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Kentucky Basketball Recruiting: Can Kentucky land the top player in the class of 2018?

By Frank Spencer

Jan 16, 2017; Springfield , MA, USA; Sierra Canyon School Trailblazers player Marvin Bagley III (35) drives to the basket past La Lumiere School Lakers player Isaiah Coleman Lands (11) at Blake Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2017; Springfield , MA, USA; Sierra Canyon School Trailblazers player Marvin Bagley III (35) drives to the basket past La Lumiere School Lakers player Isaiah Coleman Lands (11) at Blake Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports /
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There’s a lot of news surrounding some of Kentucky Basketball’s top targets in the class of 2018.

Some big names in the class of 2018 are strongly considering the Kentucky Basketball program as their choice to play college basketball. Most notably, Marvin Bagley III, the top player in the class is thought to have Kentucky high on his list. The 6-foot-11 forward has seriously impressed the folks in the basketball world.

Bagley has been virtually unstoppable in his EYBL season. His team on the other hand, hasn’t been that successful. It is doubtful that his play is correlated to his team’s struggles. Anyway, Bagley has real talent. He’s the top rated player in the country and Kentucky would be lucky to get his services to Lexington. Currently, 247Sports’ Crystal Ball prediction have the Wildcats in the lead to land Bagley. Kentucky has gained 80 percent of the vote. UCLA has the next best voting percentage at 20 percent. Kentucky is in good standing with the big man.

The Scouting Report

Marvin Bagley III is an extraordinary talent. He stands 6-foot-11 and weighs in around 220 pounds. His height gives him an advantage in the paint and on the boards. But, his jumpsuit is something of a work of art. Bagley is able to put the ball on the floor and take it to the rim. He can also pull up and shoot it from deep. If he was comparable to anyone in the NBA, guys like Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo come to mind. He is still going to develop as a player no matter where he goes. There is a great core of skills that Bagley possesses that set him aside from any other player in the class of 2018. His abilities would complement a number of offensive schemes.

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At Kentucky, Bagley would be able to express himself as his own player while getting the exposure and coaching that he needs to become a great pro. John Calipari and coach Kenny Payne have a track record for developing NBA Big Men. I think Anthony Davis, Demarcus Cousins, and Karl-Anthony Towns is all Bagley needs to look at when making a decision. Although those players were mainstays in the paint in college, their game has developed away from the basket. Marvin Bagley III already has a game away from the basket. He may have a leg up on that trio of Kentucky big men heading to college.

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