UCLA commit Adem Bona will be playing at the Marshall County Hoopfest next month. (Prolific Prep Photo)
A few months ago it seemed like Kentucky coach John Calipari was going to have his choice of big men for the 2022 recruiting class.
Dereck Lively and Adem Bona both were high on the UK recruiting list but Calipari now has lost both of them. First, Lively picked Duke over Kentucky after UK had prioritized him over Bona. Once Lively was no longer available, Calipari went all-in on Bona — who many thought had UK No. 1 on his list for a long time.
But UCLA continued to make Bona a priority and the Prolific Prep (Calif.) center picked the Bruins over UK Monday despite a late personal visit Calipari made to California.
The 6-9 Bona is ranked No. 1 in the ESPN 100 and is ranked as the No. 4 center nationally. Lively was the No. 1 center prospect and top-five player.
Bona’s length, speed, and mobility made him an elite defensive player because of his rim protection skills. He has also shown the ability to guard on the perimeter.
Yahoo Sports and Rivals.com basketball writer Krysten Peek told me several months ago that if Calipari somehow missed on both Lively and Bona, she didn’t think Calipari would have any trouble finding a big man again in the transfer portal like he did with Reid Travis and Oscar Tshiebwe.
National 247Sports basketball analyst Travis Branham also said before Bona’s decision that there was not another big man target in the 2022 recruiting class for Calipari.
“I think it is Bona or bust. If UK misses on Bona, I think they go straight to the transfer route for a big man,” Branham said.
8 Responses
This is a growing concern that Cal can’t get a big man. He has miss out several last few years, hopefully with Orlando return this will change.
It does seem like the "flag kneeling" head coach has lost his touch recruiting the "bigs."
Transfer portal will work out just fine. Just be patient
Pup, he was missing them long before the flag kneeling happen.
Well he got Oscar this year, so trust the transfer portal
Yes he did Larry and if I’m correct he’s only a Jr may have him again next year
I have said this for many years, Cal lost his touch with big men when he platooned the Carl Towns team. Opposing coaches tell their big men recruits "do you want to paly half the game and sit the other half? Now Cal is talking about sharing time, no please do not make that mistake again play the best players or the ones who are best at making the team better.
Something has certainly happened Michael