A top center prospect in 2024 class provides recruiting update, including Kentucky interest
Class of 2024 center Somto Cyril has been one of the most impressive big men this season at Overtime Elite (OTE), the professional basketball league for young players based in Atlanta.
Cyril is a scholarship player at OTE, which has allowed him to maintain his college eligibility.
As such, plenty of high-major schools have already extended a scholarship offer to Cyril, who currently checks in as the No. 33 player overall in the class of 2024, according to the 247Sports Composite.
The 247Sports Composite has Cyril as the No. 6 center prospect in the 2024 class.
His list of scholarship offers includes Cincinnati, Florida, Indiana, Kansas and Tennessee. Cyril said he has visited Cincinnati and Indiana.
While no scholarship offer has arrived yet from Kentucky, there is mutual interest between the 7-foot Cyril and the Wildcats.
Earlier this month, the Herald-Leader visited OTE and watched Cyril play with the Cold Hearts team.
Afterward, he provided an update on his recruitment.
Here’s what Cyril — who was recently named an All-OTE First Team selection and OTE’s Defensive Player of the Year — had to say.
CONVERSATION WITH SOMTO CYRIL
Q. What separates your game from others in the 2024 recruiting class?
I feel like it’s just me being me, trying to help my team get a win. Of course, play defense for my team, go up strong and get a rebound, make plays easy for my teammates. ... I just do the little things that change the game in a good way.
Q. Describe the strengths and weaknesses of your game right now.
I feel like offensively I just need to be able to make plays for my teammates on the ball, I know I can do that off the ball. Defensively, I get the job done. I stop people from scoring, I block shots, I get rebounds, I just try my best to get stops. That’s about it.
Q. How has your recruitment gone so far and what are some of the schools that are prioritizing you?
Pretty much everybody I have right now is texting me and calling me. I feel like everybody is on the same level. My options are still open, and I plan to keep them open for now. I don’t really have anybody that I would say is in the lead or anything.
Right now, I’m still wide open for anybody, and so far so good.
Q. What is your contact currently like with Kentucky?
We talked the first day, they show up sometimes to practice and workouts and everything. We still have a good relationship. Everything is fine.
Q. What do you like about the Kentucky program?
It’s just how they play basketball. It’s a winning team. I know they’re having a rough road right now, but the Kentucky I know and the one I grew up watching, they’ve been a winning team from the very beginning. Hopefully they’re going to get it back together and get wins.
I love watching their basketball, and of course the big dude, last year he won the player of the year, Oscar Tshiebwe.
Q. What’s going to separate a program or school in your recruitment?
I think it’s just an overall winning team, good teammates, nice coaching staff, I want to be in a place where I want to get better every day, help me grow my game off the court. Overall, just grow as a person and hopefully get me ready for the next level.
Q. How much better do you think you’ve gotten since arriving at Overtime Elite?
I feel like I’ve gotten way better because it’s really tough playing with these guys on this level. Of course, everyone out here is on the top level, top talent and everything.
I feel like I’ve gotten way better because if I can do it at this level, I can for sure do it in college because we are playing against the best out here. I feel like I’ve gotten way better.
Q. Do you have any recruiting visits planned or schools that you’d like to go see?
Right now, no. Because I have the (OTE) playoffs coming up so I’m trying to focus on (the playoffs) and hopefully making a run.
Kentucky basketball class of 2024 recruiting update
The Wildcats are currently without a commitment in the 2024 recruiting class.
Shooting guard Ian Jackson picked North Carolina over Kentucky last month. Small forward Airious Bailey committed to Rutgers last month as well, and point guard Tahaad Pettiford committed to Auburn this month.
Additionally, five-star small forward Naas Cunningham recently released a list of his final five schools, and UK was not included.
In late January, UK hosted class of 2024 shooting guard Tre Johnson — the top-ranked player in the class per the 247Sports Composite — for a visit during the weekend of Kentucky’s home game against Kansas.
