Head coach John Calipari and his staff have had a very good start to their 2020 recruiting class. They currently have 5-star guard Brandon “BJ” Boston Jr and 4-star forward Cam’Ron Fletcher committed to play for the Wildcats. Where do they go next?
Wildcat Top Targets
5-star G Cade Cunningham is the #2 player in the country (photo: SI)Cade Cunningham
(6’6″ combo guard) – Cunningham is the #2 ranked high school player in the country. He is down to a Final 5 of Kentucky, Oklahoma State, Washington, North Carolina, and Florida. Many believe he will end up Oklahoma State. The Cowboys recently hired Cade’s older brother, Cannen Cunningham, to be an assistant coach. Cade has stated that his recruitment is “wide open,” but I fully expect him to pick the Cowboys when it is time to make a decision.
Jalen Green
(6’5″ combo guard) – Green is the #3 ranked player in the country. He has not announced a list of top schools, but his recruitment has been centered around Kentucky and Memphis. Yes, Oregon and Florida State are also consider “contenders.” However, his recruitment will be a Kentucky and Memphis battle. Memphis was seen as the early favorite, and are still considered the favorite. However, Green later stated that he was “very interested” in teaming up with 5-star Joshua Christopher. The only school that seems like that could happen at is Kentucky. Kentucky isn’t necessarily the “leader” in his recruitment, but they are in very good spot to land Green.
Makur Maker
(6’11”, center) – Maker is ranked as the #5 player in the class. However, he is one of two players on this list who doesn’t have an offer to Kentucky yet. He is the cousin of NBA player Thon Maker. Makur Maker was linked to Kentucky earlier this summer. However, I don’t see Maker playing college basketball. He will most likely play oversees like his cousin. If he does decide to play in college, Kentucky and Oregon should be the main contenders.
Kentucky fans would love to see 5-star SF Scottie Barnes in a Wildcat uniformScottie Barnes
(6’8″, small forward) – Ranked as the #6 player in the 2020 class, Barnes was the first player to receive a scholarship from Kentucky. He is down to a Final 8 of Kentucky, Duke, Oregon, California, Kansas, Miami, Florida State, and Ohio State. However, it does not look like he will be playing for the Wildcats next season. Obviously, Kentucky was included in Barnes’ Top 8. However, all signs point to the fact that he is not seriously considering the Wildcats. Expect Barnes to be playing for either his home state school, the Miami Hurricanes, or his “dream school” Oregon Ducks.
Greg Brown
(6’9″, power forward) – Brown is the #8 player in the 2020 class. He is down to a Final 5 five of Kentucky, Texas, Memphis, Auburn, and North Carolina. The Wildcats weren’t in Brown’s Top 10 schools earlier in the year. Consequently, that’s why it comes as a surprise that Kentucky was included in his Top 5. While Kentucky has a shot, Brown will be playing for his home state Texas Longhorns next season.
Joshua Christopher
(6’4″, shooting guard) – Christopher is ranked the #9 ranked player in the class. He is down to a Final 5 of Kentucky, Arizona State, UCLA, Missouri, and Michigan. Out of all the players on this list, expect Christopher to be Kentucky’s next commit in the 2020 class. He considers himself a “Kentucky Fan.” As a result, he is very interested in playing college basketball with Kentucky commit Brandon Boston Jr. In addition to the Wildcats, Arizona State is considered as another potential destination for Christopher, as his brother plays for the Sun Devils.
Is 5-star PF Isaiah Todd the next great Kentucky big man?Isaiah Todd
(6’10”, power forward) – Todd is the #11 ranked player in the class and hails from North Carolina. Todd is down to a Final 5 of Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, Michigan, and Memphis. The Wildcats are the favorite in his recruitment. North Carolina is seen as a possible destination, as is playing overseas. The overseas buzz with Todd is real. However, expect him to be playing college basketball next season. And Kentucky will be the pick.
Sharife Cooper
(6’0″, point guard) – Cooper is ranked as the #18 player in the class. It does not seem likely Cooper plays for the Wildcats next season, as he is seen as a heavy Auburn lean. The positive side to this is he is AAU teammates with Kentucky commit Brandon Boston Jr and he has said he would “love” to play with Boston in college. While that may be true, but it is looking like Cooper will be playing for Bruce Pearl and the Tigers next season.
JT Thor
(6’8″, power forward) – Formerly a top player in the 2021 class, Thor reclassified and is now the #34 ranked player in the 2020 class. The Wildcats are certainly in a good spot with Thor. His recruitment should come down to a Kentucky, Oregon, and Kansas battle.
It could be a battle between Kentucky and Michigan for F Lance Ware – (Photo: Joe Lamberti/Courier Post)Lance Ware
(6’9″, power forward) – Lance Ware is the #40 ranked player in the class. He is considered a Kentucky lean. As they do have a great shot, Michigan and Providence should not be looked over. In the end, this will be a Kentucky and Michigan battle.
Cliff Omoruyi
(6’11”, center) – He is ranked the #51 player in the class. However, Omoruyi is Kentucky’s, if they want him. If the Wildcats recruit him hard enough, he will be a wildcat. Other contenders are Rutgers, UConn, Louisville, among many others.
Obviously, the Wildcats have a lot of options in the 2020 class. Who they land next is the question. Calipari is one of the best recruiters in the country and he will have another top recruiting class this year.
