John Calipari visits 2021 center Franck Kepnang

Photo via 247Sports

The Cats may have just defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, but Kentucky’s coaches are already back on the recruiting trail Sunday. John Calipari visited 2021 center Franck Kepnang on Sunday afternoon alongside assistant coach Tony Barbee, according to national recruiting expert Adam Zagoria.

Kentucky coach John Calipari to see 2021 big man Franck Kepnang on Sunday
https://t.co/iai5tsgSHr@empireinvite
@kep_dunker
@WTbbasketball
@PSACardinals

— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) January 12, 2020

Kepnang is a 6-10, 220-pound center from Cameroon. He currently holds offers from Kentucky, UCLA, UConn, Illinois, and Wake Forest, among others. He’s ranked as the No. 18 overall recruit and No. 3 center by the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

According to Zagoria, this is Cal’s second time watching Kepnang play in the past month. Last December, Kepnang put on a show with Calipari in attendance, totaling 18 points and 13 rebounds in Westtown’s win over 2020 Kentucky signee Terrence Clarke and the Brewster Academy.

While 2021 might seem a long way off, our very own Jack Pilgrim says it might not actually be that long before Kepnang steps onto a college campus.

2021 five-star center Franck Kepnang is a growing Kentucky target, recent speculation that he could reclassify to 2020. https://t.co/x7Xz8liDjz

— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) January 12, 2020

Despite the fact that Kentucky already has two big men signed in the 2020 class, and Greg Brown’s visit went seemingly well on Saturday, the Cats still need big bodies to fill out the roster next season. Isaiah Jackson and Lance Ware aren’t exactly bruisers in the post, and even Brown is more of an athlete than a true big man.

Kentucky is in solid position with Clifford Omoruyi, but the Cats still need depth. Right now, Kepnang has a college-ready body and might be ready to contribute as soon as next season. Just watch this big-time dunk he threw down earlier today.

Franck Kepnang is a walking high school highlight film @WTbbasketball pic.twitter.com/nxdzPHvPye

— Greg Levinsky (@GregLevinsky) January 12, 2020

Kepnang is nowhere near making a decision, but UK seems to have earned high interest from the five-star big man. We’ve seen the trouble you can run into when there isn’t enough depth down around the basket, and it looks like Calipari wants to stock up on talent while he can.

He might be a bit raw, but Kepnang is a beast down low. He’d be fun to watch in the blue and white next season.

@nickwheatley23