LEXINGTON, Ky. _ This past weekend, Rivals.com's top basketball recruiting experts were tasked with picking the "most intriguing" recruitment for the 2021 cycle.
National analyst Corey Evans chose five-star power forward Paolo Banchero, the heir apparent to the No. 1 ranking in the class and arguably Kentucky's top recruiting target for next year.
Banchero _ a 6-foot-9 prospect from Seattle _ is ranked No. 2 overall by Rivals.com, and the only player ahead of him on that list, Jonathan Kuminga, is widely expected to reclassify to 2020, a move that would vacate the top spot for Banchero.
His recruitment could still go a few different ways.
"There are so many storylines," Evans told the Herald-Leader this week.
Banchero's parents were both athletes at Washington, the hometown school that has been pursuing him for the duration of his recruitment. Kentucky wants him. Duke wants him. North Carolina wants him. Evans mentioned Arizona, Michigan and Tennessee as legitimate landing spots. And there's the added narrative of a "package deal" with close friend Kennedy Chandler, who happens to be the top available point guard in the 2021 class. UK is also recruiting Chandler, as are many of the other programs on Banchero's list.
"It's going to be hard for Paolo to even get down to five schools," Evans said.
Last August, not long after UK extended a scholarship offer to Banchero, the Rivals.com analyst switched his Future Cast prediction from Washington to Kentucky. What does Evans think about that pick nearly eight months later?
"I still feel pretty good about that. I don't think much has changed," he said, with a caveat. "I also don't think Paolo is anywhere near making a decision whatsoever. I wouldn't be surprised if he holds off from committing until this time next year, especially with the pandemic going on. I know he visited all those schools last year, but it's a little different mindset. That might have just been for fun and to get a general sense of things. But whenever you're getting down to it _ getting close to committing _ it's more of a business approach."
Banchero was indeed on UK's campus _ for Big Blue Madness weekend _ as part of his nationwide visit tour. He also had an online video meeting with Kentucky's coaches Wednesday. John Calipari and his assistant coaches have been to Seattle multiple times to see Banchero and his family.
The West Coast star has been the subject of persistent rumors that he could still reclassify from 2021 to 2020 and play college basketball this coming season. He has repeatedly and adamantly denied those rumors. Banchero doesn't turn 18 years old until November. That would make him one of the youngest players in college basketball if he did reclassify.
Kentucky is obviously in need of more frontcourt help for next season, but Evans doesn't think Banchero will be the one to fill that need. His recruitment could still go many different directions, but the 2020 class doesn't appear to be a realistic path.
"I would be surprised if he did that," Evans said.
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