Kentucky Basketball Recruiting: Prioritizing Wildcats' Top 2016 Targets

There is no true free agency in college basketball as there is with the NBA. The closest thing is recruiting, and the best when it comes to recruiting is Kentucky's John Calipari.

Recruiting well is the best way to sustain success, no matter what program you look at.

Since Calipari took over as head coach in Lexington, the Wildcats have consistently been in the top five when it comes to recruiting class rankings. That shouldn't change in 2016, as Kentucky is a finalist for most of the top recruits in the country yet again.

So, who are the guys Kentucky needs to go after the hardest? Here is a breakdown of the top targets for Kentucky ranked in order of importance.

5. Udoka Azubuike

Udoka Azubuike, no relation to former Wildcat Kelenna, is an absolute monster in the paint, which has been one of the staples of Kentucky basketball since Calipari took over.

When you look at the list of big men including DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Nerlens Noel, Willie Cauley-Stein and Karl-Anthony Towns, there has been plenty of big-man talent in Lexington.

Azubuike is no different, as he stands 6'10" with a 7'5" wingspan. He's a dunking machine, usually trying to bring the rim down with each forceful dunk and making it harder to block his shot or challenge him at the rim.

With that wingspan, he will also be able to protect the rim defensively—something that is key for Kentucky's defensive mindset.

He's currently No. 19 in the ESPN 100 rankings and the No. 2 center. He showcased his talent in front of the Kentucky coaching staff at an Amateur Athletic Union event in Lexington this past spring and should be a priority for the Wildcats going forward.

Also on his list are Florida, Florida State, Duke and Kansas.

4. Miles Bridges

Miles Bridges has drawn comparisons to Andrew Wiggins, who decided to go to Kansas over Kentucky a couple of years ago. Bridges is a 6'6" small forward who hails from Michigan but is playing high school ball at Huntington Prep in West Virginia.

Bridges is a stereotypical small forward in today's game. He is a fantastic rebounder, strong defender and uber-athletic player who can finish at the rim.

His size allows him to play multiple positions on the wing, much like James Young for Kentucky a couple of seasons ago.

Bridges waited his turn at Huntington Prep, coming off the bench as a sophomore due to all the talent in front of him. Last year as a junior, though, he started to make his name known—mostly for his electric dunks. He's all the way up to No. 7 on the ESPN 100 rankings.

According to Ben Roberts of the Herald-Leader, Bridges plans on cutting his list down to five schools soon.

3. Malik Monk

Malik Monk knows how to score. He's showcased that part of his game over and over again, including a 59-point effort (10-of-16 from deep) last spring.

Monk is almost a must-sign for Kentucky, as 247Sports believes he'll pick between the Wildcats and Arkansas, obviously another SEC school. A 6'3" shooting guard, he fits in perfectly with the dribble-drive offense Calipari uses thanks mostly to his shooting.

It's important for Kentucky to have a knockdown shooter to capitalize on the drive-and-kicks in the offense. Monk is also a complete athlete who can drive and finish at the rim, as evidenced by the video above.

Again, this is as important a signing as Kentucky can get due to the option of him going to Arkansas. The less talent the SEC gets, the better Kentucky will be going forward.

2. Kobi Simmons

Kentucky has become Point Guard U thanks to the run of top point guards committing to the Wildcats. Next up needs to be Kobi Simmons, who is the second-ranked point guard in the Class of 2016.

He fits the mold for Kentucky point guards, as he stands 6'5" and can do a little bit of everything from the guard spot. He is very skilled at passing and ball-handling but is a dynamic enough scorer that he can also play off the ball if someone like Tyler Ulis stays for another year.

We've seen Calipari recruit two point guards before, such as John Wall and Eric Bledsoe, as well as Ulis and Andrew Harrison.

Simmons is one of the best players in the class and will be much-needed at Kentucky because of his point guard skills. Other schools in consideration are Kansas, North Carolina and Arizona.

1. Harry Giles

Harry Giles is the crown jewel of the Class of 2016. He's the top-ranked player in the entire class and already looks the part of a top NBA prospect.

Even with him missing his entire sophomore season due to injury, Giles has bounced back and looks like he never missed any time. Giles is a 6'10" modern-day power forward with his ability to stretch the floor and beat his man off the dribble.

Giles is being recruited by almost everyone, but the big names such as North Carolina and Duke are the likely challengers to Kentucky.

Obviously, with the one-and-done culture at Kentucky, it's important to reload with the best player in the class.

Unless otherwise noted, recruiting information courtesy of ESPN.com.