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Coveted Transfer Keshad Johnson Commits to Arizona Over Kentucky. Where Does Calipari Turn Next?

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© Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports

After playing four years for the reigning national runner-up, San Deigo State, and playing a key role in the program’s most successful stretch, Keshad Johnson had plenty of suitors when he entered the transfer portal.

After taking visits and sitting down with his family, Johnson made a decision on Saturday, committing to Arizona over Kentucky, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and USC.

Johnson was certainly a player Kentucky wanted, and given the stage of the offseason, it is disappointing they couldn’t get a commitment. Especially so when considering the reaction of he and his mentor of his Kentucky visit.

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With that said, Johnson has one year of eligibility remaining and there is a larger role at Arizona. Kentucky has several elite freshmen coming in, including Justin Edwards and Aaron Bradshaw who will share wing responsibilities. Could this indicate that Chris Livingston could be making a return?

At this moment, that is not likely. It was surprising to see that Livingston opted out of the 5-on-5 scrimmages of the NBA Draft Combine as he is considered to be a borderline draft pick and NBA scouts have publicly criticized him.

Then again, all it takes is one team. Livingston does have upcoming workouts with NBA teams, and he and his camp are confident that they can find a way to a guaranteed contract, or at minimum a two-way contract. It should be noted that his agency, LeBron James-owned Klutch Sports, has some pull in the league.

As it stands, it is May 20th and Kentucky only has seven scholarship players who are expected to contribute. For reference, each program is given 13 scholarships. Of course, Kentucky awaits the decisions of Livingston, Antonio Reeves, and Oscar Tshiebwe by the May 31st deadline.

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If all three were to return, Kentucky has a full roster, but that is not likely to happen. Reeves is expected to return – it has been eerily quiet however – with Livingston and Tshiebwe expected to stay in the draft. That certainly leaves some roles to be filled.

Kentucky’s interest in Keshad Johnson was kept under the radar until they were announced as a finalist. I suspect that UK has some quiet interest in other transfers/potential grad transfers that haven’t become public yet.

While it’s fair to question the strategy, if there is one, I would say hold final judgment. In today’s college landscape, anything can happen, and quickly (i.e. grad transfers, reclassifications). For reference, Reid Travis, who is considered to be one of Kentucky’s best transfers, announced his transfer on May 30th and committed to Kentucky in mid-June. Just last year, Ugonna Onyenso made the decision to reclassify in mid-July.

John Calipari is entering a make-or-break year at Kentucky. Just like he has done for much of his Hall of Fame career, wants to prove people wrong. At the end of the day, Calipari is responsible for the roster he puts on the floor, and I don’t expect anything less than a Final Four-caliber team.

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Only time will tell.

BB Recruiting

John Calipari Visits Trio of Top Recruits

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UK Athletics

With less than two weeks until Big Blue Madness, the start of the Kentucky basketball season is just around the corner. Ahead of a season with a lot of pressure, John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcat staff were busy on the recruiting trail in New York to start the week.

The day started off with taking a visit to see 2024 combo guard Boogie Fland. This being the fourth in-person visit to Fland over the last three weeks, it is clear that he is a top priority for the Cats and that is reciprocated as Fland listed the Wildcats in his top three last week along with the Alabama Crimson Tide and Indiana Hoosiers. Fland is expected to make a decision in the early signing period, which begins on November 8th.

With that said, coverage of Fland’s recruitment has been well-reported, but while in New York, Calipari paid a visit to two more top recruits, VJ Edgecombe and Alier Maluk who both play for Long Island Lutheran (NY).

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VJ Edgecombe

Edgecombe is one of the fastest-rising prospects in the 2024 class. As of March this year, he was ranked outside of the Top 100, fast forward to now and he is a consensus top 10 prospect and considered to be the No. 2 shooting guard in the class. When you see his explosive athleticism, catch-and-shoot ability, and natural basketball instincts it is easy to see why.

Watching closely for a while, the Wildcats extended an offer last month, a month and a half after Edgecombe trimmed his list to ten. While late to the party, Kentucky is not giving up and joins the likes of Alabama, Duke, St. Johns, and G-League Ignite among others in pursuit of the talented guard.

Alier Maluk

Early this summer Alier Maluk was considered a top-25 prospect, but following the grassroots season Maluk dropped in the rankings to just inside the top 50. That said, that isn’t stopping the Wildcats from still showing interest as they have since he was 15 years old, and for good reason, Maluk is one of the most intriguing big men in the class.

At 6-foot-10, 180 pounds, Maluk is a dynamic two-way prospect and can be looked at as a “modern” big man. Well-known for his shot-blocking and rim-running ability, Maluk is also capable of shooting off the catch and the dribble. That said, his handle needs some development as he hopes to continue to develop as a stretch-four. That said, height and skill run in the family as Maluk is the cousin of 7-foot-2 center Bol Bol, who currently plays in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns.

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It should be noted that Kentucky has yet to extend an offer to Maluk, who currently holds offers from Florida, Ohio State, and Oregon among others.

Also published on A Sea of Blue.

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BB Recruiting

John Calipari Looking To Close Deal On Five-Star Guard Boogie Fland

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John Calipari is looking to close the deal and get a commitment from five-star guard Boogie Fland.
Fland: © Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK | Calipari: UK Athletics/Chet White

One of the top players in the class, top-ranked guard Boogie Fland has begun taking his visits, and is still taking time with his recruitment, but John Calipari and Kentucky are making a hard push to get the star guard locked up.

Fresh off of a visit to Kentucky a few weeks ago, Fland also had an in-home visit conducted by John Calipari last week after Kentucky watched him at Archbishop Stepinac in New York. On Monday, Calipari and Orlando Antigua paid him another visit. Kentucky is making sure he knows that he is the top priority among guards in the class of 2024.

Along with his visit to Lexington, Fland recently visited Alabama. The two schools are part of Fland’s final three schools along with Indiana as he nears closer to a decision.

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Fland is known to be one of the more elite scorers in the class with an ability to score from all three levels, and Kentucky is making him a top priority. Four visits in three weeks show that the staff really likes him and are looking to close the deal.

Take a look at this mic’d up highlight video of the potential future Wildcat to get to know him and his game.

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BB Recruiting

International Prospect Zvonimir Ivisic Now a “Long Shot” to Play at Kentucky

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Zvonimir Ivisic playing for SC Derby.
Instagram/Zvonimir Ivisic

When Ivisic originally committed to UK on August 1st, there was plenty of excitement around the program for the 7-foot Croatian to be a key piece on this year’s team.

Ever since then though, it’s only gone downhill as every single day we are hearing less good things about Ivisic’s situation. This is reportedly because of an English equivalency exam, so he still has not been accepted into the university’s admissions.

While the optimism was still he would end up on the team, a lot of the believer’s hopes took a big hit when 247Sports national recruiting analyst Travis Branham had an appearance on KSR’s Sources Say podcast.

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Branham had a tough quote saying, “To be honest, I’m not banking on him being on this roster next year. I think it’s a very longshot bet”. Hearing this from a person as connected to recruiting as Branham is very concerning.

He goes on to talk about how it’s not very cut and dry on why he wouldn’t end up at Kentucky calling it a “Hail Mary” that Kentucky would have to connect on to even get the Croatian admitted to Kentucky.

Ivisic is projected as a potential first-rounder in the 2024 NBA draft and averaged 11.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks for Croatia at the FIBA U20 European Championships in Greece in July.

The 7-footer’s skills would be a big help to this year’s Kentucky basketball team with the injury of Aaron Bradshaw this offseason, the depth in the frontcourt is much needed for the Wildcats right now.

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If they are unable to figure out this situation and get him in a Kentucky jersey this upcoming season, it will be a huge mistake by UK admissions.

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