Kentucky’s chances with star 2023 prospects. And the top UK basketball recruiting links.
When Kentucky’s season ended a little more than six weeks ago, the Herald-Leader reported that — despite having seven scholarship offers out for the class of 2023 — the Cats could only be considered leaders for DJ Wagner and perhaps Justin Edwards, and that status was tenuous, at best.
Fast forward to May, and that looks even more clear. Kentucky has a major battle on its hands with Wagner, and the behind-the-scenes buzz of late March is starting to manifest into Crystal Ball picks for Louisville. UK might be trailing Tennessee for Edwards’ commitment. And the Cats can’t be considered the favorite for any of the other five players they’d offered by the end of the season. Mookie Cook has already committed to Oregon, Mackenzie Mgbako has committed to Duke, Kwame Evans Jr. seems to be leaning toward Oregon, and Matas Buzelis and JJ Taylor have been tough to gauge (with Florida State possibly leading for Buzelis).
It’s also difficult to call UK the clear favorite for anyone else in the 2023 class, though the Cats are expected to end up with a stellar group. Newer names to watch include combo guard Robert Dillingham, sharp-shooting wing Andrej Stojakovic, and center Aaron Bradshaw. Dillingham, who visited Lexington last fall, has since decommitted from N.C. State, and it’s clear he’ll be a major UK target moving forward, with the Wildcats well-positioned to be a serious player for his commitment. Bradshaw and Stojakovic earned Kentucky offers last month, and the Cats are thought to be at or near the top of the list for both.
As the calendar turns to May — and Reed Sheppard remains UK’s only commitment — it’s unclear who exactly will join him in that 2023 signing class. It probably won’t be some of the players Kentucky fans originally expected, but it should still be a highly ranked group.
Top Kentucky basketball recruiting links
Star transfer Baylor Scheierman has committed to Creighton
UK target Justin Edwards gets UCLA offer after cutting his list
Five-star center Baye Fall planning to visit Auburn next month
The Athletic: Shaedon Sharpe is No. 7 on new NBA Draft board
Star recruit Emoni Bates lists Louisville among transfer options
Isiaih Mosley is the transfer portal’s hottest new commodity
New commitment? Crystal Ball picks coming in for Kentucky
Kentucky target Robert Dillingham talks about his recruitment
On3.com releases its final recruiting rankings for the 2022 class
The 2022 players who are still uncommitted in On3 rankings
Reaction from Jon Scheyer and Jai Lucas on UK-to-Duke move
Shaedon Sharpe has enough potential to go No. 4 in draft
Kentucky drops to No. 4 overall in CBS preseason rankings
Louisville got one of the biggest impact transfers in the portal
Major praise for UK’s Cason Wallace from the Iverson Classic
Cason Wallace has proven to be the best point guard in 2022
Arkansas and UCLA among the top suitors for Ron Holland
Former five-star recruit Efton Reid goes from LSU to Gonzaga
Top 50: Rayvon Griffith to Cincinnati | Dusty Stromer to Zags
Updated transfer rankings from college insider Jeff Goodman
A look at how Duke is building its roster for 2022-23 season
More Next Cats links: Justin Edwards cuts his list of schools
This story was originally published May 2, 2022 at 7:00 AM.
