In nine of the 15 years that John Calipari has been the head coach at Kentucky, he has inked a No. 1 class by at least one of the three major recruiting publications.
The 2023 recruiting class is one of his best on paper.
The Wildcats are bringing in five newcomers and all five are highly-ranked.
Here are all the details from UK Athletics:
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky men’s basketball once again will welcome a standout recruiting class when head coach John Calipari brings five newcomers into the program for the 2023-24 season. Highly-touted prospects Aaron Bradshaw, Rob Dillingham, Justin Edwards, Reed Sheppard and D.J. Wagner have continued to impress since signing with the Cats in November.
The Wildcats have signed more top 25 players under Calipari’s leadership than any other school. Nearly a quarter of all Rivals’ top-10 prospects nationally over the past 15 classes have signed with the Cats. The 2023 class is no different.
In nine of the 15 years, Calipari has inked a No. 1 class by at least one of the three major recruiting publications. With the additions, Kentucky has signed 72 top-50 recruits, 57 top-25 players and 33 top-10 players (according to Rivals) in what will now be Calipari’s 15 recruiting classes at Kentucky.
More on the Cats’ five newcomers and their accomplishments this season:
Aaron Bradshaw
No. 2 in Rivals.com final 2023 recruiting rankings
No. 2 in 247Sports.com 2023 recruiting rankings
No. 6 in ESPN 2023 recruiting rankings
2023 McDonald’s All-American Game participant
2023 Iverson Classic selection
NJ.com First-Team All-State
Rob Dillingham
No. 14 in Rivals.com final 2023 recruiting rankings
No. 13 in 247Sports.com 2023 recruiting rankings
No. 14 in ESPN 2023 recruiting rankings
2023 Iverson Classic selection
2023 Iverson Classic Crossover Award winner
Justin Edwards
No. 3 in Rivals.com final 2023 recruiting rankings
No. 3 in 247Sports.com 2023 recruiting rankings
No. 3 in ESPN 2023 recruiting rankings
MaxPreps Pennsylvania High School Player of the Year
2023 McDonald’s All-American Game participant
Member of USA Men’s Nike Hoop Summit Team
2023 Iverson Classic selection
2023 Iverson Classic Co-Most Valuable Player
Reed Sheppard
No. 26 in Rivals.com final 2023 recruiting rankings
No. 48 in 247Sports.com 2023 recruiting rankings
No. 22 in ESPN 2023 recruiting rankings
2023 McDonald’s All-American Game participant
Mr. Kentucky Basketball 2023
Helped Team Ohio go 5-0 to win the Junior International Championship in Italy, earning MVP honors after scoring a game-high 26 points in the title game
D.J. Wagner
No. 6 in Rivals.com final 2023 recruiting rankings
No. 4 in 247Sports.com 2023 recruiting rankings
No. 4 in ESPN 2023 recruiting rankings
McDonald’s All-American Game MVP
2023 McDonald’s All-American Game participant
Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year
Member of USA Men’s Nike Hoop Summit Team
2023 Iverson Classic selection
2023 Iverson Classic Co-Most Valuable Player
2023 Iverson Classic 3-point Champion
2023 Iverson Classic National High School Player of the Year
Stephen Jackson Community Leadership Award winner
NJ.com First-Team All-State
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s basketball team, follow @KentuckyMBB on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and on the web at UKathletics.com.
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DJ Wagner pic.twitter.com/XQgzSnzs9a— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) May 3, 2023
