Kentucky Basketball Recruiting: Early Wish List for Class of 2016

Whether you're on the coaching staff or a fan of Kentucky basketball, there is no offseason. With the summer session of AAU basketball and camps in full swing, there's no doubt that the biggest buzz word in college basketball is recruiting.

Kentucky head coach John Calipari stands next to no one when it comes to recruiting, as he's regarded as the best recruiter at the head coaching level. His recruiting classes at Kentucky are usually ranked in the top five, often ending up No. 1 year in and year out.

While many people want to look at the group coming in for the class of 2015, we'll go even farther. Let's look at the Kentucky early wish list for the class of 2016, something Calipari has already been recruiting heavily. 

Harry Giles

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

After suffering major knee surgery in 2013, Giles is one of the best players in the class of 2016. He's currently ranked No. 3 on 247Sports and rated with a score of 100 by the same site. He's being recruited by almost every school in the country, including the Wildcats.

He's an athletic 6'10", 230-pound power forward from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The likes of Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, Duke and Syracuse are all battling one another for Giles' commitment.

He's a non-traditional power forward who has gifted ball-handling skills for his size. While he's not a tremendous shooter from the outside, he uses his ability to dribble to get to the rack, where he is an exceptional finisher above the rim. 

Giles attended Big Blue Madness in 2013, which is a sign that Kentucky could be a favorite for Giles if he decides to leave his home state. 

Jayson Tatum

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Jayson Tatum is a 5-star recruit who is ranked No. 4 on 247Sports and has Kentucky fans drooling for him to commit. He recently cut his list to four schools, with Kentucky making the short list, joining St. Louis, Duke and North Carolina. 

Tatum was also in attendance for the 2013 Big Blue Madness and attended practices and a couple of games on Kentucky's campus over the years. On top of that Calipari has seen Tatum play in person, including when he scored 39 points and 14 rebounds in a win over Stevenson High School out of Illinois. 

Tatum fits exactly what Calipari likes in his wing players. He has great size at 6'8" and is obviously an elite scorer who can crash the boards. Calipari has had great success with larger wing players who can switch on screens and guard multiple positions.

He's good friends with Harry Giles, so getting Tatum could lead to a package deal if the two decide to play with each other in college. 

Malik Monk

Get ready for a shocker here. Monk is a 5-star recruit who is ranked No. 13, according to 247Sports. Monk is one of the best scorers in the class, especially when he made headlines by scoring 59 points last year in a game where he went 10-of-16 from behind the line.

Many expect the decision to come between Kentucky and Arkansas due to Monk hailing from Arkansas. Also, his brother Marcus was a basketball and football player for the Razorbacks. However, Malik is a big fan of Kentucky, saying he watches every Kentucky game. 

Monk is also a friend of former Kentucky player Archie Goodwin, which can help in the recruiting process. An above-average shooter from the outside is always a necessity for a Calipari-coached team.