Kentucky Basketball: Potential frontcourt options for 2020-21 roster

Kentucky Basketball is in need of adding a few bigs in 2020. Who are they pursuing, and what are the chances of the Cats obtaining their services?

Kentucky Basketball coach John Calipari still desperately needs to add a couple of big men as Nate Sestina is out of eligibility, and Nick Richards, along with EJ Montgomery, have departed for the NBA Draft. Calipari has missed out on several power forwards/centers, including 2020 high schoolers’ Cliff Omuruyi, Greg Brown III, and  Isaiah Todd as well as recent transfers Matt Haarms and Marcus Santos-Silva.

While Makur Maker and Frank Anselem are still possible options, The Athletic’s Kyle Tucker believes that the Wildcats’ best chance of securing a big man is a 2021 prospect reclassifying. Maker officially declared for the NBA Draft on Saturday though he said that he would prefer to go to college than play in the G-League as there appears to be a good chance that the 6-11 center will not get drafted.  Maker is ranked 75th in ESPN’s top 100 NBA prospects. The Kenyan-born big man said that he would consider the Wildcats along with Oregon, UCLA, and Auburn.

According to Rivals’ Dan McDonald, Kentucky has recently become involved with Anselem, who reclassified from 2021a couple of weeks ago, as the Suwanee (GA) native has reopened his recruitment. Before doing this, 6-10 center was down to just Alabama, Georgia, and LSU but is now considering all suitors. He also holds offers from Kansas, Oregon, Auburn, Tennessee, Arizona, Alabama, LSU, Maryland, Florida, and Arkansas, among others. The four-star recruit is considered a development player that is ranked as the 85th best prospect by 247Sports Composite and 119th by 247Sports. Rivals has him at No. 133 in their rankings, and while ESPN also gave him a four-star rating, they don’t have him in their top 100.

However, Julius Smith — who coached Anselem with the Georgia Stars on the Nike EYBL circuit — told the Herald-Leader that Kentucky’s coaching staff is enamored with Anselem’s game.

“They watched film of him all weekend as a staff, and they liked him a lot,” Smith said. “They like the things that he can do, in terms of next year’s roster and how he can help. They think he’s a pro, like the other schools recruiting him. Frank probably needs two years, maybe three, in college. He’s a great kid. Incredibly athletic. Really advanced defensively. More raw offensively. He’s 6-9 — 6-9 and a half — and has a 7-foot-5 wingspan. So his wingspan is incredible. He’s incredibly bouncy, and he runs like a guard. I think, defensively, he has all the tools right there to be a pro down the line. He just has a lot of work to do offensively.”

While assistant coach Joel Justus has been at the forefront of Anselem’s recruitment with associate head coach Kenny Payne providing a little aid they are not the only members making a pitch as former Kentucky point guard Ashton Hagans is reportedly once again doling out an assist. Smith said that Hagans has contacted Anselem and put in a good word about the Wildcats.

“Ashton loves Kentucky, loves the coaching staff, loves the development,” Smith said. “Ashton has spoken to Frank and told Frank that it’s a great place that he’ll go and develop. It’s just high pressure, high stress, and you have to be mentally prepared for that.”

So, if Kentucky can’t land either player, who else could the Wildcats pursue? A name that has previously come up is Evansville transfer, DeAndre Williams. Williams entered the NCAA transfer portal on April 20. The 6-9 forward was very efficient this past season as he averaged 15.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while shooting 64.8% from the field as well as 45.5% from beyond the arc. He produced five double-doubles and scored in double-figures in 11 of his 18 appearances.

Another name, per SBNation’s Ian Teasley that is extremely interesting — if he decides to transfer with coach Danny Manning being fired — is Wake Forest center, Olivier Sarr. Sarr came into his own this season as he produced 13.7 points, on 52.7% shooting from the field, and nine caroms. He more than doubled his scoring average from 6.2-to-13.2 and upped his rebound percentage from 14.1%-to-18.8%. He also produced 11 double-doubles.

Other possible options include Efton Reid, Jon Kuminga, Moussa Cisse, Moussa Diabate, and Franck Kepnang. All five players are currently part of the 2021 class, although each player is considering reclassifying to 2020.