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Kentucky Basketball Recruiting Update for Class of 2024

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HoopSeen/© Frank Becerra Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Kentucky basketball team is still on the hunt for their first commitment in the 2024 class. Of the players in 2024 that have been offered by Kentucky, only three have made commitments. None of which ended up picking the Cats.

Most notably was Ian Jackson who picked North Carolina over Kentucky. Others include Tahaad Pettiford who chose Auburn, and Ace Bailey who committed to Rutgers.

However, Kentucky is still in contact with multiple talented prospects in the class and knowing John Calipari, his first big commitment in the class is likely on the horizon.

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Particularly, Kentucky has made some head way with two elite prospects in the last week.

Johnuel “Boogie” Fland

On Sunday, head coach John Calipari and assistants Orlando Antigua and Chin Coleman made the trip to New York City to watch five-star point guard, Johnuel “Boogie” Fland.

Fland and his team, Archbishop Stepinac, played in the New York Diocesan Intersectional quarterfinals against Archbishop Molloy. Fland scored 17 points and had 4 steals, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocked shots to lead his team to a 56-52 win.

The elite point guard stands 6-foot-3 inches and 165 pounds. He is the 7th ranked recruit in the 2024 class according to 247Sports Composite.

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Fland has a well-rounded game and can create his own shot when necessary. In a recent interview with CatsIllustrated’s David Sisk, Fland compared himself to a former Kentucky star.

“Most definitely. I can name one. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s putting it on in the league. He’s very crafty getting buckets. What more can you expect than that?”

Fland has also taken notice to the attention he has gotten from Kentucky throughout the recruiting process.

“It’s been good. It’s been very steady. As you can see they pulled up to the game full staff. I’m very appreciative of that they came and showed support, showing they care, showing they want me at their school backing up what they said.”

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Kentucky offered Fland back in July 2022.

As it currently stands, Kentucky appears to be in a good spot with Fland when it comes to recruiting. UConn is also in a competitive position for Fland at this time. He additionally holds offers from 20 other programs at this time.

After missing out on Ian Jackson and still not having a commitment in the class, Boogie Fland is a top priority in Kentucky’s 2024 recruiting class.

Kentucky Reaches Out to Isaiah Evans

Isaiah Evans is a 6-foot-6, 165 pound wing in 2024. He is currently listed as a 4-star recruit on most recruiting databases. However, in 247Sports most recent rankings, he has jumped all the way up to the 10th ranked prospect and 5-star status.

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Evans is skyrocketing through the rankings. His most recent feat involved him going for 62 points in the fourth round of the 4A North Carolina playoffs.

Although he is thin, he has shown he has the ability to score at all three levels.

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BB Recruiting

Chin Coleman Talks About Kentucky’s 2024 Recruiting Class

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Kentucky Wildcats assistant coach Chin Coleman goes into detail about the 2024 recruiting class.
© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Kentucky basketball assistant coach Chin Coleman recently spoke with the media. While talking about the game, Coleman was asked about Kentucky’s current signees in the 2024 class, which now sits No. 2 overall, all of whom signed this in the early signing period.

Somto Cyril

“A freak of nature, Coleman says. He says he has to get better with his skill-set, but that he does things that no one else in the world can do: “He’s a freak of nature. Obviously, he’s gotta get better with his skill set, right, but he does things that no one in the world could do, not even guys in the NBA could do some of the stuff that he does in terms of pure shot-blocker, pure vertical spacer. He gets way over the rim, and that gives you something that a lot of teams don’t have.”

Boogie Fland

With Boogie Fland, he says he’s the best point guard in the country, and that he is expecting to give the keys to him when he arrives: “You talk about Boogie, who’s the best point guard in the country,” Coleman said. “We got the best, in Boogie, and we’re expecting Boogie to come in here and have the keys to the Lamborghini and drive it the right way.”

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Jayden Quaintance

Talking about Jayden Quaintance, Coleman calls him a “prodigy”: “You have a prodigy, who is probably–arguably one of the best players in the country regardless of class. ’24, ’25, it doesn’t matter,” Coleman said. “He too has some force and some physicality, but he’s very, very, very, skilled. He’s 6-10 245-250, and he plays like a guard,” Coleman said. “The crazy thing about it is, two years, think about that. Jayden Quaintance for two years, that’s unheard of.”

Travis Perry

Coleman also dove in on Travis Perry, saying, “Hometown kid. His parents obviously share some relationships with the university. All he knows is blue. He wanted to go here no matter how many people recruited him. This is where he wanted to be.”


On the recruiting class as a whole, he calls it a “unique” class that is different in its own way. Kentucky is on a hot streak in the 2024 class and beyond, and doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon.

Check out Coleman’s answer in the video below!

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Kentucky Targets Play In Made Hoops Derek Smith Invitational

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Kentucky basketball recruiting prospect AJ Dybantsa going up for a dunk,
NBC Boston

The city of Louisville had some of the nation’s top high school prospects in town this weekend at Saint Xavier High School for the Made Hoops Derek Smith Invitational. A few of the nation’s top high school teams were there as well, and they featured some very notable names.

Headlined by 2024 Kentucky signee Jayden Quaintance, who did not play in the event, there were a few major Kentucky targets in Louisville this weekend. The top player of 2025, AJ Dybantsa, who is a generational talent, put up a great game against Link Academy on Saturday, which features 2026 Texas signee Tre Johnson and 2025 Top-15 prospect Jasper Johnson.

Dybantsa finished with 25 points, and his teammate, 2026 Top prospect Tyran Stokes, is another major Kentucky target. He had 12 points. Jasper Johnson ended with 10 points for Link Academy, coming up short in the loss to Prolific Prep.

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Sunday featured Prolific Prep vs. St. Xavier, where Dybantsa struggled, but Tyran Stokes made up for it. Dybantsa is known as an athletic finisher, who is long and can really score. That wasn’t clicking on Sunday. Instead, it was Stokes who was playing very aggressively attacking the basket. He even threw down a few monster dunks. Stokes had a full head of steam attacking the rim all day. Kentucky’s staff was in attendance.

Dybantsa spoke after the game on Sunday to talk about Kentucky and what it means to him to be offered by Kentucky.

“It’s a blessing,” he said. “High-major school, you know, multiple NBA players, a lot of college championships.” He spoke about playing with other elite talent right now, and eventually at the next level, “I know how to blend well. I know how to get my teammates involved.”

Dybantsa also went on to about what he is looking for his role to be at the next level: “Like a point forward or just play shooting guard at my height.” He then talked about things he has to do to be his best at the next level: “Get all my ball-handling right, limit turnovers, and just making the right passes.”

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Dybantsa is a generational talent, and there was a lot of talent this weekend in Louisville. A notable win from the weekend was Fredrick Douglass’ close win against St. Frances, who is a nationally known team. A lot to like about this weekend in Louisville.

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Kentucky Offers “Prodigy” and No. 1 Prospect AJ Dybantsa

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No. 1 basketball recruit AJ Dybantsa wearing a Kentucky basketball jersey of Terrence Clarke.
Youtube

After extending an offer to its top prospect in the class of 2026 in Tyran Stokes, Kentucky has offered 2025 forward AJ Dybantsa, who is arguably the best player in high school basketball, regardless of class.

At just sixteen years old, Dybantsa is considered a generational talent who already has every high-major coach in awe over his play. He has a long list of high-major teams who have already offered him in addition to Kentucky, including North Carolina, Michigan, Alabama, Baylor, Auburn, and Texas among others.

While Dybantsa is far from a decision, Kentucky is certainly in a good position. Already having ties to his Nike EYBL team, Expressions Elite, Dybantsa was inspired by the late Wildcat Terrence Clarke. He talked about how close he was to Clarke with CBS Sports. “That was basically my cousin,” Dybantsa told CBS Sports. “We’re not related, but that was basically my cousin. Every time I seen him, I was little bro to him.”

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What kind of player is Dybantsa? He stands 6-foot-9, 200 pounds, and is a phenomenal open-floor scorer with a bag full of tricks to create for himself. He can make threes, but still dominate with his back to the basket and he’s a terrifying cutter that plays above the rim. Oh, and he’s unselfish.

In short, he has a versatile foundation and an NBA All-Star ceiling as he continues to develop his skill set and physically. This past summer, Dybantsa’s profile was raised as the best of the NBA began to take notice, training with the likes of Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Chris Paul. If you haven’t, you should take notice too.

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