TheCatsDomain.Com Message Boards: UK a major basketball recruiting presence in July

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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 07-29-2021, 05:00 PM:

It sure seemed like there was some drama on the University of Kentucky hoops recruiting trail, with which coaches were watching which top HS stars/recruiting targets at the Peach Jam event that ended over last weekend.

Kentucky has done its best to show it was back in the recruiting game full throttle during the important July evaluation periods.

John Calipari, Orlando Antigua, Chin Coleman and Jai Lucas were very visible both on the front end of the July cycle and especially the last two weeks at Nike events that wrapped up the Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C.

Top big man talent Jalen Duren was the focus for UK and others over the last couple of weeks of that major evaluation event.

Duren is the No. 1 ranked recruit in the 2022 class by both 247Sports and Rivals.com, and he is expected to reclassify to the 2021 class, but he has some high school course work to finish up if he makes that move, according to media reports.

Duren averaged 13.7 points and 8.7 rebounds in leading his Team Final to the Peach Jam championship this weekend.

Calipari, Memphis' Penny Hardaway and Miami's Jim Larranaga kept a close eye on the star recruit throughout July. On multiple occasions, all three coaches were in the stands together for Duren's games. Top G League representative Rod Strickland also watched him play this month.

Calipari was absent during the last weekend at the Peach Jam, according to social media posts, which set off all kinds of speculation about which school might be leading the pack for Duren's services.

Calipari was reportedly watching Peach Jam action via live stream, and was also in contact with assistant coaches.

Duren is expected to make a decision soon, but there doesn't seem to be a firm grasp on where he may end up.

Some recruiting gurus say Miami has the edge. Some say it's between Kentucky and Memphis.

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