Kentucky hosts plethora of four and five-star talent for Junior Day

by:Jack Pilgrim•01/27/19

@Mjdevonshirejr

All of the talk has been about Kentucky basketball’s massive victory over Kansas this weekend, but the UK football team also put themselves in position to secure some pretty significant victories, as well.

With campus buzzing, Mark Stoops and the Kentucky football program hosted some of the best high school talent in the nation for Junior Day. And by the looks of things, things went extremely well and Kentucky has some solid momentum with numerous elite prospects.

The recruits in attendance were able to tour all of the UK facilities (including Kroger Field), try on all of Kentucky’s uniform combinations, and cap things off with a trip to Rupp Arena to see the Cats take on the Jayhawks in easily the rowdiest game of the basketball season.

We’ll dive into the specifics and uniform pictures in a second, but one of the biggest takeaways came during that Kentucky-Kansas game and the players in attendance to see it.

While getting some warmup footage on the floor beforehand, I noticed the UK football coaches find their way into the venue with the recruits lined up behind. Upwards of 60 prospects piled in and were guided to their seats, with plenty of those individuals being big-name four and five-star talent. I knew the projected visitor list was impressive, but just on quick glance it was apparent UK hit some home runs.

Noticeably absent from the group, however? Kentucky four-star wide receiver target Devonta Lee.

Late last week, Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman reported Lee was set to visit this weekend with Kentucky quarterback signee Amani Gilmore, but things got a bit unclear late Friday following his high school basketball game. After the visit was set and ready to go, there are rumors that LSU came in for an in-home visit in an attempt to dissuade him from making the trip to Lexington.

However the timeline unfolded, the 740-mile, 11-hour trip from Amite, LA to Lexington couldn’t come to fruition for the elite wideout. Gilmore did end up making it to campus for the visit, but his star receiver teammate did not.

Beyond the not-so-great news with Lee, everything else was excellent for the Wildcats and their position with some of the best recruits in the nation.

Let’s take a look at some of the big-name visitors:

The biggest (literally) on campus was 2020 five-star top-15 prospect Justin Rogers, who tweeted “Kentucky was the first to offer” with a picture of him sporting the blue and white this morning.

He was there with his teammate Enzo Jennings, a four-star cornerback and top-100 prospect in the class of 2020.

https://twitter.com/allamerican52jr/status/1089578050054950913?s=21

For those keeping track at home, each of those players have raked in a total of 53 scholarship offers from every major school in the nation, and they found their way to Lexington, KY for an unofficial visit in January. That in itself is impressive.

Beyond Rogers and Jennings, the elite talent continues, with several of those individuals being in the class of 2019.

Jay Ward, a four-star cornerback out of Moultrie, GA, is another prospect the Wildcats are trying to add before Signing Day in a little over a week.

He said afterward that he had a good time in Lexington, posting a few pictures in Kentucky’s anthracite uniforms.

Aliquippa, PA product MJ Devonshire, yet another four-star defensive back, was in town on an official visit UK this weekend.

The 5-foot-11, top-30 cornerback’s mother posted an image of a cake they received from the school during their time in Lexington.

He also got to hang out with Kentucky basketball head coach John Calipari:

In a bit of a surprise, Kentucky also hosted 2019 four-star kicker/punter Billy McConnell.

When it comes to the class of 2020, Kentucky is hosting some of the most talented players in America.

As Nick Roush told you last week, Curtis Jacobs (four-star wide receiver) and Blake Corum (four-star, top-20 running back) made the trip down from Maryland. Cesar Reyes, a four-star, top-200 offensive tackle prospect out of Tampa, also made it to Lexington.

https://twitter.com/300_Sh0wtime/status/1089192981712855041

East St Louis teammates four-star safety Antonio Johnson and three-star athlete Lawaun Powell also seemed to have a great time sporting the Kentucky blue and white:

Three-star defensive tackle Armon Wallace out of St. Louis, MO did his best PJ Washington impression, flexing his muscles in the No. 55 jersey:

Elsewhere, Ft. Lauderdale three-star offensive tackle Gerald Mincey also enjoyed his time in Lexington:

https://twitter.com/GeraldMincey/status/1089245621419233281

Four-star safety Quitman Kincaid out of Clarksville, TN said he appreciated the Kentucky coaching staff for having him:

Three-star slot wide receiver Xavier Restrepo out of St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) showed off the chrome dome with the white UK logo.

He has been seen as a Kentucky lean as of late:

Restrepo’s teammate, 2020 five-star wide receiver Marcus Rosemy, was also in attendance:

Stoops also made sure to bring in local talent.

Three-star defensive tackle prospect and Radcliff, KY native, Octavious Oxendine was in attendance. The North Hardin star also wins the award for coolest name in the history of college football recruiting.

Three-star running back Landen Bartleson, a Boyle County product, made it to Lexington, as well.

Izayah Cummings, a three-star wide receiver and Louisville Male product in the class of 2020, also made the trip:

Lanell Carr, a three-star linebacker out of Saint Louis, said he “can’t wait to come back” to Lexington:

https://twitter.com/lanellcarr3/status/1089353891299446784?s=21

Three-star Dublin, GA linebacker Romello Height received an offer during his “great” Kentucky visit:

Dallas Walker, a three-star defensive end out of Smyrna, TN, was excited for his visit:

Ellenwood, GA product Alvin Williams, a three-star 6-foot-3 defensive end, “had a great time” in Lexington:

Three-star safety Majon Wright, yet another Cardinal Gibbons (Ft. Lauderdale) standout:

https://twitter.com/WrightMajon/status/1089239149650104321

Offensive guard Ta’Chawn Brooks and defensive back Tyrik McDaniel out of South Carolina were in attendance, as were Tennessee natives Blake Hundley, Jason Eaton, and Derrell Bailey Jr. 

Columbus wide receiver Bryan Davis was too:

Indiana running back prospect Marion Lukes:

https://twitter.com/kid_lukes9/status/1089255049031835649

And just a few of the (many) 2021 prospects in attendance:

https://twitter.com/bwise9869/status/1089232946157051904

Well done, Coach Stoops and company.

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