Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Recruiting: Make or Break Players for 2016 Class

Although the 2015-16 college basketball season has yet to get underway, most head coaches across the nation have an eye on the season that kicks off in 13 months. 

With so much turnover involved in the collegiate game nowadays, it is imperative for national powers like the Kentucky Wildcats to bring in high-quality recruits every single year. 

There is no doubt the class of 2016 is one of the deepest in recent memory in terms of program-changing talent, but there are a few stars who would help Kentucky the most during the 2016-17 season. 

With that in mind, we decided to take a look at five make-or-break players the Wildcats are currently pursuing in the class of 2016. 

De'Aaron Fox

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De'Aaron Fox is seen by many as the top point guard in the loaded class of 2016. 247 Sports lists him as the top point guard and the No. 3 player in the entire class. 

Assuming Tyler Ulis stays healthy and thrives at the point, he will be off to the NBA after his sophomore season, which means head coach John Calipari must find a capable replacement for him.

Enter Fox, who has risen up the recruiting charts due to his solid play over the summer and the injury and commitment of Dennis Smith Jr., who ranks fifth on 247 Sports' top 100. 

If he lands Fox, Calipari will have a reliable floor general in his squad who could replace Ulis without a major drop off in talent. 

Malik Monk

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Not only will landing Malik Monk bolster the strength of the Kentucky roster, it will also deliver a major blow to a growing rival's upcoming recruiting class. 

The Wildcats have been in a fight with the Arkansas Razorbacks for the signature of the No. 6 player in he 247 Sports composite 100 for quite some time. Pulling Monk away from his home state would be a massive recruiting win for the top head coach in the SEC. 

Monk can handle the ball from the point as well, but if he joins the Wildcats, he will not have to worry about playing time or any issues with controlling the offense. Kentucky is expected to lose its entire starting backcourt from this season, which means there will plenty of space on the court for both Monk and Fox to operate in. 

If Calipari lands the pair of guards, the Wildcats will instantly be seen as one of the teams to beat during the 2016-17 season with two high lottery picks on the roster. 

Edrice "Bam" Adebayo

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If the Wildcats miss out on the touted Harry Giles, Edrice "Bam" Adebayo would not be a bad backup option.

Adebayo impressed over the summer with his presence in the paint, and his stock is rising as the high school basketball season approaches. 

Of course with that added attention comes a harder press from other programs courting top recruits. One of the other contenders for Adebayo is NC State, which will host him on a visit this weekend, per Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports. 

Failing to land Adebayo wouldn't be a fatal blow to Kentucky's recruiting process, but it would hurt the Wildcats a little bit as Calipari tries to add talent around Wenyen Gabriel and Sacha Killeya-Jones in the frontcourt. 

Jarrett Allen

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One name to watch out for if Adebayo goes elsewhere is power forward Jarrett Allen, who comes in at No. 21 on the 247 Sports composite 100. 

Allen will visit Kentucky next weekend after heading to Houston this weekend, per ESPN's Jeff Borzello. Texas is also in the mix for the big man from Austin, Texas. 

Drawing Allen away from a rebuilding program in his hometown will be a difficult task for Calipari, but he does have a starting spot to offer the big man, especially if Adebayo opts to go elsewhere. 

If Calipari secures the signature of Allen to go along with Killeya-Jones and Gabriel, the Wildcats will have one of the best frontcourts in the nation next year. 

Rawle Alkins

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We've focused a good amount on the frontcourt, but Kentucky still needs one more solid backcourt commit, even if Fox and Monk join the program. 

That is where Rawle Alkins comes into the picture as the player who brings versatility to the potential Kentucky lineup for the 2016-17 season.

If Kentucky brings in Alkins, who also has offers from NC State, North Carolina and a few others, per 247 Sports, it will have a roster capable of winning a national championship right away. 

With Fox, Monk and Alkins in the backcourt rotation and one other quality big man with Killeya-Jones and Gabriel, the Wildcats will be a force to be reckoned with in a year.