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Kentucky could probably use a physical enforcer inside on its 2023-24 roster but apparently that will not be four-star center Somto Cyril.
However, he did verbally commit to be part of Kentucky’s 2024 recruiting class on Wednesday according to Travis Branham, national basketball analyst for 247Sports.
Cyril is a top 50 player in the 2024 class. The 6-10, 240-pound center played in Overtime Elite last season and he four major recruiting services — Rivals, 247Sports, On3 and ESPN — all rate him a four-star prospect. He is the No. 7 center in 2024 on the 247Sports composite.
He averaged 8.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.4 blocks, 1.5 dunks, 1.7 turnovers and 20.3 minutes per game in 15 games for Cold Hearts in Overtime Elite play and shot 66 percent from the field.
Hillcrest Prep coach Nick Weaver had one of his players, Jordan Burks, recently sign with Kentucky. He knew then UK was also interested in Cyril and after coaching against him last season was full of praise for him.
“I will tell you right now in all my years of doing high school basketball, coaching players who played in the pros and I had (former No. 1 overall NBA draft pick) Deandre Ayton, I have never seen anything like him,” Weaver said on WLAP Sunday Morning Sports Talk.
“I have never seen a high school player or Overtime Elite player dominate a game physically like him. He’s the most physical presence I have ever seen at the high school level.
“I have never seen anything like him. He is so physically gifted. He moves so well, can score and has a great touch. It kills me to say he’s more physical than Deandre but I really have never seen anything like him.”
Cyril told Branham that UK was the first college basketball team he watched play. He remembers watching Anthony Davis highlights at Kentucky.
He came to the United State from Nigeria in 2021, according to On3. He played his sophomore season at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Tennessee.
Cyril had about 12 major scholarship offers, including Florida and Indiana,
Defense is his forte as he led Overtime Elite in blocked shots — he the league’s defensive player of the year — but was also the league’s most efficient offensive player.
Speculation had been he was trying to reclassify to the 2023 class so he could join John Calipari’s team this year but sources told Branham he likely will not pursue that option now.
That does not mean Cyril could not change his plans but as of now that will leave UK with Ugonna Onyenso, Aaron Bradshaw and Tre Mitchell as inside players on the current roster.
