Kentucky Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing 2020 targets for the Wildcats
Sharife Cooper – McEachern HS (GA)
PG | 6-foot-0 | 160 lbs | No. 19 overall
EYBL Stats: 25.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 8.6 apg
Rated as one of the top point guards in the class, Sharife Cooper has been on Kentucky’s radar for some time. The Wildcats offered the young floor general all the way back in last fall and the coaching staff has made their fair share of visits to see him as well. With elite-level quickness and tremendous court vision, Cooper is a tantalizing prospect with the understanding of how to lead a team. He is also a three-level scorer on the offensive end as he can threaten in a variety of ways with the ball in his hands.
Despite the fact that Auburn (all 12 crystal ball predictions) seems to be the favorite for Cooper right now, I do not want to count Kentucky out. There have been some rumors of Cooper and BJ Boston, who are EYBL teammates, continuing to play together in college. Kentucky would be able to offer them that opportunity while also providing a shot at winning the national title.
Jalen Green – Prolific Prep (CA)
CG | 6-foot-5 | 170 lbs | No. 3 overall
EYBL Stats: 18.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.1 apg
Jalen Green is a polished offensive threat. He scores at all three levels with relative ease, is a tremendous athlete, and probes defenses with the best of them. Although mostly known as a scorer, he often draws a ton of defensive attention and then showcases his court vision and passing ability. Green makes the right read more often than not and this makes him exceptionally dangerous with the ball in his hands. He might need to add some weight to his frame, but he brings plenty of height to the combo guard slot and plays with great drive.
With regards to his recruitment, there does not seem to be a clear favorite at this point in time. Even though Memphis holds four crystal ball predictions at the moment, only one of those picks was made in 2019. It is also important to mention that Green is giving some consideration to bypassing college and playing overseas. Green is, though, expected to take a trip to Kentucky fairly soon. That visit could be a major opportunity for Coach Cal to improve his shot at landing this top-5 prospect.
Cade Cunningham – Montverde Academy (FL)
CG | 6-foot-6 | 215 lbs | No. 2 overall
EYBL Stats: 23.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 5.7 apg
Arguably the top overall prospect in this entire class, Cade Cunningham is a 6-foot-6 wing with plenty of guard skills. He brings a college-ready frame to the table and is ridiculously talented with the ball in his hands. Although not a superb 3-point shooter, Cunningham attacks the basket quite well and understands when to kick to an open teammate. He rips down rebounds with consistency as well, which allows him to push the pace and display his court vision.
As a result of his high skill level, Cunningham is being targeted by just about every major program in the country. This obviously includes Kentucky, but it is Oklahoma State that holds all 16 crystal ball predictions for his commitment right now. This is largely due to the fact that Cunningham’s brother was recently hired to be an assistant coach in Stillwater.
DJ Steward – Whitney Young HS (IL)
CG | 6-foot-3 | 165 lbs | No. 27 overall
EYBL Stats: 22.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.5 apg
Although Kentucky is yet to issue a scholarship offer to DJ Steward, it seems as though that might be coming in the near future. He is a pure scorer with the ability to fill it up at all three levels with consistency. He is also an improving ball-handler and this has greatly enhanced his abilities as a self-creator. There is room for development with regards to his playmaking but nobody should question his ability to fill it up. Every contending team needs someone who can go get their own bucket at any time, and Steward brings that to the table.
Duke currently holds all six crystal ball predictions regarding Steward’s recruitment but it is impossible to say how much an offer from the Wildcats would sway that. It is reportedly “not too late for Kentucky to get involved,” and that has to be good news for BBN. Steward might not be the top-rated guard in the 2020 class but he is certainly talented and would be a great addition.
Daishen Nix – Trinity International Schools (NV)
PG | 6-foot-5 | 205 lbs | No. 15 overall
Daishen Nix also has not received a scholarship offer from Kentucky but there has been plenty of recent contact between the coaching staff and the young point guard. As of last month, it was reported that Nix had been in consistent contact with Joel Justus but was hoping for a meeting with Coach Calipari. Kentucky has also been out to watch him play and there seems to be plenty of buzz surrounding to the potential of Nix-to-UK. This could be a result of the idea that Cooper looks poised to head to Auburn.
At 6-foot-5, Nix brings plenty of size to the point guard position and his passing is absolutely incredible. Although he is not a major shooting threat, you would be hard-pressed to find a more creative creator in this class. Nix probes defenses quite well and finds his open teammates at a high rate. He has the potential to post a high assists number at the college level. Nix also projects as a high-level defender due to his size, athleticism, and instincts.