Kentucky target Ahmad Nowell commits to UConn

Kentucky will not be adding a new commitment to its 2024 recruiting class this weekend. A finalist in four-star guard Ahmad Nowell‘s recruitment, the No. 40 overall prospect and No. 4 combo guard in the On3 Industry Ranking has instead opted for the reigning national champion UConn Huskies in his decision.

Choosing between Connecticut, Georgia Tech, Kentucky and Tennessee, the 6-foot-0 guard out of Philadelphia decided to roll with Dan Hurley and the Huskies in a public announcement on Sunday. Nowell made his commitment with 247Sports on YouTube.

John Calipari and the Wildcats extended a scholarship offer to the four-star prospect at the conclusion of Nike EYBL Session I in Atlanta back in April. Nowell was a teammate of Kentucky freshman Justin Edwards at Imhotep Charter — that’s where conversations started between the two sides. The coaches saw Nowell while making a push for Edwards, then decided to take a closer look this spring, liking the potential fit there.

“I know they develop a lot of pros, so just growing up and seeing all of the players that went there and made it to the NBA, that’s definitely what stands out to me,” Nowell told KSR of the Wildcats at the time. “Because that’s the ultimate goal, me getting to the NBA. That’s definitely what stands out. They say I’m a winner and that I make great decisions, can really shoot the ball. I just do whatever it takes to win, so that’s the biggest thing with me. They said they really need some grittiness over there.”

He originally planned to visit Kentucky ahead of the program’s trip to Toronto for the 2023 GLOBL JAM, a trip that never ultimately came to fruition. Instead, his official visit to UConn in June and the program’s relentless pursuit essentially from the moment the Huskies won the title this spring was enough to win him over.

“Just their winning aspect, they win,” Nowell told KSR. “They never have the best players, but they always find a way to get it done. They just produce and that’s what I really like about that school.”

The four-star guard knew what he was looking for in a school when finalizing his commitment date back on July 7. The keys? Early playing time and comfort with the coaching staff, along with style of play.

“Somewhere I can come in and play, somewhere I’m going to have an opportunity. Not someone who is going to tell me I’m going to come in and play, but someone willing to give me a fair shot and a fair opportunity,” Nowell told KSR. “Somewhere I can play on the ball and off the ball because I can create as an on- or off-ball player. I want to feel comfortable in my college, the brotherhood of the school. Somewhere I get along with the coaching staff and fit in with the coaching style and coaching style. Definitely where my heart falls, whoever can help me get to the next level.”

Nowell’s heart ultimately fell for the reigning national champions.