Kentucky MBB, 5-star PF Yohan Traore expressing "early mutual interest"

After missing out on Adem Bona, who chose the UCLA Bruins last month over Kentucky, Wildcat head coach John Calipari has apparently set his sights on a new class of 2022 big man.

According to KSR’s Jack Pilgrim, Yohan Traore, a 6-foot-10, 210-pound power forward who plays for Dream City Christian (the same Arizona high school as current UK commit Shaedon Sharpe) is hearing from the Kentucky staff. While it’s still very early in the process, Pilgrim reports that there is “early mutual interest” between the ‘Cats and Traore.

Kentucky has been in recent contact with 2022 five-star center Yohan Traore, source tells KSR.

Early mutual interest.

— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) December 3, 2021

Traore was one of the biggest risers from the class of 2022, thanks to a wildly impressive summer performance that saw him earn two handfuls of major offers; Texas, LSU, Houston, Tennessee, Southern California, Arizona State, California, Arkansas, UCLA, Louisville, Oregon, Gonzaga, Memphis, Utah, Kansas, and Michigan have all extended him a scholarship since April.

After transferring over from Prolific Prep (where he played behind Bona in the rotation) to Dream City, Traore will now have his best chance yet to prove his ranking. The On3 Consensus Rankings has him as a top 15 player from the class of 2022 and the No. 2 overall power forward.

Back in August, Traore dropped a top 10 that consisted of Memphis, Louisville, Tennessee, Texas Tech, LSU, UCLA, Oklahoma State, Michigan, Utah, and the Australian NBL. He took official visits over the summer to Memphis, Michigan, and Texas Tech, along with an unofficial trip to Texas. Penny Hardaway’s Tigers have long been thought to be the frontrunner.

But Kentucky getting into the mix–even if the staff is coming along late–could shake up Traore’s recruitment. Memphis is coming off back-to-back bad losses to Iowa State and Georgia as star freshman Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren struggle early. While two games surely won’t be the deciding factor in whether or not a player picks a school, it at least sounds like Calipari smells some blood in the water.

Again, the UK-Traore relationship is in the very early stages. Kentucky chose to recruit Bona over him and then waited another month before establishing contact with Traore. There is undoubtedly some serious ground to be gained by the Wildcat staff.

Traore will actually be in western Kentucky on Saturday to participate in the Marshall County Hoopfest for Dream City. His squad will play at 7:00 p.m. CT on Saturday night against Central Pointe Christian (FL) at Marshall County High School. As a side note, KSR can confirm that Shaedon Sharpe will not participate in the event for Dream City.