NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing top 2020 classes prior to spring

1. Kentucky Wildcats (6 commits)

Average Class Ranking: 1.0

Kentucky is a blueblood program and head coach John Calipari remains among the most feared recruiters in the entire country. Year in and year out, the veteran head coach is able to bring elite-level recruiting classes to Lexington and he does an excellent job preparing those players to take the next leap to the NBA. Making a deep run and winning the national championship is the goal of every single Kentucky team and that will be the case in 2020-21 as well.

Kentucky’s 2020 recruiting class is easily the best in the entire country right now and I’m not sure anyone will be able to catch it. The ‘Cats have secured a pair of Top 10 players to lead the way and they will be the stars of the team next season alongside a couple of returners. Additionally, the rest of the class is filled with four-star talent capable of being superb role players.

At the forefront of this class is the dynamic wing duo of Terrence Clarke and BJ Boston. Clarke, who was originally a member of the 2021 class, reclassified to join the team next season and is ranked at No. 4/5 in his new class. He brings sensational size to the wing at 6-foot-7 and is one of the most remarkable passers in the nation. He can run the offense for stretches with his vision and size while also being able to create offense for himself off the dribble and defend just about anyone.

Sticking with versatile wings, BJ Boston also fits the mold. He is a 6-foot-6 shooting guard with elite-level athleticism and could be the leading scorer for Kentucky next season. He is the No. 7/4 overall player in the class and is known as a strong three-level scoring option with the length, size, and athleticism to be a lockdown collegiate defender before becoming an NBA Draft lottery pick.

While those two handle the wings, Devin Askew enters the fray as a potential lead guard. He is another five-star piece at No. 25/26 in the class and he exhibits excellent skill as a ball-handler. He changes pace very well while driving the lane and can light it up from the perimeter as well.

Kentucky’s future frontcourt is also locked down in this class with a trio of pieces that can play the “3” or the “4” when on the court. Cam’Ron Fletcher is the lowest-rated of this group as a 6-foot-6 wing but he is still ranked at No. 46/42. Then, both 6-foot-9 athletes Isaiah Jackson (No. 28/26) and Lance Ware (No. 31/32) are regarded as power forwards.

That concludes this look at the current top recruiting classes for 2020. Which ones will turn out to be the most impactful over the next few seasons? We will soon find out as they begin their careers in less than a year from now.