Kentucky makes list of finalists for one of nation’s top available basketball recruits
One of Kentucky’s top remaining basketball recruiting targets for next season has made another adjustment to his list of schools, and the Wildcats are still in contention for his commitment.
Four-star center Cliff Omoruyi — a 6-foot-11, 230-pound prospect from Nigeria, now playing for Roselle Catholic in New Jersey — announced Monday night that he has cut his school list to Kentucky, Arizona State, Auburn, Rutgers and UConn.
The three schools that didn’t make Omoruyi’s latest cut were Memphis, Miami and North Carolina State.
Omoruyi emerged as a major UK recruiting target last spring, when John Calipari extended a scholarship offer during a visit to Roselle Catholic for an April basketball camp. The Kentucky coaches were already familiar with Omoruyi, who was a high school teammate of current UK freshman Kahlil Whitney.
Roselle Catholic is also the alma mater of former Kentucky guard Isaiah Briscoe.
Calipari and UK assistant coach Tony Barbee have been regular visitors to the New Jersey school in the months since Omoruyi received his scholarship offer, and the Wildcats have long been thought to be contenders for his commitment.
Though his national ranking — Rivals.com has him No. 55 overall in the 2020 class — is relatively low for a typical Calipari recruit, Omoruyi possesses some important traits that next season’s Kentucky team could be lacking.
“Honestly, he might be No. 55 in America, but for fit and need and what he does, he’s like a top-five player for Kentucky. Just because he’s exactly what they don’t have in the 2020 class,” Rivals.com national analyst Corey Evans recently told the Herald-Leader. “He’s the definition of a rim-protector, rebounder — he’s 6-10, 6-11 with a 7-5 wingspan — and he’s chiseled and has a college-ready NBA body. He plays like Montrezl Harrell — his motor is through the roof.
“He doesn’t care about his offensive exploits. Even though he can shoot it a little bit, has good hands, good instincts, good reflexes. But, we keep hearing about how Kentucky doesn’t have a guy that will just bring some toughness, and that’s exactly what he does best.”
Evans scouted Omoruyi again last week and wrote that he “remains as dominant as ever” and “continues to make strides in the skill department.” In his most recent game this past weekend, Omoruyi blocked eight shots to help lead Roselle Catholic to a victory.
UK already has two frontcourt players signed for next season — 6-9 power forwards Isaiah Jackson and Lance Ware — and the Cats are still in the mix for five-star forward Greg Brown, another 6-9 prospect, but none of those recruits have the bulky, physical presence that Omoruyi brings to the post.
The five finalists on Omoruyi’s list will likely be waiting a while to hear his college decision.
Other than a trip to Auburn in the fall, Omoruyi has not taken any official visits. He has repeatedly said that he still plans to take his four remaining official visits, and the indication is that those trips won’t happen until after the current season.
Omoruyi’s recruitment also remains one of the toughest to read among the top available targets in the 2020 class. There are only four predictions on his 247Sports Crystal Ball page — three for Arizona State and one for Kentucky — and national analysts have remarked in recent weeks that his final destination remains a mystery.
The regular signing period for 2020 recruits begins April 15, though Omoruyi can make a verbal commitment to a school before that date.
