KJ Evans says Kentucky's upcoming moves will impact his decision

Kentucky’s top priorities in the 2023 recruiting class are clear at this point. The program has already received commitments from Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard, with Justin Edwards set to announce his decision on Monday with the Wildcats seen as the favorite. From there, there’s DJ Wagner, who has been UK’s No. 1 priority since he emerged as a blue-chip prospect several years back. Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Kingsley make up the top center targets, with the Wildcats also pushing for Ron Holland at the power forward spot.

Noticeably absent from the list? Five-star forward Kwame “KJ” Evans Jr., who recently included UK in his final list cut before scheduling a commitment date. The 6-foot-9 prospect is set to choose between Arizona, Auburn, Kentucky and Oregon on August 2, his birthday.

“August 2 is my birthday and I thought it was a really good time for me, the end of the circuit. It’s high school after that, so after this commitment I’ll be fine, work on my game, get ready for college.”

We’ll start with the first three options in Arizona, Auburn and Oregon.

“Oregon with Dana Altman,” Evans told KSR on Wednesday. “The people they’re trying to bring in and recruit, they fit really good around me. I fit really well in their system, so it’s a good place.”

“Arizona, Tommy Lloyd, he offered me and it’s been a great relationship from there,” he added. “They were really cool when I went there on a visit.”

“Auburn, Bruce Pearl and the coaching staff have been good for me,” Evans continued. “I went up there for a visit and it was really cool. They showed me a lot of stuff I can work on and things I can do in their system, as well.”

And then there was the fourth, Kentucky. It’s a school he visited back on November 5, with a scholarship offer coming shortly after. He’s high on the Wildcats, especially considering John Calipari’s success with other five-star recruits. The draft production continues to speak for itself.

That being said, Evans made it clear that there may not be a fit there, depending on how a few other top recruitments unfold.

“Kentucky, the pedigree, John Calipari,” he told KSR. “Depending on where some people go, we’ll see what happens up there. But they put people with my size in the league, so it’s a good place for me, as well.”

Edwards, a 6-foot-8 wing out of Philadelphia is expected to commit to Kentucky on Monday. The Wildcats are also pushing for Holland at the four spot, and they’d like to add both Bradshaw and Kingsley (who could reclassify to 2022, redshirt, and anchor the frontcourt in 2023-24).

Evans understands he could be the odd man out in the equation.

“It’s just seeing if I can fit there, really,” he told KSR. “They just got Rob (Dillingham), that’s a good combo right there. I just have to see where other players are going and figure out if there’s a fit there.”

A decision has not been made yet, he tells KSR, with that expected to come after Peach Jam at some point. Then, the decision will be made public on August 2.

“My family and I will sit down probably next week, after this, then I’ll know for sure,” he said. “But not right now (is my mind made up).”

What will be the final deciding factor?

“Family atmosphere and fit,” he told KSR. “Like, if something is wrong with me or the coaching staff, we’ll get through it. We’ll sit down and talk about everything. That’ll help me out and help them out. If something is going on beyond that, they’ll call my people and tell them everything. It’s about fit, them going out of their way to help me out. That’s why I feel like that.

“And it’s a play fit. How I play on the floor as a stretch four, someone who can bring the ball up and shoot. I just want to be able to do it all.”

Will Kentucky add the versatile stretch four out of Baltimore on August 2? Barring a major shift in momentum, that appears unlikely.