Kentucky Basketball: 5 Early Storylines from Wildcats' 2017 Recruiting Trail

There is no offseason when it comes to Kentucky basketball because the recruiting trail is usually as enjoyable as the games themselves.

Every year, the Wildcats are among the top contenders for the biggest names in the class. This won't change for 2017 with the coaching staff doing its best to lock up many of the 5-star talents around the country.

Of course, recruiting is also important with so many players immediately leaving for the NBA. As good as the 2016-17 squad is expected to be, a good portion of the roster won't be there the following year. This puts the pressure on head coach John Calipari and Co. to bring in another five- or six-man class by next season.

This leaves a lot to keep track of as the coaching staff attempts to load up on players. There is plenty of time before the recruits sign their letters of intent, but here is a look at the top storylines to follow for the 2017 class.

No Longer Only Juggernaut

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Kentucky has dominated the recruiting scene since Calipari took over as head coach. The classes are usually ranked No. 1 in the country, and the team often has its pick of top players.

However, Duke has shown in recent years that it can compete at this level, even finishing with the No. 1 class in 2016, per 247Sports. With players such as Brandon Ingram, Jahlil Okafor and Jabari Parker going through the program in recent years, Duke has just as much of an argument for getting players to the NBA as Kentucky.

This has created a bit of a rivalry, which reached its peak this offseason, stemming from Hamidou Diallo's comments on the two schools. According to Kyle Tucker of the Courier-Journal, the shooting guard explained:

"

Kentucky’s pitch was just the NBA thing. Duke’s pitch was if you come to Duke, you’re going to be set for life. It’s more than just basketball. (John Calipari’s) pitch was he gets guys ready for the next level. Look at the numbers: it shows. It’s the best place for you if you want to make it to the NBA.

Both pitches are appealing. It’s just a hard decision. I’ve got a lot of schools recruiting me, a bunch of schools capable of taking me to the NBA.

"

Calipari responded as part of an open message on CoachCal.com, making it clear the two sides are thinking about each other during the recruiting season.

Kentucky missed out on Marques Bolden this past cycle, but in 2017, there are a number of top players such as Diallo, Mohamed Bamba, Wendell Carter, Gary Trent Jr. and others potentially deciding between the Wildcats and Blue Devils. These battles could help decide the landscape of college basketball going forward.

Point Guard Priority

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Trae Young

Kentucky will probably have to fill a lot of spots in this class, but adding a point guard is always a priority. Considering the team could potentially lose its entire backcourt after this season, the pressure is even higher.

This isn't the deepest class for the position with Trevon Duval seemingly not warming up to Kentucky, but Trae Young has apparently become a top option for the Wildcats.

Although he doesn't have the length or athleticism of someone such as De'Aaron Fox, Young is a more defined point guard who can get other people involved in the offense. He is also an impressive individual scorer who can knock down shots from anywhere on the court.

If Young doesn't sign on, the next option would likely be Quade Green. The Philadelphia star has a similar style as a slightly undersized player (6'1") who knows how to create opportunities for himself and others.

There are other potential choices for Kentucky such as Tremont Waters or Paul Scruggs, but the Wildcats clearly want to land either Young or Green. One of these players would help the coaching staff feel a lot more comfortable going into the 2017-18 season.

Chasing Ayton

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Skal Labissiere's struggles aside, Kentucky has shown it can reach great heights with versatile big men such as Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns.

We might be getting ahead of ourselves by putting DeAndre Ayton in that category, but it really isn't that far off. According to 247Sports, the 7'0" forward is the No. 1 player in the country and already ready to dominate at the next level.

Evan Daniels of Scout broke down some of the positives:

"

He has tremendous size, a ridiculous basketball frame with wide shoulders and lengthy arms, plus the athleticism and mobility that you rarely find in a post player of his size.

In multiple viewings this season, Ayton has showed impressive offensive tools. He has good hands, quality touch around the goal and now has added the ability to face up and make jump shots from not only mid-range, but also out to the three-point stripe.

"

This makes it no surprise Kentucky is going hard after Ayton, but bringing him to Lexington won't necessarily be easy. Kansas and Arizona are top contenders, and these teams aren't exactly slouches on the recruiting trail either.

Still, Ayton is the type of impact player who can carry a college team on his own. While many frontcourt players need time to get acclimated to the next level, this one will be able to make a difference right out of the gate.

Even with plenty of backup options, the Wildcats need to work hard to get Ayton on board.

Safest Bets

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Jarred Vanderbilt

It's never easy to make predictions when it comes to recruiting, mostly because high school teenagers could change their minds at any point. However, Kentucky is in good position to lock down a few players in the near future.

One of those players is Jarred Vanderbilt, who was impressed after his visit to Kentucky last season.

"The atmosphere at Rupp Arena was just great," Vanderbilt said, per Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader. "It’s a great program. Coach Cal’s a great coach, a legendary coach. And it seems like he gets the best out of the guys and puts them in the right position to excel."

John Petty is also apparently leaning toward Kentucky heading into his senior season. Chris Fisher of 247Sports noted, "For those wondering if John Petty is still priority for Kentucky, he says he talks to them almost every day."

The Wildcats haven't had many impact wings in recent years, mostly having guys out of position who should be playing the 2 or 4. However, either Petty or Vanderbilt could be a quality option, as they're both versatile players who can handle the ball, make shots and defend the position at a high level.

If both end up in Lexington, even better.

As far as others who look good for Kentucky, guards Diallo and Young seem to have positive impressions of the program and could be ready to join.

Although the Wildcats currently don't have any commitments for the 2017 class, that could change relatively soon.

Prospects on the Rise

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Brian Bowen

Kentucky doesn't usually go after sleepers because it doesn't need to. It can wait until those prospects emerge, offer a scholarship and be right there in the thick of the recruiting race.

This is what happened with Wenyen Gabriel last season, and there could be plenty who do the same in this cycle.

Several prospects have made a similar type of rise in rankings this summer because of their play in AAU ball, including Brian Bowen and Nick Richards, both of whom have earned interest from Kentucky.

Some lesser-known recruits who have risen on boards in recent months include Deng Gak, Jordan Goodwin and Kyle Young. Although most of them are still outside the range Kentucky usually targets players, they could continue to move up as the summer continues.

Don't be surprised if these types of prospects quickly become Kentucky targets and then possibilities to commit as the year progresses.

Recruit information courtesy of 247Sports.

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