Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Recruiting updates on Thon Maker and Caleb Swanigan

I don’t think I can recall an end of the recruiting period that has this many questions up in the air for John Calipari and Kentucky Wildcats basketball recruiting. There has literally been no news on Jamal Murray after he announced that he was taking some time to mull his reclassification decision. That was on April 23. However, there is some new news and speculation on Kentucky targets Thon Maker and Caleb Swanigan.

It was announced today that Thon Maker plans to attend college next year and will not be entertaining offers to play overseas. This is good news for Kentucky, although Maker will not be available until the Fall semester ends. The big question is whether he will reclassify into the 2015 class.

"Thon Maker is focusing on playing next at an American college, not in an overseas pro league.That’s what his guardian, Ed Smith, told SNY.tv on Monday morning.“Finishing high school first and then U.S. College,” Smith said by text.The 7-foot Maker has said he is “pushing toward” reclassing to 2015 from 2016 and is considering Kentucky, Indiana, Kansas and Arizona State. He could enroll at the semester break at an American school, making him eligible for the second semester during the 2015-16 season, as previously reported by Scout.com.“At this stage, I am hearing so many options for Thon but his focus is finishing high school and enjoying playing with his brother and friends,” Smith said. “It is very simple that way. That can’t be taken away from him because of all the different that are presented. Sometimes the intentions are good but it does not fit Thon’s goals and sometimes it is an agenda driven to serve that situation’s purpose.“It continues to be a process of listen, learn and evaluate.”"

Meanwhile the speculation and rumors run rampant on Caleb Swanigan. Apparently, Swanigan is considering Michigan State again. I don’t know how reliable this is, but this is out there today.

Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

"We just received a call (not a text, you young bucks) from our very reliable source that Swanigan has been in contact this weekend with the Michigan State basketball staff. Issues are trying to be resolved and we are told that Michigan State is officially back in the mix for his possible commitment to the Spartans. But before we as Spartan fans get too exicted, there is the x-factor: Tom Izzo. Our source does not know those details but Izzo and Swanigan have some things to work out first."

Granted anyone’s guess on Swanigan is good as anyone else right now. I would think that Purdue and perhaps Michigan State are still out of the running. Swanigan has had ample opportunity to commit to Purdue and there seems to be a lot of internal issues with Sparty. Also that blog that I linked to does not pass the “feel test” for me as credible.

Just an educated guess, I think it will be between the two Cals: the golden bear variety and the Calipari one. It certainly looks like Swanigan is waiting for Cal to clear room for him but that process is taking longer than it should be.

Could it be Calipari by default then? Hopefully we get a decision this week.

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