Marques Bolden, the No. 1-ranked American big man in the Class of 2016, is closing in on a college decision and will announce before his birthday April 17.
The 6-foot-10 Bolden out of DeSoto (TX) is down to Kentucky, Duke and TCU, according to DallasNews.com.
Kentucky coach John Calipari visited with Bolden on Thursday, his father confirmed to SNY.tv.
“It’s really just talking with the coaches one last time before I make this decision,” Bolden told DallasNews.com.
Bolden previously considered Kansas, Oklahoma and Alabama, among others.
Kentucky has a loaded recruiting class full of bigs coming in, including Bam Adebayo, Sacha-Killeya Jones and Wenyen Gabriel. The Wildcats also return Tai Wynyard and Isaac Humphries and likely Marcus Lee and Derek Willis.
Duke brings in forwards Harry Giles and Jayson Tatum and is seeking a redshirt for big man Amile Jefferson.
Giles says he’s been recruiting Bolden to Duke.
“Next year I think we’re gonna have a great team with the guys that will be there and the class that we’ve got coming in,” Giles wrote on his USA Today blog. “I’ve definitely been hitting my man Marques (Bolden) telling him to come on to Duke with us. I need that! I feel pretty good about getting him. He’s a smart guy and I hope he’ll make that smart decision to come with us.”
Meantime, TCU just hired former Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, which could complicate their chances.
“I had a great relationship with the previous coach,” Bolden told DallasNews.com of Trent Johnson. “I don’t know how this new coach is going to be.”
Bolden will play in the McDonald’s All-American Game March 30 in Chicago, which features several recruits from both Kentucky and Duke.
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