Where Somto Cyril, Kentucky targets stand in On3's latest 2024 rankings

The summer basketball cycle is nearly in the books. After plenty of national camps and months’ worth of AAU action, we’re beginning to see a much clearer picture of just how talented the class of 2024 prospects truly are. On Monday, our good friends at On3 released an updated list of their top 150 player rankings to reflect everything that’s happened on the hardwood over the last couple of months.

This is On3’s seventh update for the 2024 recruiting class and the first since early June. There are only a couple of updates left for this group of now-rising seniors. So far, Kentucky has just one commitment for this cycle from four-star center Somto Cyril, who checked in at No. 44 in this latest update. But head coach John Calipari has his eyes on several other targets. Let’s take a look at where those recruits stand in this month’s update.

No. 4) Tre Johnson [SG] 6-5, 180 | Link Academy (Dallas, TX)
No. 5) Jayden Quaintance [C] 6-10, 225 | Word of God Christian Academy (Cleveland, OH)
No. 12) Karter Knox [SF] 6-5, 205 | Overtime Elite (Tampa, FL)
No. 14) Johnuel “Boogie” Fland [PG] 6-3. 175 | Archbishop Stepinac (Harlem, NY)
No. 28) Patrick Ngongba [C] 6-10, 235 | Paul VI Catholic (Warrenton, VA)
No. 36) Billy Richmond [SF] 6-6, 200 | Camden (Memphis, TN)
No. 44) Somto Cyril [C] 6-10, 240 | Overtime Elite (Enugu, Nigeria)
No. 112) Travis Perry [PG] 6-2, 170 | Lyon County (Eddyville, KY)
No. 140) Olivier Rioux [C] 7-6, 275 | IMG Academy (Montreal, QC)
No. 145) Trent Noah [SG] 6-6, 200 | Harlan County (Baxter, KY)

🚨NEW🚨 Updated 2024 On3 150 rankings‼️

Breakdown from @JamieShaw5: https://t.co/vjz3jeyph2 pic.twitter.com/9ifmy7rRE1

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) August 7, 2023

As we’ve mentioned before, the 2024 class isn’t considered to be one loaded with top-end talent. While there are clearly still plenty of future college stars lining the rankings, there aren’t many thought to be bonafide NBA players. With that in mind, Kentucky’s Big Board with this class has been in flux.

Cyril is already on board, and while all signs are pointing toward him staying in the 2024 class (even more so since Kentucky added 7-foot-2 international center Zvonimir Ivisic for the upcoming season), there is still the possibility he reclassifies up to 2023. But for now, Cyril is expected to join the team next summer. Who could come with him?

The names to immediately keep a close eye on are five-star small forward Karter Knox (the younger brother of former Wildcat Kevin Knox) and four-star small forward Billy Richmond (whose father played under Calipari at Memphis). Kentucky is the frontrunner for both prospects, although no decision timelines have been announced.

Next in line would be five-star center Jayden Quaintance (who recently jumped up a class from 2025) and five-star point guard Boogie Fland, followed by four-star center Patrick Ngongba, who only recently earned an offer from Kentucky. Five-star shooting guard Tre Johnson is still considered to be on UK’s radar, but there are plenty of other suitors such as Baylor and Texas lurking hard.

Three-star point guard Travis Perry from Lyon County, despite being an in-state product, is on Kentucky’s board (and even holds an offer) but likely not near the top. The same goes for freshly ranked three-star shooting guard Trent Noah out of Harlan County, who is rising in the national rankings but isn’t hearing seriously from the ‘Cats at this point.

The newest name of the bunch is 7-foot-6 three-star center Olivier Rioux, who Kentucky began to watch play during the summer on the Adidas 3SSB circuit. He’s confirmed as the tallest male teenager in the world and is a native of Canada, an area that Calipari has seen success recurring out of. On the flip side, other notable names such as Flory Bidunga (No. 6 overall) and Jalil Bethea (No. 10) are no longer being recruited by the Wildcats.