Connect with us

BB Recruiting

Kentucky Offers 2024 Top Five Prospect, Naasir Cunningham

Published

on

Overtime Elite

Just two days after Ian Jackson announced his commitment to North Carolina over Kentucky, John Calipari and staff have moved the focus to another elite prospect. On Wednesday, Naasir Cunningham announced via Twitter that he had received an offer from Kentucky.

Cunningham is a 6-foot-7, 180-pound small forward from West Orange, New Jersey. According to 247Sports composite ranking, he is the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2024 class and the No. 1 ranked small forward. He currently averages 13.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in the Overtime Elite League.

After spending some time in the league with the YNG Dreamerz, Cunningham now plays alongside current 2023 Kentucky signee, Rob Dillingham on the Cold Hearts. This may play a positive role in favor of Kentucky’s recruitment of Cunningham moving forward.

Advertisement

Cunningham may be just the wing player that Kentucky is looking for to replace what would’ve been Ian Jackson in 2024. The New Jersey native has the length that coaches look for along with a confident jump shot and the ability to finish at the rim.

The biggest challenge in for the Kentucky staff in Cunningham’s recruitment will be to battle Duke and the professional options. With that said, he did say back in November that no school has pulled away.

Naasir joins Tre Johnson, Boogie Fland, Flory Bidunga, Tahaad Pettiford, Billy Richmond, Karter Knox, Isaiah Elohim, Amier Ali, and Travis Perry to hold an offer from Kentucky in the 2024 class.

Scouting Report

Naas Cunningham is a long and athletic wing prospect. Offensively, he is a skilled shooter extending beyond three, specifically on the catch. However, he is also capable of creating space and hitting the jumpshot. In transition, Cunningham shows his explosiveness.

Advertisement

With a 6-foot-7, 180-pound frame, Cunningham will need to continue putting on weight and getting stronger. This would allow him to be more aggressive and attack the basket, rather than settling for difficult jump shots, which he has a tendency to do. Given his length, size, and athleticism, Cunningham has the potential to be a good team defender in time.

BB Recruiting

Kentucky Earns Commitment From European Big Andrija Jelavic

Published

on

ABA League j.t.d./Dragana Stjepanovic

Earlier today, Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats received the commitment from Andrija Jelavic, a 6-foot-11 big from Croatia.

As first reported by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, Jelavic is one of the most highly regarded European prospects that is taking his talent to the NCAA.

Soon to be 21 years old, Jelavic averaged 10.8 points per game on 60% shooting from the field to go along with 7.4 rebounds per game for Mega Superbet, the same club that NBA Champion and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic played for.

Advertisement

As a shock to most, who were expecting Pope’s next commit to be a guard of some sorts, international players can now sign lucrative NIL deals. Kentucky, along with several of the elite colleges, are now in the European market. 

Jelavic, with shades of current European big men, can do just about everything on the court. He can shoot, dribble, pass, finish at the rim, etc. With a very relevant comparison, Jelavic plays almost perfectly in the replacement role of Andrew Carr. 

His commitment now makes him the fifth member of Pope’s additions this offseason, joining Kam Williams, Jaland Lowe, Mouhamed Dioubate and Jayden Quaintance. 

With a 7’2” wingspan, joining an already impressive Kentucky frontcourt, it’s safe to say for certain that this new team will not lack in that department. 

Advertisement

Next year’s roster was loaded with talent already, but now with the addition of Jelavic, lots of questions are arising: Who will start? How many more players is Pope going to add? What will happen with the walk-ons? 

There’s plenty to think about for Pope and his staff before the season starts, but like he said back when he introduced himself to Big Blue Nation, “We’re here to win banners.” He’s going to make the moves he thinks will do just that for the Wildcats. 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

BB Recruiting

Four-Star Guard Acaden Lewis Suddenly Decommits from Kentucky

Amidst a recent wave of positive recruiting news for Kentucky, the surprising decommitment of Acaden Lewis is an unfortunate wrench.

Published

on

2025 four-star point guard prospect Acaden Lewis has decommited from Kentucky.
UK Athletics

In a shocking, late at night turn of events, four-star freshman Acaden Lewis has decommitted from Kentucky.

Lewis, a 6’3” point guard out of Washington, D.C. first committed to the blue and white in November of last year, following an in-person visit with Mark Pope in his hometown.

Since then, he’s made multiple appearances in Rupp Arena, been featured in photo shoots with his fellow incoming recruits, and spoken on multiple occasions about his excitement to join the team for the 2025-26’ season.

Advertisement

To say this development is surprising would be a serious understatement.

Lewis released a statement following the announcement, “This was an incredibly difficult decision, but I have to do what’s best for my future,” he said. “Thank you to Coach Pope and the whole Kentucky staff for all they’ve done for me so far.”

While the loss of Lewis is certainly disappointing, there is still much to look forward to next season for Kentucky, who maintain one of the highest rated transfer classes in the nation – and it likely isn’t finished.

To that point, if any reason can be derived immediately for Lewis’ decommitment, it may be found in the same place that Mark Pope and staff will be going to look for answers: the transfer portal.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

BB Recruiting

Top 10 Transfer Prospect, Former Wildcat Recruit Jayden Quaintance Commits to Kentucky

Published

on

2024 five-star big man Jayden Quaintance has commmitted to play basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats
UK Athletics

Two days into the week and two booms for the Kentucky Wildcats as Jayden Quaintance announced his commitment to Kentucky on Tuesday morning.

If the Quaintance name sounds familiar, it should. He was originally committed to play for the Cats out of high school last season as a five-star recruit. While he was interested in staying at Kentucky following John Calipari’s departure, even meeting with Mark Pope, he elected to play for Arizona State.

In his one season with the Sun Devils, Quaintance averaged 9.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, and 2.6 BPG, and earned Big 12 All-Freshman and All-Defensive honors.

Advertisement

The one concern for Quaintance is that he had surgery to repair a torn ACL, which could keep him out for the entire offseason and potentially into the season. That said, the expectation for a return is September, and at just 17 years old, there is so much untapped potential.

Get to know the newest Wildcat commit!

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending