One of Kentucky’s top basketball targets cuts his list. Who is the Cats’ competition?
Seattle basketball standout Paolo Banchero — arguably Kentucky’s top recruiting target for the class of 2021 — has narrowed his list of options to six schools.
Banchero — a versatile 6-foot-10, 240-pound power forward — is now considering UK along with Arizona, Duke, Gonzaga, Tennessee and hometown Washington as he enters the next stage in his recruitment. Rivals.com ranks Banchero as the No. 2 overall player in the 2021 class. If top-ranked prospect Jonathan Kuminga makes the jump to the 2020 class — which is expected — Banchero could take over the No. 1 spot.
Kentucky’s coaches have been paying special attention to Banchero, and John Calipari has made several trips to Seattle to visit with him and watch him play, an extraordinary amount of attentiveness for a prospect who lives so far from Lexington and still has one year of high school remaining.
UK also hosted Banchero and his family for a visit during Big Blue Madness last fall.
Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Corey Evans logged a Future Cats prediction in favor of the Wildcats on Banchero’s player page in August, around the same time that UK extended a scholarship offer to the star recruit.
Evans told the Herald-Leader earlier this month that he still likes that prediction.
“I still feel pretty good about that. I don’t think much has changed,” he said, with a caveat. “I also don’t think Paolo is anywhere near making a decision whatsoever. I wouldn’t be surprised if he holds off from committing until this time next year, especially with the pandemic going on. I know he visited all those schools last year, but it’s a little different mindset. That might have just been for fun and to get a general sense of things. But whenever you’re getting down to it — getting close to committing — it’s more of a business approach.”
Evans recently called Banchero’s recruitment the “most intriguing” in the 2021 class, noting all of his high-profile options.
Washington has long been seen as a possible landing spot. In addition to being the hometown school, it’s the alma mater of both of Banchero’s parents, who were both once athletes for the Huskies.
In addition to his UK trip, Banchero has already taken official visits to Duke, Gonzaga and Tennessee.
MaxPreps.com named Banchero the national junior of the year after he averaged 22.7 points, 11.0 rebounds, four assists and two blocks per game to guide his high school to the state title game. He has averaged a double-double in each of his three high school seasons so far.
There has been ongoing speculation that Banchero might try to reclassify to 2020 and play college basketball next season, but he has repeatedly and adamantly denied those rumors. He does not turn 18 years old until November.
Kentucky is obviously still searching for frontcourt help for next season, but Banchero is expected to remain in the 2021 class. There is no specific timetable for his college decision.
This story was originally published April 29, 2020 at 2:57 PM.
