Kentucky Basketball: Wildcats finalist for forwards Lance Ware and Isaiah Todd
Kentucky Basketball made the cut for two top 2020 forwards, Lance Ware and Isaiah Todd, who recently trimmed their lists.
Kentucky Basketball is among the five teams on each of two 2020 top-60 recruits lists. Consensus five-star Isaiah Todd included the Wildcats among his finalists on Aug. 2 while Ware announced his top five schools on Monday.
Todd, who will be playing at Word of God Christian Academy (NC)this upcoming season, is also still considering Kansas, Michigan, Memphis, and UNC. Meaning that he cut Maryland, Oklahoma State, Oregon, UCF, UCLA and Vanderbilt from his previous top 10 released in April. Michigan is a newcomer to the list as the Richmond (Va.) native received an offer from the Wolverines less than a week ago.
Todd is highly skilled with soft hands and touch. The 6-10 power forward can score on all three levels, although he loves to face the basket where he has range out to 18 feet. Todd is a good athlete and provides a shot-blocking presence on the defensive end.
He is ranked in the top 20 of the class by all the major recruiting services. ESPN has him ranked the highest at No. 8 in the country. Meanwhile, Rivals and 247Sports Composite has him tabbed at No. 13 and No. 14 in their rankings. Todd is No. 20 in 247Sports rankings.
Todd had a solid first season on the Nike EYBL Tour this summer, averaging 17.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.6 blocks over 18 games with Nightrydas Elite. He
Todd has taken two official visits — Maryland and Oklahoma State — and has been to Chapel Hill several times. He told Chris Fisher of 247Sports that he plans on taking official visits to Kentucky and Kansas in the fall. Despite 247Sports having Kentucky as the favorite to land Todd’s services, Rivals’ Eric Bossi said that he believes his recruitment is wide open.
Ware is ranked between No. 41 and No. 52 by the major recruiting services. 247Sports and 247Sports Composite have the 6-foot-9 power forward rated No. 41 and No. 47 in their rankings, respectively. ESPN also has him ranked as a top-50 prospect in the nation at No. 48 and Rivals has him tabbed at No. 52.
The Burlington, N.J. product has already impressed former NBA point guard Rick Brunson, who is Ware’s new high school coach at Camden.
“Lance has turned himself into an energized player., Brunson recently told ZAGSBLOG. “He’s a rim-runner as well as a shot-blocker and rim protector. The best thing he does is be a high character player and a leader.”
Ware had a decent Nike EYBL campaign as he averaged 11.4 points along with 6.0 caroms with the New York Renaissance. However, he did impress during five appearances at the Peach Jam, producing 14.6 points and 6.4 rebounds a contest.
In addition to the Wildcats, Ware is also considering Michigan as well as Miami, Ohio State, and Providence. He told 247Sports that will make official visits to Ohio State on August 30, Michigan on September 5, Providence September 12 and Miami on September 28. He does not have a tour set up with the Wildcats yet, although he is expected to make a trip to Lexington before making a final decision. Kentucky is considered the favorite with Michigan gaining steam.
Kentucky has two more scholarships available for 2020 as they have already received commitments from Cam’Ron Fletcher and B.J. Boston. Fletcher selected the Wildcats over Michigan State, Missouri, North Carolina, and Alabama on Aug. 4. The Cats are also in serious contention for Cade Cunnigham, Joshua Christopher, and Chris Moore.
In total, Kentucky has 10 open offers to 2020 prospects and are still looking at several others. Besides the five players mentioned above, Jalen Green and Cliff Omoruyi are considered to be next in line for the Wildcats with Scottie Barnes being the biggest question mark, according to Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader. Roberts also believes that the Wildcats are long shots for Cunningham and Sharife Cooper.
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Other 2020 prospects that may receive a scholarship offer from coach John Calipari include Daishen Nix, Isaiah Jackson, D.J. Steward, Ziaire Williams, Dawson Garcia, Karim Mane, and Makur Maker. There is also a chance that four of the five 2021 prospects — Paola Banchero, Terence Clark, Jonathan Kuminga and Devin Askew — that have been offered by the Wildcats could reclassify to 2020. The other 2021 prospect that the Wildcats have offered is 6-8 Patrick Baldwin Jr. (Milwaukee). Baldwin received the offer from Kentucky on August 2 and now holds 21 overtures overall.