Top Kentucky targets set to begin grassroots season this weekend

Kentucky basketball season may be over, but recruiting season is just getting started, with the start of the grassroots season set to begin this weekend. The Nike EYBL regular season begins this evening in Orlando, with adidas 3SSB and Under Armour Association (UAA) taking place in the Indianapolis area.

Today also marks the start of the first Live Period, meaning college coaches will be able to evaluate prospects in person throughout the weekend. Kentucky’s staff is expected at both stops checking out the top talent in the upcoming 2023 and 2024 classes. The majority of the program’s primary targets will be in Orlando on the EYBL circuit, but a handful of interesting names will be in Indianapolis, namely 2023 five-star commit Reed Sheppard.

Among the other names? KSR has compiled a list of names Kentucky will be keeping an eye on, both with offers and without — for now.

2023

Nike EYBL

• No. 2 Ron Holland (Drive Nation (TX))
  • 6-foot-8, 195 pounds
  • Wing
  • Duncanville, TX
• No. 3 DJ Wagner (New Jersey Scholars) – OFFER
  • 6-foot-3, 165 pounds
  • Combo guard
  • Camden, NJ
• No. 4 Kwame Evans Jr. (Team Durant (MD)) – OFFER
  • 6-foot-10, 190 pounds
  • Power forward
  • Baltimore, MD
• No. 6 Robert Dillingham (Team CP3 (NC)) – OFFER
  • 6-foot-2, 160 pounds
  • Point guard
  • Charlotte, NC
• No. 11 Justin Edwards (Team Final (PA)) – OFFER
  • 6-foot-7, 180 pounds
  • Small forward
  • Philadelphia, PA
• No. 12 JJ Taylor (Strive For Greatness (CA)) – OFFER
  • 6-foot-8, 180 pounds
  • Small forward
  • Chicago, IL
• No. 14 Omaha Biliew (MOKAN Elite (MO))
  • 6-foot-8, 215 pounds
  • Power forward
  • Waukee, IA
• No. 15 Gavin Griffiths (Expressions Elite (MA))
  • 6-foot-7, 185 pounds
  • Shooting guard
  • West Hartford, CT
• No. 16 Aaron Bradshaw (New Jersey Scholars)
  • 7-foot-1, 210 pounds
  • Center
  • Roselle, NJ
• No. 21 Matas Buzelis (Expressions Elite (MA))
  • 6-foot-10, 187 pounds
  • Small forward
  • Wolfeboro, NH
• No. 46 Taylor Bowen (Expressions Elite (MA))
  • 6-foot-9, 195 pounds
  • Small forward
  • Jericho, VT
• No. 50 Bronny James (Strive For Greatness (CA))
  • 6-foot-3, 190 pounds
  • Combo guard
  • Cleveland, OH

3SSB

• No. 10 Baye Fall (Colorado Hawks)
  • 6-foot-10, 205 pounds
  • Center
  • Parker, CO
• No. 25 Ugonna Kingsley (NY Jayhawks)
  • 6-foot-11, 215 pounds
  • Center
  • Oakdale, CT
• No. 27 Reed Sheppard (Midwest Basketball Clubb (OH)) – COMMIT
  • 6-foot-3, 175 pounds
  • Combo guard
  • London, KY
• No. 32 Ja’Kobe Walter (Team Trae Young (OK))
  • 6-foot-5, 180 pounds
  • Shooting guard
  • McKinney, TX

*2023 On3 Player Rankings

2024

Nike EYBL

• No. 1 Naasir Cunningham (NY Renaissance)
  • 6-foot-7, 180 pounds
  • Small forward
  • West Orange, NJ
• No. 2 Tre Johnson (Team Griffin)
  • 6-foot-5, 180 pounds
  • Shooting guard
  • Dallas, TX
• No. 17 RJ Jones (Florida Rebels)
  • 6-foot-9, 200 pounds
  • Power forward
  • Gainesville, FL
• No. 18 Karter Knox (Florida Rebels)
  • 6-foot-5, 180 pounds
  • Small forward
  • Tampa, FL

3SSB

• No. 8 Ian Jackson (Wiz Kids (NY))
  • 6-foot-4, 170 pounds
  • Shooting guard
  • Bronx, NY
• No. 16 Somto Cyril (EAB (TN))
  • 6-foot-11, 240 pounds
  • Center
  • Chattanooga, TN

UAA

• No. 3 Derik Queen (Team Thrill)
  • 6-foot-9, 220 pounds
  • Center
  • Montverde, FL

*The Circuit’s 2024 Player Rankings

Friday Schedule

Nike EYBL (17U)

6:15 p.m. ET

• Mac Irvin Fire vs. Drive Nation (Court 13)
• The Family vs. NY Renaissance (Court 14)
• ProSkills vs. IndyHeat (Court 15)
• Team Thad vs. MOKAN Elite (Court 16)
• JL3 Elite vs. Vegas Elite (Court 17)
• The Skills Factory vs. Livon-Fleur De Lis (Court 18)

7:45 p.m. ET

• City Rocks vs. Team Durant (Court 13)
• Georgia Stars vs. Team Griffin (Court 14)
• MeanStreets vs. Houston Hoops (Court 15)
• Team United vs. CP3 (Court 16)

9:15 p.m. ET

• Seattle Rotary vs. NJ Scholars (Court 13)
• Boo Williams vs. Team WhyNot (Court 14)
• Strive For Greatness vs. BABC (Court 15)
• Oakland Soldiers vs. PSA Cardinals (Court 16)

The official EYBL livestream can be found here.

Adidas 3SSB (17U)

6 p.m. ET

• Team Loaded vs. Compton Magic (Court 1)
• Team Rose vs. Team Trae Young (Court 2)
• Garner Road vs. Atlanta Celtics (Court 3)
• New World vs. EAB (Court 4)
• K-Low Elite vs. J Sizzle (Court 5)

7:15 p.m. ET

• Team Lillard vs. Jalen Green Elite (Court 1)
• Southeast Elite vs. NY Jayhawks (Court 2)
• WACG vs. Brookwood Elite (Court 3)
• Mass Rivals vs. Southern Assault (Court 4)

8:30 p.m. ET

• Team Huncho vs. Team Loaded (Court 1)
• Utah Prospects vs. Wildcat Select (Court 2)
• Upward Stars vs. Dream Vision (Court 3)
• Elite 6 vs. Arkansas Hawks (Court 4)

9:45 p.m. ET

• Colorado Hawks vs. Wiz Kids (Court 1)
• Midwest Basketball Club vs. Indiana Elite (Court 2)
• Game Elite vs. D1 Minnesota (Court 3)

Remaining Weekend Schedules

EYBL (Saturday)

EYBL (Sunday)

3SSB (Saturday)

3SSB (Sunday)

The complete Under Armour Association (UAA) weekend schedule can be found here.

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KSR will be in Indianapolis this weekend covering the first weekend of adidas 3SSB, followed by in-person Nike EYBL coverage the rest of the spring and summer.

Grassroots season has officially begun.