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Where is John Calipari this week to open recruiting season?

Jack PIlgrimby:Jack Pilgrim•09/12/23
20221210 OTE League
Somto Cyril of the City Reapers dunks during an Overtime Elite league game on Friday, December 10th, 2022 at OTE Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Adam Hagy/Overtime Elite)

Basketball recruiting season is officially here, an open period that runs from fall to early spring with few breaks between. Aside from two dead periods from Nov. 6-9 and Dec. 24-26, it will be a free-for-all for college coaches until the first week of April — the close of college basketball season. What does that entail exactly? Coaches are allowed to make in-person off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluations while also hosting recruits on campus visits without restriction.

In short, now is when you’ll see photos of John Calipari, Orlando Antigua, Chin Coleman and Chuck Martin pop up from around the country (and even internationally), juggling high school and prep visits while preparing for Kentucky’s own 2023-24 season. We’ll also see news of unofficial and official visits scheduled — beyond the long list already on the docket for the Wildcats in the coming months.

Five-star guard Boogie Fland was the first official visitor of the recruiting season, making his way to Lexington from Sept. 8-10. He also has upcoming trips scheduled for Alabama (Sept. 22-24) and Maryland (Sept. 29-Oct. 1).

He cut his list down to eight in July, the finalists being Kentucky, Alabama, Indiana, Michigan, UNC, Maryland, UConn and St. John’s.

From there, four-star wing Billy Richmond is up next, taking an official to Kentucky from Sept. 15-17. He’s coming off an official to LSU (Sept. 8-10) and also has trips scheduled to Memphis (Sept. 29-Oct. 1), Kansas (Oct. 6-8), and Alabama (Oct. 20-22). He’s also considering Miami, Texas, and Louisville. 

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And then to round out the month, four-star center Patrick Ngongba will take an official starting Sept. 29-Oct. 1). He’s coming off a trip to Michigan (Sept. 8-10) with upcoming visits scheduled to Duke (Oct. 20-22), and Kansas State (Oct. 27-29).

Moving into October, in-state standout Travis Perry will be on campus for Big Blue Madness the weekend of Oct. 14, as will 2025 blue-chippers Darryn Peterson, Caleb Wilson and Darius Acuff. Then five-star senior Jayden Quaintance has scheduled a follow-up official to Kentucky from Oct. 20-22.

And that’s just who the Wildcats plan to host on campus visits, with names such as Cameron Boozer and Cayden Boozer, Tre Johnson, Meleek Thomas, Karter Knox, Koa Peat and Jasper Johnson also names to keep an eye on regarding scheduled trips to Lexington in the not-too-distant future.

But what about Calipari and his staff hitting the recruiting trail? They’re off to a hot start, stopping in to see several of the program’s top targets to open the period.

Who has the Kentucky staff been in for?

Darryn Peterson

  • Shooting guard
  • 6-5, 175 pounds
  • Huntington Prep
  • Canton, OH native
  • No. 2 overall, No. 1 SG in 2025 On3 Industry Ranking

Jayden Quaintance

  • Center
  • 6-10, 225 pounds
  • Word of God Christian Academy
  • Cleveland, OH native
  • No. 10 overall, No. 2 SF in 2024 On3 Industry Ranking

Karter Knox

  • Small forward
  • 6-6, 205 pounds
  • Overtime Elite
  • Tampa, FL native
  • No. 6 overall, No. 3 SF in 2024 On3 Industry Ranking

Somto Cyril

Patrick Ngongba

  • Center
  • 6-10, 235 pounds
  • Paul VI Catholic
  • Warrenton, VA native
  • No. 26 overall, No. 3 C in 2024 On3 Industry Ranking

Caleb Wilson

  • Power forward
  • 6-9, 195 pounds
  • Holy Innocents Episcopal School
  • Atlanta, GA native
  • No. 4 overall, No. 3 PF in 2025 On3 Industry Ranking

This post will be updated as additional coaching stops are confirmed…

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2024-12-21