Ugonna Kingsley begins visit to Kentucky -- What you need to know

Kentucky is set to host five-star center Ugonna Kingsley for an official visit starting Wednesday, a trip set to last through Friday (July 20-22). It’s a wildly important meeting for both sides, one pushed up from the original date of July 25-27 to take place during the NCAA live period, which begins at noon ET.

It’s happening during the Nike EYBL Peach Jam, the biggest in-person recruiting event of the year. Rather than sending all four coaches to North Augusta, John Calipari will stay back with Orlando Antigua, sources tell KSR, in hopes of closing on the nation’s No. 5 overall prospect and No. 1 center in the latest On3 player rankings. Assistant coaches Chin Coleman and KT Turner will be at Peach Jam.

It’s the only legal workaround with the current NCAA dead period, which runs through July 24, hence the original visit schedule. If you want to host visitors rather than evaluate prospects at grassroots basketball’s premier event, that’s your call. It just comes at a significant cost, something Kentucky is clearly comfortable with. A big trade-off, sure, but one with a major potential pay-out.

A reclassification to 2022?

Why would Calipari sacrifice valuable in-person evaluation time at Peach Jam for a player who won’t sign till November or arrive on campus till next summer? Multiple sources tell KSR that Kingsley is considering a reclassification to 2022, a move that would allow the five-star center to get on campus and potentially join Kentucky for its trip to the Bahamas in August. Kingsley has been working to clear any academic hurdles necessary to set up the potential jump if that’s the path he decides to take.

What would his expectations be from day one? Minimal. The goal would be to bring Kingsley in and develop as a redshirt under Oscar Tshiebwe, college basketball’s reigning National Player of the Year. Though elite defensively — as a shot-blocker, especially — the five-star center is raw offensively and would need to spend time working with Kentucky’s strength and conditioning program. It’s a long-term plan that appeals to the native of Nigeria.

Other schools in contention

Kingsley previously took an official visit to Oklahoma State and he’s scheduled to visit Oklahoma starting July 24, as well. He also holds offers from Kansas, Georgetown, Syracuse, Connecticut, Illinois, Memphis, Maryland, Texas Tech and Providence, among others.

It’s Kentucky, though, that has long been seen as the favorite to land the five-star center.

“I’ve been wanting to go to Kentucky all my life, even before coming to the states,” Kingsley told On3 in June. “I don’t really know much about the school yet, but I know it is a good program for athletes, a lot of their guys are pros. I know Oscar Tshiebwe is also from (Africa), it means a lot he has had great success there.”

The plan remains for Kingsley to visit Oklahoma after seeing Kentucky this week, but things could change if things go well in Lexington, as expected. Competing programs are using immediate playing time as a counter to the Wildcats’ pitch, assuming a reclassification takes place.

The top shot-blocker in high school basketball

As a player, Kingsley’s value is clear. He takes pride on defense, an aspect of his game he feels separates him from his peers at the high school level.

“What I do best is blocking shots and getting rebounds, and at first, I thought it was just because I’m tall,” Kingsley told KSR in June. “Then I noticed the other tall players in my class, they don’t do what I’m doing. I know I’m the best defender in the country, I’m a great shot-blocker. …

“My game is mostly helping my team defensively. That’s what I do best, playing good defense and protecting the rim. My offense is evolving — I know that for sure — but when I’m on my court, what I do best is help my team by playing great defense.”

He’s working to develop offensively, specifically as a shooter.

“My offensive part of the game, shooting (is what I’m working on most),” he told KSR. “I know I’m a great shooter, I just need consistency with my shot. I’m always working on my shooting so I can stretch the floor, always working on my offense.”

Looking for a close relationship with the coaching staff

What is Kingsley looking for in a college?

“I am going to look closely at how the coaches interact with the players,” Kingsley told On3. “If the coach has a good relationship with his players it is going to help you out mentally. Someone like me, coming from Africa, a player and coach relationship is big for me.”

We’ll find out if that college is Kentucky sooner rather than later.

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