Kentucky MBB coaches hit the recruiting trail this weekend

Now that the contact period for class of 2025 recruits is officially open, Kentucky men’s basketball coaches are back on the recruiting trail in search of future Wildcats.

Throughout the weekend, head coach John Calipari and associate coach Orlando Antigua made pitstops in the northeast to watch a handful of Kentucky targets. According to KSR’s Jack Pilgrim, Calipari and Antigua were in attendance on Saturday to watch four-star class of 2024 shooting guard Jalil Bethea, four-star ’24 shooting guard Ahmad Nowell, and four-star ’25 power forward Alier Maluk. Additionally, Ari Rosenfeld of ELITE High School Scouting reports that a Kentucky assistant was in on Saturday morning to watch four-star ’24 shooting guard Billy Richmond.

Rising seniors Nowell (No. 40 in the On3 Industry Ranking) and Richmond (No. 50) already hold offers from Kentucky while Bethea (No. 26) is hearing more and more from the ‘Cats as his stock continues to rise. Meanwhile, Maluk, a rising junior ranked No. 24 in the On3 Industry Ranking, has been on UK’s radar for close to two years now.

Kentucky’s John Calipari and Orlando Antigua in Philadelphia for @Maluk_Alier12 and @AhmadNowell0, per source

Previously courtside for @JalilBethea2

— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) June 17, 2023

Kentucky’s John Calipari and Orlando Antigua are courtside for 2024 stock-rising guard @JalilBethea2, per source

That’s a big one. Could be next in line to receive an offer.

— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) June 17, 2023

Nowell (former high school teammates with current UK freshman Justin Edwards), Bethea, and Maluk all play out of Pennsylvania while Richmond (former high school teammates of current UK freshmen DJ Wagner and Aaron Bradshaw) is nearby in Camden, NJ. The staff was able to watch all four prospects in quick succession on Saturday.

We’ve mentioned Nowell, Richmond, and Maluk here before, but Bethea, who has seen his stock soar in recent months, is the newest name and might be the most interesting of the four recruits. The 6-foot-4 all-around scorer wrapped up the Nike EYBL regular season averaging 18.6 points shooting 49.8 percent from the field, 42.6 percent from three, and 84.2 percent at the line for Team Final — the No. 1 overall seed at next month’s Peach Jam. Bethea then averaged 15.3 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per contest at the Pangos All-American Camp earlier this month.

Calipari has certainly made an impression on the potential five-star recruit, too.

“He’s a great coach. He came to some of our games and it was like — I have no idea, man,” Bethea recently told KSR. “Seeing him is like seeing God or something. You only see him on TV, for real.”

After Kentucky watched Bethea in person once again, he might not have to wait much longer before a scholarship offer from Calipari and the ‘Cats rolls in.