Kentucky Basketball coach John Calipari has been forced to deploy an unusual recruiting strategy as a result of several departures.
Having to rebuild their roster is nothing new for Kentucky Basketball, but the Wildcats didn’t necessarily think that they would replace as many bodies as they have had to this offseason. Kentucky knew that grad transfer Nate Sestina would be out of eligibility after this past season and that Nick Richards, Tyrese Maxey, and Ashton Hagans would likely leave for the NBA.
However, it was probably a surprise that Immanuel Quickley and EJ Montgomery have decided to forego their remaining eligibility as well as Johnny Juzang and Khalil Whitney deciding to transfer. Whitney, of course, chose to leave midseason. The eight departures tied a program record set previously by the 2011-12 and 2016-17 squads.
Calipari, as usual, has replenished the troops with an outstanding recruiting class. For the 12th year in a row, Kentucky has brought in a top-two rated class, according to 247Sports, with eight current members. Consensus five-star recruits Terrence Clark, BJ Boston, and Devin Askew headline the newcomers. Isaiah Jackson, Lance Ware, and Cam’Ron Fletcher Clark and Boston are the crown jewels of the class and are projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Calipari has also added two transfers following the recent addition of Rhode Island transfer Jacob Toppin. Toppin struggled this past season for the Rams after getting off to a strong start as the 6-7 forward averaged 5.1 points on 42.2% shooting from the field and 3.9 rebounds in nearly 19 minutes’ action. After scoring in double-figures in three of his first six appearances, he only accomplished the feat twice over the last 24 contests. The good news is that Toppin will have a chance to use this year as a redshirt to develop his overall game, but shooting and playmaking are the two biggest areas of improvement.
Creighton grad transfer Davion Mintz is the other transfer, meaning that the Cats are bringing in multiple transfers for the first time under Calipari. Mintz sat out this past season and has registered career averages of 6.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. He has experience as a starter and is a quality distributor though turnovers are an issue.
With three scholarships remaining for the 2020-21 season, Calipari is likely not finished remaking the roster. It will be interesting how many more players he will add this offseason though the Wildcats need to desperately bring in at least one post player and it wouldn’t hurt to add another point guard. More than likely, Calipari will have to continue to work the transfer market, specifically looking for a grad student as the Wildcats need experience. Three names to watch are Purdue transfer Matt Haarms, Moussa Cisse, and Jonathan Kuminga.
Haarms is an excellent shot-blocker who moves his feet well. Offensively, he works hard to get good position in the low-post and does an excellent job sealing his man when he does get prime position. The Netherlands native is also very good at setting screens and moves well around the perimeter, even possessing the ability to get to the basket off the dribble.
Haarms averaged 8.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and two blocks in 20.5 minutes of action over 29 appearances in 2019-20 for the Boilermakers. He produced one double-double and scored in double-figures 12 times, which included a season-high 26 points against Minnesota on Jan 2.
While Kentucky has been viewed as the favorite to land the 7-3 center, Evan Daniels of 247Sports told the Herald-Leader that may not be accurate.
“That’s not necessarily a fair assumption,” Daniels said. “I mean, could they be? Yeah. But I think people just look at a list and say, ‘Hey, that’s the biggest school on the list, so that’s where he’s probably going to go.’ Sometimes it works out that way. But not all the time.”
Arizona, Arkansas, Boston College, BYU, Gonzaga, Memphis, Minnesota, Texas Tech, and UNC Greensboro are the other schools that made Haarms’ top-10 list.
Cisse is a consensus top nine player in the class of 2021 who is considering reclassifying to 2020. The very athletic 6-foot-10, 220-pound center included the Wildcats among his top 10 teams that he released on April 12. Alabama, Georgetown, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, LSU, Memphis, Tennessee, and USC are the other teams that made the cut.
Kuminga is the top-rated player in the class of 2021 and is considering several schools in addition to Kentucky. The 6-8 forward is also still considering Duke, Washington, Florida State, Memphis, Texas Tech, Michigan, Georgia, Maryland, and Auburn after cutting his list down to 10 on April 18.
Other possibilities
Since Kentucky typically loses six players every offseason, it may behoove the Wildcats not to use the total allotment of scholarships this year as the team is still very talented as currently constructed. As it presently stands, if Kentucky does not add any more players or just one grad transfer, the Cats would have at least three scholarships available for 2021. Keion Brooks and Clark are the most likely to leave following the season with Askew and Boston being candidates to follow suit.
Kentucky has five open scholarships out to prospects in the junior class besides the ones to Cisse and Kuminga. Recruits in the class of 2020 have until August 1 to sign a National Letter of Intent, meaning that Kuminga and Cisse still have plenty of time to decide what they are going to do. At this point, Kentucky is not considered the favorite for either of the players though that could change in the coming months, particularly if they decide to reclassify.
What about the other prospects in 2021? Five-star point guard Kennedy Chandler hosted Calipari on a virtual visit on April 16, per Jason Marcum of A Sea Of Blue. Chandler has Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, Tennessee, Memphis, Michigan, Florida State, USC, and Ole Miss in his top 10. While the Wildcats are not considered to be the favorite to obtain the Memphis (TN) native, they are believed to be one of the leading contenders along with the Blue Devils and Vols.
There is some belief that Chandler and five-star forward Paolo Banchero may be a packaged deal. Banchero has also trimmed his wish list down to 10, which includes Duke, Gonzaga, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennesee, Baylor, Georgetown, Memphis, Michigan, and Memphis. It is believed that Duke, UNC, Michigan, Tennessee, and Washington are the leaders for the Seattle native. In fact, Rivals’ Corey Evans and Dan McDonald have predicted that Banchero will end up in Lexington.
Patrick Baldwin is another top-ranked prospect, ranked No. 3 in both Rivals and 247Sports, and is heavily involved with Duke, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Marquette, UNC, Northwestern, and Wisconsin. However, it is believed that the Blue Devils have an overwhelming advantage in his recruitment.
The Wildcats are thought to be the early leader for Jaden Hardy, the No. 1 ranked combo guard, who cut his list down to 12 schools on April 16. Arizona, Arizona State, Illinois, Kansas, Georgetown, Georgia, Memphis, Michigan, Oregon, Texas Tech, and UCLA are the other teams that made list.
Only time will tell how many players that the Wildcats can land. But my guess is at least three of the above list will be wearing the blue and white.