Kentucky Basketball Recruiting: John Calipari looks to have another great class in 2014
By Joshua Kays
The 2013 class for Kentucky is already the best ever, and that’s with Andrew Wiggins still on the board. If Kentucky gets Wiggins in the next couple of weeks they will have a shot at going 40-0. Yes, I know that is very high praise for a group of freshman, but we should have 4 returning players in the mix as well off this years team.
I know recruiting is a big subject among the Big Blue Nation so I wanted to go ahead and look at the guys in the 2014 class who have offers already from Kentucky, and where I think they are leaning towards as of now. Remember this is very early, and are going to change before most of these kids make their final decision.
Jahlil Okafor- Okafor is the #1 player in the 2014 class, and when I saw him play in the Cancer Research Classic earlier in the year I saw why. He is the most powerful big guy in any class. Okafor comes in at 6-10 and 280 pounds, but is very light on his feet. Jahlil is without a doubt a one-and-done type player. I feel like as of now he is a heavy Duke lean. Kentucky is very much in the mix though. Still along way to go with him as so for all of the prospects in this class.
Emmanuel Mudiay- I also saw the #1 ranked point guard, and #2 player overall in 2014 play earlier this season, and I had flashbacks of John Wall. Wall is college didn’t have a great jump shot, but was ultra fast on the court. Mudiay has the same type speed, but has a better jump shot already. Baylor and Kentucky are the two schools who will battle this out, but I think he ends up at Kentucky.
Tyus Jones- Jones ranks #3 overall in the class, and is the #2 point guard just behind Mudiay. Calipari has been to see Jones multiple times in the past 6 months, and is recruiting him very hard. I think without a doubt Calipari gets one of the two point guards, and could sell the Eric Bledsoe-John Wall type offense to Mudiay and Jones. Jones is more a scoring point guard, and reminds me a lot of Brandon Knight. Duke, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Michigan State are heavily involved. Jahlil Okafor and Jones could be a package deal in making thier decisions.
Trey Lyles- Lyles is ranked #4 overall in the class of 2014, and is very active in his recruitment. He recently cut his list to 6 schools which include Kentucky, Butler, Louisville, UCLA, Florida, and Duke. Lyles made several trips to Lexington this season to watch Kentucky play, and most people including me think that he is a heavy Kentucky lean with Duke being 2nd. I haven’t got the chance to see him play in person, but I know he is one of the most versatile players in the class.
Cliff Alexander- Ranked #5 in the class of 2014 Cliff Alexander is an absolute beast down low. I watched him dominate at the Marshall County Hoopfest, and came away very impressed with his touch around the basket. I had a guy who knows Cliff tell me that he thinks he will end up at Kentucky, but with Karl Towns already on board who knows what he will do now. I think they play opposite each other, and could play very well together in the low post. I would say Michigan State, and Kentucky will battle for his services.
Stanley Johnson– Johnson is one of my favorite players in this whole class. I have got to know his coach very well, and Johnson is a great kid. Johnson is ranked #12 in the class, but I would be shocked if he wasn’t top 10 before the final rankings come out. All the kid does is win, and reminds me a lot of former Flordia great Corey Brewer. Johnson recently cut his list to 10 schools, and says he has no leader. I won’t give a prediction on him, because he is very quiet as far as the schools in general.
Some other names to watch in this class who do not have an offer from Kentucky yet are…..
#6 Rashad Vaughn
#15 Theo Pinson
#16 Leron Black
#19 Isaiah Whitehead
#30 Jalen Lindsey
With a commit from Karl Towns, and Kentucky in play for most of top guys this class will be another great one for John Calipari when its all set and done.