Kentucky looks to close deal with DJ Wagner, other top recruits at Big Blue Madness

Since his crew’s beautiful first-round exit from the NCAA Match in March, John Calipari has been a person on a mission to get Kentucky again on prime. He spent a headline-grabbing offseason speaking about what he thinks the Wildcats want to be able to try this. One of many first issues he mentioned this spring: It’s time to make Huge Blue Insanity nice once more. The annual grand opening of UK’s season additionally serves as its largest recruiting occasion of the yr, however most would agree it has grown stale.

We’ll quickly discover out whether or not Calipari was in a position to handle that concern in time for this yr’s Insanity, as a result of Friday night time’s visitor record is star-studded — together with 5 top-10 gamers — and it’s closing time for Kentucky on a few them. Level guard DJ Wagner and middle Aaron Bradshaw, highschool and grassroots teammates who’re ranked No. 1 and No. 6 within the 2023 class, are every taking a second go to to Lexington. They’re being joined by Justin Edwards and Reed Sheppard, who’re ranked No. 2 and No. 29 within the class and are each already dedicated to the Cats.

Apart from a short detour for some Louisville optimism when the Cardinals employed former UK assistant Kenny Payne, who then employed DJ’s grandfather Milt Wagner, the Cats have lengthy been thought of the favourite to land Wagner. Additionally they appeared on the cusp of getting a dedication from Bradshaw in June, after his first go to, however his mom wasn’t in a position to make that journey and requested him to delay his choice. Notably, she is predicted to be with him this time, sitting courtside at Rupp Enviornment for all of the pageantry of Insanity.

Bradshaw is right down to Kentucky, Louisville and the NBA’s G League, with plans to announce his choice Nov. 16, the final day of faculty basketball’s weeklong early signing interval.