Kentucky Basketball: ESPN Predicts UK Landing Three Recruits
College basketball expert Jeff Borzello of ESPN believes the Kentucky basketball program will land three of the five-star senior recruits who will attend Midnight Madness.
The Kentucky basketball program is known to pull in an elite recruiting class on a yearly basis. John Calipari is widely regarded as the best recruiter in the country, and his track record at UMass, Memphis, and Kentucky validates the belief.
From Marcus Camby at UMass, Derrick Rose at Memphis, and the likes of Anthony Davis, and Karl-Anthony Towns at Kentucky, Calipari consistently lands star-caliber players.
Following what was a masterful recruiting job in 2016, the pressure is on Coach Cal for 2017. Arizona snagged DeAndre Ayton, Michael Porter Jr. chose Washington, and Mitchell Robinson committed to Western Kentucky—yes, that Western Kentucky.
The three players whom Jeff Borzello of ESPN Insider predicted Kentucky will sign are Nick Richards, Trae Young, and P.J. Washington.
"Nick RichardsPrediction: KentuckyConfidence level: 55 percentTrae YoungPrediction: KentuckyConfidence level: 55 percentP.J. WashingtonPrediction: KentuckyConfidence level: 75 percent"
That would be quite the haul for the Wildcats.
Richards, a Queens, New York native, reportedly prefers the idea of playing for Kentucky. For those unfamiliar, Richards is a five-star center whose size, length, and athleticism have earned him praise from around the country.
Richards ranks No. 12 overall on the 2017 ESPN 100, No. 14 per 247Sports, No. 17 on Scout, and No. 19 on the Rivals 150.
Standing at 6’11” and 231 pounds with a 7’3″ wingspan, Richards is a physically overwhelming force of nature.
Young is one of the most tantalizing point guard recruits in the class of 2017. His father recently stated that Kentucky basketball’s recruitment is going, “Really well,” which clearly outlines that Calipari’s magic is beginning to work.
Young is the No. 14 overall player on the Rivals 150, is No. 15 overall on the ESPN 100, No. 19 per 247Sports, and No. 22 per Scout.
At 6’2″ and 176 pounds with a 6’4″ wingspan and a well-rounded skill set, Young has the potential to be Kentucky’s starting point guard in 2017-18.
Washington may be the most intriguing recruit amongst those listed. He’s a skilled forward with the potential to be a stretch 4 in the NBA and a genuine leader of a contending team on the collegiate level.
Washington ranks No. 14 on Scout, No. 15 on 247Sports, No. 16 on the ESPN 100, and No. 17 on the Rivals 150.
Washington stands at 6’7.5″ and 240 pounds with a 7’1.5″ wingspan, tremendous finishing ability, a quality midrange jumper, and improving 3-point range.
If the Wildcats manage to sign these three recruits, then Calipari would get the class of 2017 off to a tremendous start. There would still be work to be done, but all three players have the potential to start.
The question is: will Borzello’s prediction come true?
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If it does, then the Wildcats may be a championship-caliber team again in 2017-18.