2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. "He makes high-level plays with the ball in the open floor, gets downhill in transition as well as coming off ball-screens, and knows how to change his pace in the pick-and-roll," 247Sports director of scouting Adam Finklestein wrote of Castle. Will Levis may be this year's first round bust | Kentucky hosting 4,000-point scorer Travis Perry for Auburn game, CBB Recruiting Weekly: Perry drops 61 in front of Calipari; NC State rising; Smith returns; weekend previews, Travis Perry scores 61 in front of John Calipari, updates his recruitment, Kentucky signees among finalists for Naismith High School Player of the Year, In-state star Travis Perry pours in school-record 61 points in front of John Calipari, Naismith names High School Player and Coach of the Year Finalists, CBB Recruiting Weekly: Tatum, Mitchell, and Fox in high school; rookie rewind; future NBA All-Stars, Pair of Kentucky signees named to Nike Hoop Summit, Pressure on 2023 recruiting class becoming overwhelming and unfair, Four March visits set for Top247 WR Rico Scott, Florida spring camp roster: Notes and observations, Florida Gators at the NFL Combine tracker, Kentucky's magic runs out vs. Tennessee in SEC quarterfinals. 6-9 / What to know: Future Kentucky mens basketball players in game in Frankfort Friday night, Class of 2024 Kentucky basketball recruit Tahaad Pettiford makes college commitment, In-state Kentucky recruit Travis Perry being courted by college basketballs best team. 247Sports Kentucky reeled in a big fish in the 2022 recruiting cycle on Monday, scoring a verbal commitment from four-star 7-footer Ugonna Kingsley Onyenso to "He sees the floor at a very high-level and very literally makes the game easier for his teammates. 245, C / Duke, the lone ACC program to sign a top-10 recruit in 2023, welcomes the nations No. He was one of the most dominant shot-blockers in all of prep school basketball last year, after arriving at Putnam Science Academy for the second semester. 187, PG / 6-11 / Guys with his size who can stretch floors that are also mobile and have a lot of physical upside, well they tend to see their stock soar. 7 prospect, power forward Mackenzie Mgbako. Enrolled. Mgbako is the 23rd top-10 prospect to sign with the Blue Devils since 2000. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. PF / CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. "Booker the marquee player in this class at 6-10, with a 7-4 wingspan, coach, (Photo: Courtesy of Under Armour, 247Sports), He makes high-level plays with the ball in the open floor, gets downhill in transition as well as coming off ball-screens, and knows how to change his pace in the pick-and-roll," 247Sports director of scouting Adam Finklestein wrote of Castle. Now, its here to stay. How has it worked? "Hes very lean, and not yet able to play through contact on a consistent basis, but there is a ton of natural talent to develop. "He can also make the types of shots that translate to the next level - pick-and-pop threes, slipping out of ball screens to make shots on the move, or creating space with a series of side-step or step-back shots. 6-11 / He has a pretty jump shot out to the three point line, is a versatile scorer who can play as a big wing or a floor stretching four man and he's gaining more and more confidence each time he hits the floor. There's a new No. If there were any concerns over UK coach John Calipari's continued wherewithal on the recruiting trail following the Wildcats' stunning first round NCAA Tournament exit at the hand of No. 189, PG / Taking over the top spot is Isaiah Collier out of Georgia, who jumped up from third to take over the No. Its the top-end talent potential in this class that will have Big Blue Nation buzzing though as there are solid chances that John Calipari lands three of the top five players in this class. 6-10 / Buzelis is the only top-100 player to turn professional straight out of high school this cycle after the 2021 and 2022 classes yielded seven total. Why he moved: One of the best stories of the 2022-23 season has been the turnaround that Shaka Smart has engineered and Damarius Owens looks like the type of player who fits right into the direction Smart is taking things in Milwaukee. While the term versatile defender gets thrown around easily these days, Holland actually embodies it. 15 seed Saint Peter's, this should quell it. 2 center, signed with Michigan State on Nov. 9 and joins a Spartans recruiting class that features fellow five-star Jeremy Fears and four-stars Coen Carr and Gehrig Normand. USC landed the crowned jewel of the 2023 class in five-star point guard Isaiah Collier, while Kentucky reeled in the most top-10 commitments with three. That isnt something you can teach, and I know Justin is going to demand the same of his teammates.. "His combination of positional size, strength, instincts, and overall feel for the game is unmatched," Finklestein wrote of Collier. Bradshaw, Wagners teammate at Camden High School, is the headliner of Kentuckys elite 2023 recruiting class and is the second-best center to sign with the Wildcats, behind DeMarcus Cousins (2009). 23 Kentucky. 28 overall prospect Reed Sheppard committed, the Wildcats are firmly in the hunt to finish with the top-ranked class this time around. The most impactful trait we can have on the defensive end is the ability to block shots, and Aaron is elite at that, Calipari said of Bradshaw. 3 in the 247Sports player rankings for the 2023 class in May. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. USC landed the crowned jewel of the 2023 class in five-star point guard Isaiah Collier, while Kentucky reeled in the most top-10 commitments with three. The most impactful trait we can have on the defensive end is the ability to block shots, and Aaron is elite at that, Calipari said of Bradshaw. This time, its DJ Wagner. 6 in the recruiting rankings for 2022 with the addition of Onyenso. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. (Photo: Courtesy of Sneakers for Santa, 247Sports), (Photo: Courtesy of Dan Fritz/@DFritzphotos, 247Sports). Ranked the No. As a 7-footer, he can change the game on both ends of the court. 7 Texas Tech 112.75. 3 LSU 160.69. "There is no other player in the class who can match his combination of size and playmaking ability, but he tends to hunt highlight plays off the dribble with a high-risk high-reward style that isn't always efficient and can be turnover prone," Finklestein wrote of Buzelis. It was a horrific ending to the season, especially on the heels of a 9-16 record in 2020-21, but Edwards' commitment shows how strong the Big Blue Nation brand remains in recruiting. 185, / "Buzelis is very creative with the ball, especially in the open floor, albeit a little upright. 6-6 / 6-11 / 5 Michigan 118.91. 210, C / Hes got versatility, hes got athleticism, hes got a solid shot and he has a great understanding of the game.". CLICK HERE to download the CBS Sports Mobile App and get the latest on your team today. 6-11 / 1 small forward in the class and owns a .9980 ranking in the 247Sports Composite rankings. As Kentucky basketball's 2023 recruiting class continues to take shape, follow along here with updates on the Wildcats' commitments. Regardless of where he ends up in the final rankings, Edwards is a big get for the Wildcats as they jump UConn and rise from No. He was named a McDonalds All-American nominee and earned Damien Class and Mira Costa All-Tournament Team honors. 250, PG / With Collier's commitment, USC's 2023 class jumped to No. ", Hes a jumbo wing with terrific positional size at 6-foot-8, long arms, and a lot of fluidity as he covers the court," Finklestein wrote of Williams. The trio all played their high school ball on the East Coast. Wagner is the third-highest-ranked guard to commit to the Wildcats since 2000, trailing only John Wall (2009) and Shaedon Sharpe (2021). Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Sports Illustrated projects Kentuckys permanent opponents in new SEC schedule format, Friday Headlines: Cason Wallace Watch Edition. Get the fastest scores, stats, news, LIVE videos, and more. Robert Dillingham and Reed Sheppard both saw their rankings drop slightly, as Dillingham came in at No. 2024 Top To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Famous 300-year-old bur oak was saved from development. Kentucky drops following their loss to Vanderbilt. Highlights: Vanderbilt at No. Windstorm knocked it down. 3 overall prospect in the 2023 class, chose Kentucky over Tennessee and is the highest-rated small forward to sign with the Wildcats since 2000. 6-5 / Recruitment: Committed to North Carolina. By submitting your email you agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge Paramounts Privacy Policy. Here is a recent evaluation of Edwards from Travis Branham of 247Sports: "Edwards is the most well-rounded player in the class when he's firing on all cylinders. Aarons motor continues to improve, he has great size and mobility. Dukes 2023 class features five five-stars and is headlined by Mgbako, the nations No. With Edwards, Dillingham and No. Kentucky will look to add a combination of these targets to their lone commit in the 2023 class, in-state legacy recruit, Reed Sheppard, who dropped to 29th, down six He displayed body language suggesting that the topic of Dariq Whitehead, who arrived in Durham at No. A look at forecast, timeline, Coroner releases name of woman who died after wind blew tree onto vehicle in Lexington. All Rights Reserved. 230, SG / section: | slug: kentucky-basketball-recruiting-justin-edwards-nations-no-2-prospect-commits-to-wildcats-on-cbs-sports-hq | sport: collegebasketball | route: article_single.us | I was at home. Bradshaw, Wagner bring the Camden High School show to UK basketball fans. Kentucky's 2022 class was headlined by five-star prospects Cason Wallace and Chris Livingston but finished No. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. National recruiting services are beginning to roll out their updated player rankings for the class, and the Kentucky Wildcats commits and recruits are stacking up to potentially enter greatest class of all time territory. 6-2 / 6-10 / Drake Powell (Photo: Jim Hawkins/Inside Carolina) Recruitment: Committed to North Carolina. Few players left as big an impression on the 247Sports staff as Catchings did this winter and it will be a bit of a surprise if he doesn't see his national profile explode during the upcoming spring and summer months. All Atak needs is for more coaches to take the time to go out and see him play and he could become one of the hottest names of the grassroots season. Kentucky moved from No. 213, PF / "Booker the marquee player in this class at 6-10, with a 7-4 wingspan, coach Tom Izzo said in a press release on Signing Day. 255, / Given that, along with his size and shooting potential, he has a chance to evolve into the modern-day big wing that is so coveted at the highest level.. He has previously specialized in 270, SF / CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Why he moved: Make no mistake, Kuol Atak needs to get much stronger. Why he moved: He may be a bit on the slight side at the moment, but don't let the fact that Dellquan Warren still needs to add strength fool you, he's nobody's pushover. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. "Booker the marquee player in this class at 6-10, with a 7-4 wingspan, coach, (Photo: Courtesy of Under Armour, 247Sports), He makes high-level plays with the ball in the open floor, gets downhill in transition as well as coming off ball-screens, and knows how to change his pace in the pick-and-roll," 247Sports director of scouting Adam Finklestein wrote of Castle. Duke, the lone ACC program to sign a top-10 recruit in 2023, welcomes the nations No. One of the more feisty competitors at the point guard position, Warren earned a bump up the rankings because of his willingness to compete from end to end and on both ends of the floor. 0.9971. Over the last couple of months, the future Tar Heel has taken gigantic steps forward as a playmaker for others, versatile defender and powerful finisher of drives in traffic. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Kentucky landed a huge commitment Monday, when five-star wing Justin Edwards picked the Wildcats over Tennessee live on CBS Sports HQ. 6-6 / Texas hauled in its second-straight top-10 prospect in power forward Ron Holland, while Colorado secured its first-ever five-star recruit -- small forward Cody Williams. Leading the way for the Ranked as the No. Hes a willing ball-mover and shows a subtle, but solid, feel as a passer. The 247Sports Composite is a proprietary algorithm that compiles rankings and ratings listed in the public domain by the major media recruiting services, creating the industry's most comprehensive and unbiased prospect and team rankingsMore Info, Powered by innovative technology products, 247Sports employs a staff of more than 50 full time recruiting reporters and evaluators that rank and compile data on the nation's elite high school recruitsMore Info. 2 recruit Justin Edwards commits to Kentucky, Predictions for key top 25 games on Saturday, Top 25 And 1: ACC trio vies for regular-season title, Detroit-Mercy's Davis doesn't catch Maravich, Three ejected after punch in OVC Tournament game, Kansas wins 17th Big 12 title under Bill Self, Alabama overcomes huge deficit, rallies to top Auburn. 6 South Carolina 114.15. Wagner is a proven and versatile scorer, with numerous weapons at his disposal, Finklestein wrote of Wagner. 255, SG / You can check out the full top-150 rankings here. Many are speculating that James will decide to play at one of the four major schools in Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, or Kansas. 175, PG / Web2024 Recruiting Rankings. Booker is the third-highest-ranked prospect to sign with the Spartans since 2000, trailing Shannon Brown (2003) and Jaren Jackson (2017). Edwards averaged 18.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while leading Imhotep to city and state titles as a junior. Here's what UK is getting in Onyenso (via a scouting report from Adam Finkelstein just last month): A 7-footer with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, he not only has game-changing size and length, but also terrific defensive instincts. He is not only the first five-star but the first top-50 recruit to commit to the Buffaloes since 2000. Hes also an elite competitor who plays hard, has a way of raising the level of those around him, and doesnt get enough credit for bringing a similar mindset to the defensive end of the floor. WebFB Recruiting Northeast OT Jack Hines has second trip lined up to Kentucky VIP Josh Edwards FB Recruiting Updated scouting report on Top247 4-star cornerback Aaron Scott 4 in the nation. Among those making the biggest climbs are a pair of newly minted five-star prospects in Purdue bound forward Kanon Catchings and North Carolina bound wing Drake Powell who rose a combined 137 spots in the updated rankings. Hes very athletic, not just vertically, but in the way he covers the floor, thrives in the open court, can move laterally, and his speed, Finklestein wrote of Holland. Top links from the Next Cats blog. Its surreal. Aaron Bradshaw begins to envision future with Kentucky mens basketball. The Wildcats bring back the reigning national player of the year in Oscar Tshiebwe, a big man who dominated on the glass and in the paint last season, but behind him a clear dearth of depth was a major concern. 3 class in 2022 and reeled in two five-stars in 2023, Holland and combo guard AJ Johnson. Each recruit is weighted in the rankings according to a, Readers familiar with the Gaussian distribution formula will note that we use a varying value for. "Buzelis is very creative with the ball, especially in the open floor, albeit a little upright. 2 Notre Dame 166.63. Buzelis spurned offers from Kentucky, UNC, Kansas and Duke to choose the G League's Ignite program, becoming the first to do so before finishing his high school career. 215, PG / 2 center, signed with Michigan State on Nov. 9 and joins a Spartans recruiting class that features fellow five-star Jeremy Fears and four-stars Coen Carr and Gehrig Normand. Recruitment: Has taken official visits to Oregon and Washington and holds offers from others including Colorado, Ohio State, UNLV and USC. More Stories About 2026; 2025; 2024; 2023; 2022; 2021; 2020; 2019; 2018; 2017; 2016; 2015; 2014; 2013; 2012; 247Sports Composite. In order to create the most comprehensive Team Recruiting Ranking without any notion of bias, 247Sports Team Recruiting Ranking is solely based on the 247Sports Composite Rating. 4 Florida State 149.96. Colorado basketball coach Tad Boyle secured Williams pledge over offers from Arizona, LSU and USC, among others. The nations No. I really like how active he is defensively and his desire to rebound every ball. 12 to No. "He is exceptionally imposing with the ball because of his positional size, strength, body control and balance holding off contact and maintaining his line, even when going through the lane with euros. WebStay up to date with all the Kentucky Wildcats sports news, recruiting, transfers, and more at 247Sports.com 247Sports 247Sports Home FB Rec FB Recruiting Home News Feed Colorado basketball coach Tad Boyle secured Williams pledge over offers from Arizona, LSU and USC, among others. While his defense is currently ahead of his offense, he has a soft natural touch to develop and is also both a lob threat and a rim-runner who changes ends particularly well for a player his size. 228, PF / Onyenso, the No. WebKentucky Wildcats College Basketball, College Football and Recruiting on 247Sports Magazine More Magazines by 247Sports Clemson Tigers College Football, Basketball and Recruiting on 247Sports By 247Sports Florida Gators College Football, College Basketball and Recruiting on 247Sports By 247Sports Get daily insights and the latest scoop on all-things Kentucky. Hes also an elite competitor who plays hard, has a way of raising the level of those around him, and doesnt get enough credit for bringing a similar mindset to the defensive end of the floor. Deion Sanders isnt the only one enjoying newfound recruiting success in Boulder. "Hes a jumbo wing with terrific positional size at 6-foot-8, long arms, and a lot of fluidity as he covers the court," Finklestein wrote of Williams. He has a terrific left hand that allows him to slash and score inside the paint equally well with both hands. WebTerrence Clarke Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, NH) 6-7 / 185. 7 prospect, power forward Mackenzie Mgbako. 1 ranking. At 7-foot and 233 pounds, Onyenso just so happens to fill a big need for Big Blue, too: its recruiting class before today did not consist of an incoming recruit who was taller than 6-foot-6. 2:12 pm ET, Alabama vs. Texas A&M odds, how to watch, stream, Duke vs. North Carolina prediction, spread, live stream, Oregon vs. Stanford prediction, spread, live stream, Kentucky vs. Arkansas prediction, spread, live stream, Alabama vs. Texas A&M prediction, spread, live stream, Predictions for key top 25 games on Saturday, Top 25 And 1: ACC trio vies for regular-season title, Detroit-Mercy's Davis doesn't catch Maravich, Three ejected after punch in OVC Tournament game, Kansas wins 17th Big 12 title under Bill Self, Alabama overcomes huge deficit, rallies to top Auburn. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 3 overall prospect in the 2023 class, chose Kentucky over Tennessee and is the highest-rated small forward to sign with the Wildcats since 2000. He has all types of passes in his bag he reads ball-screens well, is poised probing the lane with terrific change of pace, very good penetrating to pitch, able to throw darts off the dribble with either hand, or use his size to throw over top of defenders.". Web2021 Best NFL Basketball Players in Kentucky (0) 2021 . Before he cut down his list to Kentucky and Tennessee, Edwards also considered Auburn, Kansas, Maryland, Villanova and the G League Ignite. Deion Sanders isnt the only one enjoying newfound recruiting success in Boulder. UK doesnt make the cut. Who has power? He had good size, a solid frame and liked to play on the interior. He already has a great understanding that he can positively impact winning without scoring. 0.9889. USC landed the crowned jewel of the 2023 class in five-star point guard Isaiah Collier, while Kentucky reeled in the most top-10 commitments with three. 232, PG / Updated Rankings! Five-star basketball recruit trims list of schools on his birthday. The 6-foot-7 star for Imhotep Institute in Philadelphia is considered the No. He's still got potential as a shooter but what really allowed him to take things to the next level is the way that his body filled out and his athleticism exploded over the last six months. 6-10 / Hes a willing ball-mover and shows a subtle, but solid, feel as a passer. "There is no other player in the class who can match his combination of size and playmaking ability, but he tends to hunt highlight plays off the dribble with a high-risk high-reward style that isn't always efficient and can be turnover prone," Finklestein wrote of Buzelis. Brown averaged 16 points per game and knocked down 62 3-pointers. For the three commitments in the class, Justin Edwards was the highest, coming in at No. A 6-foot-8 wing with the ability to play inside or out, he's got plus athleticism, deep range on his jumper and some real swagger to the way he plays the game. He has a terrific left hand that allows him to slash and score inside the paint equally well with both hands. ", Hes a jumbo wing with terrific positional size at 6-foot-8, long arms, and a lot of fluidity as he covers the court," Finklestein wrote of Williams. Here are where the top 10 players in the 2023 class are heading next season: Booker, the nation's No. 1 Georgia 225.76. Dropping off the top spot is Wagner, who now ranks No. Ranked the No. 6-keys: media/spln/collegebasketball/reg/free/stories, at While the term versatile defender gets thrown around easily these days, Holland actually embodies it. 6-7 / Justin has the ability to impact the game in a variety of ways, Kentucky coach John Calipari said of Edwards. WebCollege basketball recruiting: USC's Isaiah Collier highlights where 2023's top 10 players CatsPause 17:49 28-Feb-23 SEC Network posts up for women's, men's SEC tourneys 7-0 / 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. He's a solid vertical athlete who is also capable of utilizing his touch around the rim to make tough finishes with both hands.". On the summer circuit, he plays for Team Final. "His shot-making from behind the arc is his best asset," Finklestein wrote of Mgbako. Web2022 Top Basketball Recruits in Kentucky (0) 2022 High School. The mid-post has long been a staple of his individual offense, but now hes getting some easy points by moving without the ball more freely.". With AAU done for the summer, the senior season for class of 2023 basketball prospects is only a few short months away. It isn't just coaches who are looking forward to getting a closer look at him as he's one that the 247Sports crew is also eager to learn more about. ", (Photo: Courtesy of Dan Fritz/@DFritzphotos), (Photo: Amanda Inscore, USA TODAY Sports), His combination of positional size, strength, instincts, and overall feel for the game is unmatched," Finklestein wrote of Collier. Why he moved: As a junior Billy Richmond moved from Memphis to Camden (N.J.) High and even though he was somewhat in the shadows of 2023 five-star Kentucky commits DJ Wagner and Aaron Bradshaw, he was able to make a name for himself. "Booker the marquee player in this class at 6-10, with a 7-4 wingspan, coach Tom Izzo said in a press release on Signing Day. 4 overall. 195. "Hes a jumbo wing with terrific positional size at 6-foot-8, long arms, and a lot of fluidity as he covers the court," Finklestein wrote of Williams. 220, PF / * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). He's a 6-foot-7 wing with length and athleticism who can dribble, pass and shoot with a polished offensive package able to go out and create his own offense at any given moment and can rebound and defend at a high level.". Recruitment: Visiting UCLA this weekend after recent officials to Kansas and Syracuse. 6-3 / Earned double digit offers this winter and a decision could be coming soon. 189, SF / The buzz began with some monster performances for Harbor City (Calif.) Narbonne during the fall and then Adams spent the winter lighting up scoreboards all across Southern California. What was it about Catchings and Powell that allowed them to make such big leaps? We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. "His combination of positional size, strength, instincts, and overall feel for the game is unmatched," Finklestein wrote of Collier. But, the 6-foot-9 forward at Fort Worth (Texas) Haltom is mobile, has length and he can really shoot the ball from deep. Odds & lines subject to change. The trio all played their high school ball on the East Coast. He is the highest-ranked guard to commit to the Huskies since 2000. During the rankings discussions, there were some on staff who felt he could have been moved much higher so his ascent may just be starting.