NCAA Basketball: Class of 2022’s No. 2 recruit Jalen Duren release top 11 list
By Ian Mumm
Kentucky Wildcats
With head coach John Calipari’s success pursuing, as well as developing, one-and-done talent, you could confidently say his plan will work in 9 out of 10 seasons. It just so happened that 2020 was the 10th time and the Wildcats faltered significantly with a very talented group of players.
The NCAA’s one-time no-penalty transfer exception has caused many of these stars to leave the Wildcats, but Calipari is already looking towards the next crop of talented recruits to start the process all over.
Notably, Kentucky has already managed to sign powerful big Oscar Tshiebwe in addition to prized high school recruits Daimion Collins and Bryce Hopkins. Those newcomers combined with the return of forwards Jacob Toppin and Lance Ware to next year’s roster set Kentucky up for a strong rebound when games begin. The issue then becomes how does Duren fits into this mix?
Duren is in line to start on nearly any team he joins, if not the second option at worst and would shuffle the deck for Kentucky’s current crop of frontcourt pieces. Despite a down season, Tshiebwe stills hold value at the professional level and both he and Collins could elevate their status to leave prior to Duren’s arrival. The Wildcats are definitely a program that could catch Duren’s eye if he chooses the college route.