Thor Power Forward | 6-9| 190 lbs. Huntington, WV | Huntington Prep AAU: Boo Williams (EYBL)
	ESPN	No. 14 | 5 PF	Top247	No. 13 | 6 PF
	Rivals	No. 53 | 9 PF	247 Comp.	No. 12 | 6 PF

Offers: Kansas, UCLA, Arizona, Maryland, California, Florida, and LSU, among others Interest in Kentucky: High Rumored favorites: Kansas and Kentucky Commitment timetable: After reclassifying to the class of 2020, Thor is expected to make several visits in the near future and make a decision during the early signing period Quick analysis: Thor has visited Kentucky twice - once in October 2018 and again this past January - and the expectation is that he takes another trip to Lexington. Kansas is also seen as a strong contender to land the five-star forward. Known for his athleticism, strong face-up capabilities, and versatility on defense, Thor is expected to fit in seamlessly with the ever-popular positionless style of play the college basketball world is utilizing more and more by the year.

Unlikely options

Cade Cunningham

	Cade Cunningham Combo Guard | 6-7| 215 lbs. Arlington, TX | Montverde AAU: Texas Titans (EYBL)
	ESPN	No. 2 | 1 PG	Top247	No. 3 | 1 CG
	Rivals	No. 2 | 1 PG	247 Comp.	No. 2 | 1 CG

Offers: Kentucky, Oklahoma State, Florida, North Carolina, and Washington, among others Interest in Kentucky: Medium Rumored favorites: Oklahoma State Commitment timetable: A decision is expected during the early signing period in the coming months Quick analysis: Kentucky will continue to monitor Cunningham's situation and an offer is still on the table, but the general consensus is that the five-star guard's "wide open" declaration simply isn't true. Cunningham is favoring Oklahoma State and it will be a shock if he doesn't end up there. Maybe the NCAA comes down on the Cowboys following their alleged involvement in the FBI scandal, but as of today, it'd be silly to pick anyone but OSU to land the consensus top-three prospect.

Scottie Barnes

	Scottie Barnes Power Forward | 6-8| 215 lbs. West Palm Beach, FL | Montverde Academy AAU: Nightrydas Elite (EYBL)
	ESPN	No. 9 | 3 PF	Top247	No. 5 | 1 SF
	Rivals	No. 6 | 1 PF	247 Comp.	No. 6 | 2 SF

Offers: Kentucky, Oregon, California-Berkeley, Kansas, Miami, Florida State, Ohio State, and Duke Interest in Kentucky: Medium Rumored favorites: Oregon Commitment timetable: Barnes told KSR at Peach Jam that he plans to commit in the Spring Quick analysis: Despite an offer still being on the table, I don't see Kentucky as a legitimate landing spot for the five-star forward at this point in time. Oregon is seen as the rumored leader, though he also included Kansas, Ohio State, Miami, and Florida State as the other schools he is focused on at Peach Jam. Back in May, I wrote in Pilgrim's Insider Notes that that those close to Barnes never felt the 6-foot-8 forward was all that serious about Kentucky, and this remains true.

Sharife Cooper

	Sharife Cooper Point Guard | 5-10| 160 lbs. Marietta, GA | McEachern AAU: Athletes of Tomorrow (AOT)
	ESPN	No. 19 | 4 PG	Top247	No. 21 | 3 PG
	Rivals	No. 15 | 3 PG	247 Comp.	No. 19 | 3 PG

Offers: Kentucky, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas A&M, among others Interest in Kentucky: Medium Rumored favorites: Auburn Commitment timetable: A decision is expected in the coming weeks Quick analysis: Cooper will not land at Kentucky, as conversations between both sides have stalled out over the last few months. Barring a major surprise, the five-star guard will be an Auburn Tiger.

Other names to watch

Kentucky has reached out to and visited five-star power forward Dawson Garcia on multiple occasions, and for a brief period, it seemed like an offer was coming sooner rather than later. In fact, if the 6-foot-10 forward hadn't dealt with an illness that kept him from competition during the July evaluation season, I'm fairly confident one would have already come. Kentucky buzz has slowed down just a bit, but with elite scoring ability at all three levels and length to become a force in the paint on both ends of the floor, Garcia very well could be included in the "Waiting on offers" category above. Marquette, Kansas, and Minnesota are just of the few schools rumored to be in solid position with him. Five-star forward Jaemyn Brakefield has visited Big Blue Madness of the past two seasons and there are a few ties to the Kentucky basketball program, sparking many of his early pro-UK Crystal Ball picks at 247Sports. Now, though, Ole Miss and Louisville are two of the schools with the most buzz and Kentucky's contact has seemingly slowed down a bit. Jake Weingarten of Cats Illustrated and KSR's upcoming Sources Say Podcast reported on Tuesday that Brakefield is "wide open," but will cut his list to ten later this month. There has also been speculation about Kentucky ramping up interest with five-star point guard Jalen Suggs, though a source close to the Minneapolis native told KSR that he would likely not entertain an offer from the UK coaching staff this late in the game. "We have moved on," the source said. He said in June that he was focusing on Gonzaga, Minnesota, and Marquette during the home stretch of his recruitment. [mobile_ad]