Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Recruiting: Looking at the 2015 class

More from Kentucky basketball recruiting

• Kentucky basketball: 4-star recruit visits campus, has unique connection
• Kentucky basketball: Justin Edwards commitment to Cats solidifies 2023 class
• Kentucky Basketball: TyTy Washington commits to UK ready to run point
• Kentucky basketball: Wildcats make top 5 for sharp shooter Brandin Podziemski
• Kentucky basketball: Wildcat signees Hickman, Collins are All-Americans

Now that all of the NBA decisions are in for the Kentucky Wildcats players, John Calipari is on the clock to shore up and help reload his 2015 Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Recruiting class.  As it stands now, Kentucky has the number one class with Skal Labissiere, Isaiah Briscoe, and Charles Matthews.  But with seven players gone, there are spots to fill and some recent news have Kentucky Wildcats fans a bit nervous about the 2015-16 season.

As it stands now, the Kentucky Wildcats have a pretty solid roster for next year even if no new recruits are added.  But this is John Calipari.  He will add at least one or two recruits this year, so let’s take a quick look at some of the players out there and the 24/7 Crystal Balls chances on them chosing Kentucky.  Right now, the three big names are Jaylen Brown, Stephen Zimmerman, and Malik Newman.

Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Jaylen Brown is the number #2 player overall per Rivals and this recruitment may come down to be all about the shoes.  Brown consistently praises Kentucky as the best program in the country, but insists that his decision will fall down to more than basketball.  

"“Kentucky is the best basketball program in the country,” he said at media day before Wednesday’s McDonald’s All American Game. “… Just the professionalism that they carry their selves with is ridiculous. How they handle things at Kentucky, the facilities, it’s like a pro atmosphere, and I didn’t feel that way at any other school. Well, I felt that way, but it was more at Kentucky. Basketball is what they do.” If that’s how he feels then why not just go to Kentucky? “To me, I’m more than a basketball player,” he said. “There’s other things that go into my decision than basketball. Basketball is just what I do. It’s not who I am.”"

Brown recently narrowed his list to eight schools:  Cal, Georgia Tech, Kansas, UCLA, UNC, Kentucky, Michigan, and Georgia.  There was thought that he may be part of a power trio at Cal, but that was dashed when Caleb Swanigan shocked the analysts by picking Michigan State.  Don’t count John Calipari out here, but the Adidas schools of UCLA and Kansas are getting a lot of buzz right now.