The early signing period for college basketball players in the class of 2023 is now here, which means official confirmations are pouring in from around the country as the top prep players submit paperwork to their future college homes.
For the Kentucky men’s basketball program, all five players who committed to the Wildcats have been announced by UK as members of the 2023 recruiting class.
The list of incoming players for UK in the class of 2023 is: Aaron Bradshaw, Robert Dillingham, Justin Edwards, Reed Sheppard and DJ Wagner.
All of these players signed with Kentucky during the early signing period.
DJ Wagner is widely regarded as the top basketball prospect in the 2023 class. Jon Lopez Jon Lopez Creative/Nike
DJ Wagner
The crown jewel of Kentucky’s 2023 recruiting class arrived Monday afternoon, when Wagner made official what had long been assumed: He was coming to Kentucky.
The 6-foot-3, 165-pound combo guard is a dynamic and versatile backcourt player with the ability to do a variety of things on both ends of the court.
On offense, Wagner is a savvy passer and scorer who has the ability to make plays for himself and generate open shots for others. His ability to manipulate defenders with his eyes and his motion will pair well with Dillingham, his backcourt partner of the future.
Defensively, Wagner is a tough-minded player who is known for playing with a high motor.
A two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of New Jersey, Wagner is high school (Camden) and travel ball (New Jersey Scholars) teammates with fellow class of 2023 UK signee Aaron Bradshaw.
It was Wagner’s commitment that lifted UK’s 2023 recruiting class to the top spot in the country. Wagner’s recruitment was long seen as a battle between Kentucky and Louisville, with the Cats ultimately prevailing.
Aaron Bradshaw posed for photos in a Kentucky jersey during his official visit to Lexington. Twitter
Aaron Bradshaw
Kentucky’s big man of the future was formally announced as a Kentucky Wildcat on Monday afternoon, when UK put out a release about the 2023 recruiting class following Wagner’s commitment.
The 7-foot-1, 215-pound center brings elite defensive rim protection and an emerging offensive game to Kentucky.
Bradshaw committed to Kentucky prior to Big Blue Madness on Oct. 14. He’s a high school teammate of Wagner’s at New Jersey’s historic Camden High School, as well as a travel ball teammate of Wagner’s with the New Jersey Scholars Nike EYBL program.
Like Wagner, Bradshaw is expected to have a signing ceremony at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Bradshaw has been a defensive MVP on the Nike EYBL circuit, and is a growing offensive talent who has already learned to share the floor with Wagner.
Mobility has also been evident from Bradshaw, who was named a third-team All-Peach Jam selection in July after putting up per-game averages of 11.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks for the New Jersey Scholars.
Bradshaw was thought to be committing to Kentucky over the summer, an expected choice that did not materialize at that point.
As time went on, the NBA G League Ignite was seen as Kentucky’s biggest opposition to landing Bradshaw.
But the Cats ultimately emerged on top on Bradshaw’s recruitment.
Team Final’s Justin Edwards (3) looks for an open teammate during the first day of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League session on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Michael Clubb
Justin Edwards
The third player announced by Kentucky as part of its 2023 recruiting class was Justin Edwards last week.
The 6-7, 180-pound small forward has standout athleticism and first committed to the Cats in late July.
Edwards is ranked as the No. 2 player in the class of 2023, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Less than one month after committing to Kentucky this summer, Edwards was part of the showcase Under Armour Next Elite 24 event in Chicago, where the Herald-Leader spoke extensively to Edwards about what led to him choosing Kentucky, and what Calipari and the UK coaching staff have planned for him in the near future.
“Shooting quicker, being a better shooter. I’m a streaky shooter. If I’m going, I’m going,” Edwards said of what he needs to improve before college. “Getting stronger and my right hand. I feel like that’s what’s been holding me back a little bit.”
Securing Edwards’ commitment was a significant accomplishment for Calipari in this recruiting cycle.
Tennessee was a significant presence in Edwards’ recruitment, and the ability to win a recruiting battle against a top conference rival is always a plus.
Edwards committed to UK just one day after Peach Jam, the renowned summer Nike EYBL event, concluded.
While at Peach Jam, Edwards gave UK fans a good feel for what they can expect at the college level.
He was a first-team selection at Peach Jam, averaging 16.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 1.2 assists while playing for Team Final.
Robert Dillingham was officially announced as an incoming UK basketball player by the Kentucky program on Wednesday. Michael Clubb mclubb@herald-leader.com
Robert Dillingham
The second player announced by Kentucky as part of its 2023 recruiting class was Robert Dillingham last week.
The 6-2, 165-pound point guard recently changed situations for his final pre-college season.
Dillingham had to look for a new place to play following the recent shutdown of Donda Academy, which was founded by Ye (the music artist formerly known as Kanye West), who has been at the center of controversy stemming from recent antisemitic comments.
Dillingham signed a contract with the Overtime Elite professional basketball league (OTE) for his senior season of high school. Dillingham’s deal with OTE will allow him to make money through name, image and likeness opportunities, while maintaining his NCAA eligibility.
Dillingham gave his initial commitment to Kentucky in late June, after previously being committed to North Carolina State.
He represents a shifty scoring option in the backcourt for UK next season.
“You’re talking about a top-10 type of player. He’s an extremely dynamic scoring guard. He is as good of a shotmaker as anyone in the country,” 247Sports analyst Travis Branham previously told the Herald-Leader about Dillingham. “If he can continue to improve his playmaking and show an improved ability on the defensive end, you’re talking about a top-10 type of player who is going to be an instant-impact guy on the offensive end of the floor.”
North Laurel High School basketball star Reed Sheppard was officially announced as a future Kentucky Wildcat by the UK program on Wednesday. Silas Walker silasiwalker@gmail.com
Reed Sheppard
The first player announced by Kentucky as part of the Wildcats’ 2023 recruiting class was Sheppard, an in-state recruit, last week.
The 6-3, 170-pound combo guard from North Laurel High School in London is a longtime UK commit, having revealed his intentions to sign with UK back in November 2021.
Sheppard is the son of two former Wildcats basketball greats: Jeff Sheppard and Stacey Reed Sheppard.
Sheppard — who is ranked as the No. 29 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class according to the 247Sports Composite — has become a key recruiter himself for Kentucky since he chose to follow in his parents’ footsteps.
During a youth basketball camp that Sheppard hosted in Pikeville on Oct. 22, Sheppard said he was comfortable in the role of trying to help lure talented basketball peers to Kentucky.
“I’m very comfortable (in a recruiting role),” Sheppard said. “That was one of the things the coaches talked to me about. ‘You can be as big of a recruiter for these players as we are. They like talking to you more than they like talking to us, they don’t want to be on 30-minute phone calls with us. Just keep doing what you’re doing. It means a lot to them, you just don’t know it.’”
UK women’s basketball adds first class of 2023 player
The Kentucky women’s basketball team entered the early signing period with only one player having committed to the Wildcats, but all the official business has already been completed to make Jordy Griggs a Wildcat.
Griggs — a 6-2 wing from California who plays high school basketball at Montverde Academy in Florida — posted on social media on Oct. 21 that she would be joining the Wildcats next season.
Griggs, who plays for Club Durant on the Nike EYBL circuit, is ranked as a four-star prospect by ESPN.
The UK women’s basketball team already has 10 new players this season — six freshmen and four transfers — and won its season opener against Radford on Monday night.
This story was originally published November 10, 2022 at 11:59 AM.
Cameron Drummond works as a sports reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader with a focus on Kentucky men’s basketball recruiting and the UK men’s basketball team, horse racing, soccer and other sports in Central Kentucky. Drummond is a second-generation American who was born and raised in Texas, before graduating from Indiana University. He is a fluent Spanish speaker who previously worked as a community news reporter in Austin, Texas.Support my work with a digital subscription
Get one year of unlimited digital access for $159.99
