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NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Analyzing 5-star center Adem Bona top 7 teams

By Tristan Freeman

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - MARCH 03: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to his team against the Tennessee Volunteers at Rupp Arena on March 03, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - MARCH 03: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to his team against the Tennessee Volunteers at Rupp Arena on March 03, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Adem Bona NCAA Basketball Miami Hurricanes head coach Jim Larranaga Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Adem Bona NCAA Basketball Miami Hurricanes head coach Jim Larranaga Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

Kentucky Wildcats

If we assume that West Virginia transfer Oscar Tshiebwe is only around for one season, Kentucky will need to find a star center in the 2022 class to avoid having to go into the transfer portal once again. They’ve been after Bona for a while and some believe could be the favorites. They had another former Turkey prospect in Enes Kanter nearly a decade ago and the countless examples of Wildcat players ending up in the NBA makes them a great option.

However, Kentucky is also one of the few programs in play for Dereck Lively, the top class of 2022 big man. I don’t see a scenario where they can land both players because the fit together on the court would be difficult and neither player will want to come off the bench with so many other options elsewhere. If Lively commits elsewhere, the Wildcats could very well end up with Bona.

Miami Hurricanes

There are some options on this list that won’t guarantee Bona starting as a freshman. Miami isn’t one of them, as they have a pair of senior big men (Sam Waardenburg and Rodney Miller Jr.) who’ll be gone after next season, leaving them without a real center on the roster. Bona can play in the ACC and have as many minutes as possible, while also being a focal point of the offense.

The problem will be that not only will the big men leave after next season, so will the top guards, Isaiah Wong, and Charlie Moore will move as well. That leaves the Hurricanes with a rebuilding effort and likely not good enough to be an NCAA Tournament team. Unless he’s the start of an unforeseen juggernaut 2022 recruiting class, I don’t see Bona willingly playing for a bad team and having a lack of a supporting cast that can make him better as well.

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