Top 2024 recruit is still considering Kentucky, and other UK men’s basketball recruiting news
One of Kentucky’s top men’s basketball recruits in the 2024 recruiting class continues to evaluate his post-high school playing options, and the Wildcats will remain in those discussions.
Over the weekend, class of 2024 small forward Karter Knox — a 6-foot-5, 205-pound prospect from Tampa, Florida — released an updated list of his post-high school playing options that consisted of seven colleges and one pro basketball pathway.
Knox’s list of eight options included the following schools: Auburn, Arkansas, Florida State, Kentucky, LSU, Louisville and South Florida.
Additionally, Knox is open to joining the NBA’s G-League Ignite program.
It comes as little surprise that Kentucky and Louisville are both still options for Knox. Of all the programs pursuing him, Knox holds the strongest ties with UK and U of L.
Knox’s older brother, Kevin, was a one-and-done player at Kentucky (and an eventual lottery pick in the NBA Draft) during the 2017-18 season, with John Calipari as UK’s head coach and current Louisville head coach Kenny Payne as UK’s associate head coach.
Another Knox brother, Kobe, spent two seasons (one as a redshirt) at Grand Canyon University in the WAC before entering the transfer portal this offseason and picking South Florida as his next school.
But it’s the youngest Knox brother who is currently the talk of college basketball recruiting circles.
Knox is ranked as a five-star recruit and is also rated as the No. 8 overall prospect in the 2024 class by the 247Sports Composite.
While Knox wasn’t in action over the weekend at the fourth and final Nike EYBL session of the spring in Memphis, he has more than made his mark on the travel basketball circuit this year.
After three Nike EYBL sessions, Knox (who plays for the Florida Rebels) was the leader in scoring on the circuit with 21.2 points per game. Knox has shot the ball at a 53.5% clip from the floor.
Knox was at Big Blue Madness in Lexington last fall, and he also took a visit to Louisville last October.
His recruitment has long been viewed as a battle between Kentucky and Louisville, and that remains the case.
Knox stands out with athletic presence, offensive versatility
The Herald-Leader watched several of Knox’s games on the Nike EYBL circuit this month during the Dallas session.
Among the standout qualities Knox displayed was an ability to go coast-to-coast and turn defense into transition offense, as well as the ability to apply pressure at the rim with the ball in his hands.
This matches up with what Rob Cassidy, who covers college basketball recruiting nationally for Rivals, told the Herald-Leader last fall about Knox.
“He was always kind of a guy that had the build and he had the bloodlines, and the potential was there, but the skill has come a long way,” Cassidy said of Knox. “He plays for an incredibly good AAU team down there on the EYBL and I think it was just about him maturing and getting used to the speed of the game playing against top flight competition.”
Something that also shouldn’t be discounted with Knox is his versatility as a scorer: Knox appears comfortable in a variety of scoring situations, including catch-and-shoot opportunities and when stepping into his shot.
In the three Nike EYBL sessions that he’s competed in this year, Knox is shooting 34.2% on three-point shots. He’s also shooting better than 74% from the free-throw line.
“Everything he’s got seems like it’s going to translate,” Cassidy said. “He’s got all that length, which kind of comes along with his family. He moves incredibly fluidly. I think that he’s going to be fine. He’s on a good trajectory.”
TOP KENTUCKY BASKETBALL RECRUITING LINKS
Predictions: What to expect during a massive week for Kentucky basketball
Transfer portal talk: Livingston, Reeves and Tshiebwe set to make NBA Draft decisions
Sheppard out of Kentucky-Indiana series: Mr. Basketball is unable to play in annual all-star games
EYBL recap: How did top Kentucky recruits fare this spring on Nike EYBL circuit?
Pat Riley: Kentucky men’s basketball alum oversees another NBA Finals trip for Miami
UKWBB transfer: Top freshman from UK team is now heading to the Big Ten
Justin Edwards, DJ Wagner both named SLAM All-Americans
Highlights of Justin Edwards from an offseason workout
Justin Edwards named 2023 Mr. Basketball in Pennsylvania
Chris Livingston in action during pre-NBA Draft deadline workout
Top Kentucky class of 2024 point guard target is trying to visit UK
Highlights of top-ranked class of 2024 Kentucky recruit Tre Johnson
Kentucky still recruiting 2024 guard Zoom Diallo, despite no offer yet
Jasper Johnson impresses during Nike EYBL session in Memphis
Highlights of Jasper Johnson from the Nike EYBL session in Memphis
Several top Kentucky recruits named finalists for USA Basketball Men’s U-16 National Team
Five-star class of 2025 forward discusses Kentucky scholarship offer
Top ranked class of 2025 player discusses Kentucky scholarship offer
Kentucky transfer portal target Grant Nelson withdraws from NBA Draft process
Former Morehead State star Johni Broome withdraws from NBA Draft, will return to Auburn
Early projected win totals and rankings for U of L, UK, IU, WKU, Bellarmine hoops
Eastern Kentucky gives head coach contract extension through 2026-27 season
Ole Miss men’s basketball’s leading scorer to return, plus other roster additions
Former North Carolina point guard Caleb Love commits to Arizona
Five-star North Carolina commit to reclassify to 2023
Early college basketball rankings for 2023-24 season
This story was originally published May 29, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
