The news that John Calipari is going to leave Kentucky to take over at Arkansas has rocked the college basketball world. Of course, this development could have long-lasting impacts on both programs now and for years to come.
One area that could see a seismic shift is the recruiting trail. That's where Coach Cal has long been one of the best in the nation.
Currently, Kentucky has six high school players scheduled to join the program this offseason. Four of those players have already signed their letters of intent but typically, players are let out of those letters of intent when there is a coaching change at the school they have signed with.
According to 247Sports.com, the Wildcats have the No. 2 ranked recruiting class in the country. That trails only Duke in the national rankings.
Meanwhile, Arkansas's class is No. 38 in the nation. The Hogs have only two commits in their 2024 class.
Of course, there's every reason to believe that Calipari will try to get some of Kentucky's recruits to follow him to Fayetteville. In fact, some on social media are already claiming that Wildcats recruits have been contacted about their interest in Arkansas. So let's look at the players that might be targets to flip to the Razorbacks.
Jayden Quaintance is the bell cow of Kentucky's class
Jayden Quaintance is a 6-foot-9 center from North Carolina who has already signed his L.O.I. with Kentucky. However, expect Calipari to try to lure him to Arkansas.
Now, the Razorbacks were not on the list of teams that the five-star recruit reportedly had an interest in prior to picking the Wildcats. That will likely change with coach Cal now in Fayetteville, though. Missouri might also be a team to watch here because the Tigers were supposedly the runner-up in this recruiting battle.
Keep in mind that Quaintance is only 17 meaning he'll have to spend two years in college before he's old enough to head to the NBA. Could his age make him more likely to follow Calipari, a coach he is familiar with and comfortable with? That wouldn't be out of the question.
This is the No. 8 player overall and the No. 2 center in the nation. His 7-foot-3 wingspan is something that can't be taught and his athleticism and scoring touch make him a highly-coveted prospect. Therefore, Coach Cal will definitely try to convince Quaintance to follow him to Fayetteville.