No other fan base follows basketball recruiting quite like Kentucky diehards. Many are aware of every prospect that the Cats have shown interest in including their background. There are lots of questions about how good these elite high schoolers are because it is rare when they can see a televised game, let alone see them live.
This weekend will be one of those rare occasions. The Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Massachusetts will be shown on the ESPN Network this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Five games will be televised starting at 3:00 P.M. EST on Saturday. The network will be showing one game Sunday at 7:30 P.M., followed by four more games on Monday beginning at 11:00 A.M.
There will not be a high school showcase with more talent and with more hype than this event. One needs to look no further than ESPN coverage for further proof.
The classic will be littered with Kentucky commits, offerees, and prospects. In fact, seven of the top nine unsigned recruits in the 2019 Class will be in Springfield. Here is a look at the list of games that Big Blue Nation should be interested in and which players to watch.
Christ the King (NY) vs. Vashon (MO). Saturday, 3:00 P.M. ESPN Plus
There are two players to look for in the opener.
Mouusa Cisse
is a 6-foot-9 sophomore for Christ the King who is ranked No. 7 overall in the 2021 Class by Rivals. We aren't sure if there has been any contact from Kentucky, but rest assured they know who he is. Cisse played with Jalen Lecque, Kofi Cockburn, and Ethan Morton with the New York Rens 17U group.
I saw him several times last spring and summer, and all I had to do was watch him run down the floor a couple of times to know that he will be elite. His height, frame, athleticism, and agility make him a rare talent. He is a player that John Calipari could very well get involved with soon.
Kentucky coaches watched
Cam'ron Fletcher
play in events over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. He had big games on both occasions. The Cats have been in contact with him. Although there is not an offer, he will be a name you will hear more of as the staff wades its way through the pool of 2020 prospects.
The 6-foot-5 shooting guard for Vashon in St. Louis is ranked No. 54 in the 2020 Class. Eric Bossi saw him two months ago and came away very impressed.
"He got out in transition for dunks, got to the free row line, drove the ball and was a menace defensively. I love the motor he plays with and as good as he's gotten, he's still just scratching the surface of where he could be down the road. As he gets comfortable with his jump shot and ball handling, look out."
Roselle Catholic vs. Norcross High School. Saturday 6:00 P.M. ESPN Plus
Eric Bossi called the matchup between a Kentucky commit and another prospect who doesn't have an offer but is high on their list, his most anticipated battle of the entire weekend.
"The individual matchup I’m most looking forward to happens on Saturday when five-star senior
Kahlil Whitney
of Roselle (N.J.) Catholic will square off with five-star junior
B.J. Boston
of Norcross (Ga.) High. Both are top-10 prospects in their respective classes and their styles – Whitney is a powerful athlete while Boston is a slippery skill guy – are opposites, which should make for a great matchup."
Roselle Catholic is currently ranked No. 2 in the state of New Jersey. This will be one of the best chances for Kentucky fans to see Whitney before he signs with the Cats in the spring.
Imhotep Charter (PA) vs. Montverde Academy (FL). Saturday 7:30 P.M. ESPN Plus
Montverde is an annual basketball factory an seniors like Precious Achiuwa will get much of the attention. But there are some outstanding underclassmen on this team including
Cade Cunningham.
The 6-foot-7 wing is ranked No. 11 in the 2020 Class by Rivals.
Kentucky reportedly paid him an in-home visit early in December. Corey Evans calls him "one of the most versatile and well rounded prospects in America."
Oak Hill Academy (VA) vs. IMG Academy (FL). Sunday 7:30 P.M. ESPN
Obviously there will be a ton of talent on display in this one. Of all these players, one name Kentucky contacted last summer was
Jaden Springer.
The 10th ranked player in the Class of 2020 is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard originally out of North Carolina. Kentucky reached out to Springer in June when colleges could first directly talk to 2020 prospects. They haven't been linked to him as of late, but it still might be a name and a player that you would want to keep an eye on if you're looking for something to do on a Sunday night.
The Ranney School (NJ) vs. Federal Way High School (WA). Monday, 11:00 A.M. ESPNU
This game goes right up there on top of the list. I really can't tell you much about
Jaden McDaniels'
talent that you don't already know if you have kept up with him. But this is a chance for many to see him for the first time.
Kentucky is in his top five along with Washington, San Diego State, Texas, and UCLA. I haven't shared a lot about recruiting in the past few weeks because I believe much of what goes on during the high school season is purely speculation. The players are focused on their games. There has been some buzz about McDaniels and Kentucky in the past few days.
Although we are trying to find out fact from fiction I did speak with Lars Hanson of the Washington site on the Rivals network and asked him about McDaniels recruitment since the both live in the Seattle area.
Hanson told me that things had been more "promising" with Kentucky than Washington as of late. He also added that he was told the Cats are in Jaden's top two and the person he spoke with "expected" McDaniels to pick Kentucky.
Don't take that as the final say, but I do want to pass along information was I get it.
McEachern High School (GA) vs. Rancho Christian School. (CA). Monday, 1:00 P.M. ESPNU
The No. 2 ranked team in the country takes center stage on Monday afternoon, and
Sharife Cooper
will look to show a national audience why Kentucky gave him an offer. Cooper visited Lexington last September and was offered while he was there.
The 6-foot-0 point guard is ranked No. 24 among juniors, but he has made a major statement this winter for moving up, but honestly he did the same thing over the summer. He was the only sophomore in EYBL history to make the First Team All Peach Jam team as well as Offensive MVP.
Eric Bossi writes, "There should be no surprise that Cooper has emerged as one of the Southeast's priority recruits. He's not the biggest kid in terms of stature, but he's super skilled, makes tough shots and has the total confidence and trust of his talented teammates. He's exactly the type of point guard that others enjoy playing with."
Montverde (FL) vs. Sierra Canyon (CA). Monday 3:00 P.M. ESPNU
If you don't get to see Cade Cunningham on Saturday or you just want to watch him again, this will provide another opportunity.
Dematha Catholic (DC) vs. La Lumiere (IN). Monday 5:00 P.M. ESPNU
This is another key game to watch for Kentucky fans in regards to recruits in the 2019 Class. Keion Brooks and Isaiah Stewart are two of the top players in the country who haven't committed yet.
There has been some chatter that ESPN is pushing for some public commitments to be made during the televised event. That is something the network has been renowned for, and this kind of stage can be tough for a teenager to pass up. We have heard that two of the names they would love to have make the call during their broadcast are the teammates from La Lumiere.
Brooks is interesting right now. The consensus is that Indiana is at the very top of the list, and who is there along with them depends on who you speak with. I do know that the family loves Calipari's recruiting pitch that the hard work he demands is not for everybody, but he thinks Brooks is tough enough to handle it. Most think Kentucky is in the top two. I am in that group, and some others think it is North Carolina.
Brooks is not only one to watch off the floor but could be one to pay attention off of it over the weekend.
The Big Blue is in Stewart's top five, but there is a ton of talk as of late that he is headed to Washington to play for Mike Hopkins whom he knows well from his Syracuse days.
Holy Spirit Prep and Anthony Edwards will be on the internet on Sunday against Long Island Lutheran at 5:45 P.M. You can catch him and the other games on that day on FLOHOOPS.
This weekend will be one of those rare occasions. The Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Massachusetts will be shown on the ESPN Network this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Five games will be televised starting at 3:00 P.M. EST on Saturday. The network will be showing one game Sunday at 7:30 P.M., followed by four more games on Monday beginning at 11:00 A.M.
There will not be a high school showcase with more talent and with more hype than this event. One needs to look no further than ESPN coverage for further proof.
The classic will be littered with Kentucky commits, offerees, and prospects. In fact, seven of the top nine unsigned recruits in the 2019 Class will be in Springfield. Here is a look at the list of games that Big Blue Nation should be interested in and which players to watch.
Christ the King (NY) vs. Vashon (MO). Saturday, 3:00 P.M. ESPN Plus
There are two players to look for in the opener.
Mouusa Cisse
is a 6-foot-9 sophomore for Christ the King who is ranked No. 7 overall in the 2021 Class by Rivals. We aren't sure if there has been any contact from Kentucky, but rest assured they know who he is. Cisse played with Jalen Lecque, Kofi Cockburn, and Ethan Morton with the New York Rens 17U group.
I saw him several times last spring and summer, and all I had to do was watch him run down the floor a couple of times to know that he will be elite. His height, frame, athleticism, and agility make him a rare talent. He is a player that John Calipari could very well get involved with soon.
Kentucky coaches watched
Cam'ron Fletcher
play in events over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. He had big games on both occasions. The Cats have been in contact with him. Although there is not an offer, he will be a name you will hear more of as the staff wades its way through the pool of 2020 prospects.
The 6-foot-5 shooting guard for Vashon in St. Louis is ranked No. 54 in the 2020 Class. Eric Bossi saw him two months ago and came away very impressed.
"He got out in transition for dunks, got to the free row line, drove the ball and was a menace defensively. I love the motor he plays with and as good as he's gotten, he's still just scratching the surface of where he could be down the road. As he gets comfortable with his jump shot and ball handling, look out."
Roselle Catholic vs. Norcross High School. Saturday 6:00 P.M. ESPN Plus
Eric Bossi called the matchup between a Kentucky commit and another prospect who doesn't have an offer but is high on their list, his most anticipated battle of the entire weekend.
"The individual matchup I’m most looking forward to happens on Saturday when five-star senior
Kahlil Whitney
of Roselle (N.J.) Catholic will square off with five-star junior
B.J. Boston
of Norcross (Ga.) High. Both are top-10 prospects in their respective classes and their styles – Whitney is a powerful athlete while Boston is a slippery skill guy – are opposites, which should make for a great matchup."
Roselle Catholic is currently ranked No. 2 in the state of New Jersey. This will be one of the best chances for Kentucky fans to see Whitney before he signs with the Cats in the spring.
Imhotep Charter (PA) vs. Montverde Academy (FL). Saturday 7:30 P.M. ESPN Plus
Montverde is an annual basketball factory an seniors like Precious Achiuwa will get much of the attention. But there are some outstanding underclassmen on this team including
Cade Cunningham.
The 6-foot-7 wing is ranked No. 11 in the 2020 Class by Rivals.
Kentucky reportedly paid him an in-home visit early in December. Corey Evans calls him "one of the most versatile and well rounded prospects in America."
Oak Hill Academy (VA) vs. IMG Academy (FL). Sunday 7:30 P.M. ESPN
Obviously there will be a ton of talent on display in this one. Of all these players, one name Kentucky contacted last summer was
Jaden Springer.
The 10th ranked player in the Class of 2020 is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard originally out of North Carolina. Kentucky reached out to Springer in June when colleges could first directly talk to 2020 prospects. They haven't been linked to him as of late, but it still might be a name and a player that you would want to keep an eye on if you're looking for something to do on a Sunday night.
The Ranney School (NJ) vs. Federal Way High School (WA). Monday, 11:00 A.M. ESPNU
This game goes right up there on top of the list. I really can't tell you much about
Jaden McDaniels'
talent that you don't already know if you have kept up with him. But this is a chance for many to see him for the first time.
Kentucky is in his top five along with Washington, San Diego State, Texas, and UCLA. I haven't shared a lot about recruiting in the past few weeks because I believe much of what goes on during the high school season is purely speculation. The players are focused on their games. There has been some buzz about McDaniels and Kentucky in the past few days.
Although we are trying to find out fact from fiction I did speak with Lars Hanson of the Washington site on the Rivals network and asked him about McDaniels recruitment since the both live in the Seattle area.
Hanson told me that things had been more "promising" with Kentucky than Washington as of late. He also added that he was told the Cats are in Jaden's top two and the person he spoke with "expected" McDaniels to pick Kentucky.
Don't take that as the final say, but I do want to pass along information was I get it.
McEachern High School (GA) vs. Rancho Christian School. (CA). Monday, 1:00 P.M. ESPNU
The No. 2 ranked team in the country takes center stage on Monday afternoon, and
Sharife Cooper
will look to show a national audience why Kentucky gave him an offer. Cooper visited Lexington last September and was offered while he was there.
The 6-foot-0 point guard is ranked No. 24 among juniors, but he has made a major statement this winter for moving up, but honestly he did the same thing over the summer. He was the only sophomore in EYBL history to make the First Team All Peach Jam team as well as Offensive MVP.
Eric Bossi writes, "There should be no surprise that Cooper has emerged as one of the Southeast's priority recruits. He's not the biggest kid in terms of stature, but he's super skilled, makes tough shots and has the total confidence and trust of his talented teammates. He's exactly the type of point guard that others enjoy playing with."
Montverde (FL) vs. Sierra Canyon (CA). Monday 3:00 P.M. ESPNU
If you don't get to see Cade Cunningham on Saturday or you just want to watch him again, this will provide another opportunity.
Dematha Catholic (DC) vs. La Lumiere (IN). Monday 5:00 P.M. ESPNU
This is another key game to watch for Kentucky fans in regards to recruits in the 2019 Class. Keion Brooks and Isaiah Stewart are two of the top players in the country who haven't committed yet.
There has been some chatter that ESPN is pushing for some public commitments to be made during the televised event. That is something the network has been renowned for, and this kind of stage can be tough for a teenager to pass up. We have heard that two of the names they would love to have make the call during their broadcast are the teammates from La Lumiere.
Brooks is interesting right now. The consensus is that Indiana is at the very top of the list, and who is there along with them depends on who you speak with. I do know that the family loves Calipari's recruiting pitch that the hard work he demands is not for everybody, but he thinks Brooks is tough enough to handle it. Most think Kentucky is in the top two. I am in that group, and some others think it is North Carolina.
Brooks is not only one to watch off the floor but could be one to pay attention off of it over the weekend.
The Big Blue is in Stewart's top five, but there is a ton of talk as of late that he is headed to Washington to play for Mike Hopkins whom he knows well from his Syracuse days.
Holy Spirit Prep and Anthony Edwards will be on the internet on Sunday against Long Island Lutheran at 5:45 P.M. You can catch him and the other games on that day on FLOHOOPS.
