John Calipari hits recruiting trail ahead of Thanksgiving

Following Kentucky’s 96-88 overtime win against Saint Joseph’s on Monday night, head coach John Calipari revealed his pre-Thanksgiving plans.

“I am gonna be out of town tomorrow, I’ve got to see three kids. Come back, practice, and we’ve got to see four kids Wednesday before Thanksgiving,” Calipari said. “We’re gonna go to serve Thanksgiving dinner like we do.”

Those “kids” Calipari was referring to aren’t his own children or his players though. Instead, the head coach is hitting the recruiting trail in search of future Wildcats. After that, he and the rest of the team will give back to the community on Thanksgiving day, which has become a yearly tradition under Calipari. He’ll then gear up for another game on Friday against Marshall. But first, he’ll go into recruiting mode.

According to recruiting insider Derek Murray, Calipari was accompanied by assistants Chuck Martin and Chin Coleman on Tuesday to check in on Kentucky commit Boogie Fland, who signed with the Wildcats earlier this month during the Early Signing Period. Murray also reports that the trio of coaches went up to check in on five-star shooting guard VJ Edgecombe as well. Both Fland and Edgecombe, who are 2024 recruits, live in New York.

The third recruit Kentucky went to see on Tuesday is a name the fanbase is likely familiar with at this point. Four-star class of 2024 prospect Billy Richmond received an in-person visit from the Kentucky coaches as well, according to KSR’s Jack Pilgrim. Richmond, who lives in New Jersey, is a 6-foot-6 wing ranked No. 21 overall by the On3 Industry Ranking. He’s down to a final four of UK, Memphis, LSU, and Alabama, but all eyes lately — and since the beginning of his recruitment, really — have been locked on the Wildcats. Richmond’s father played under Calipari over 20 years ago at Memphis.

There is no word yet on where Calipari and company will be heading on Wednesday, but checking in on a handful of prospects from the 2025 class is likely a good bet. Aside from Edgecombe and Richmond, the only other major 2024 recruit on Kentucky’s radar is five-star wing Karter Knox. The coaches could also elect to check in on some of the current 2024 signees, a four-man group that ranks second in the country by On3.

Or what about a trip out west to visit Prolific Prep’s (CA) superstar duo of AJ Dybantsa and Tyran Stokes, the top players in the 2025 and 2026 classes, respectively, who both announced UK offers this week? Both have interesting ties to UK. Dybantsa grew up idolizing the later Terrence Clarke while Stokes was born in Louisville.

While we’re here, this is probably a good time to update Kentucky’s top 2025 targets. Below are all the high school juniors that currently hold scholarship offers from the Wildcats. Will some of them receive visits from Calipari between now and the holiday?

• No. 1 AJ Dybantsa (SF) 6-8, 185 | Prolific Prep (Needham, MA)
• No. 2 Cameron Boozer (PF) 6-9, 205 | Christopher Columbus (Miami, FL)
• No. 3 Darryn Peterson (SG) 6-5, 175 | Huntington Prep (Canton, OH)
• No. 4 Koa Peat (PF) 6-7, 200 | Perry (Gilbert, AZ)
• No. 5 Caleb Wilson (PF) 6-9, 195 | Holy Innocents Episcopal School (Atlanta, GA)
• No. 6 Meleek Thomas (SG) 6-3, 175 | Lincoln Park Performing Arts (Pittsburgh, PA)
• No. 10 Darius Acuff (PG) 6-1, 175 | IMG Academy (Detroit, MI)
• No. 12 Jasper Johnson (CG) 6-3, 165 | Link Academy (Lexington, KY)
• No. 14 Cayden Boozer (PG) 6-3, 190 | Christopher Columbus (Miami, FL)
• No. 44 Malachi Moreno (C) 6-11, 200 | Great Crossing (Georgetown, KY)