Jalen Green still considering Kentucky after Clarke commitment

By ADAM ZAGORIA

Jalen Green, the 6-foot-6 combo guard from Prolific (CA) Prep, is still considering Kentucky after Terrence Clarke’s commitment on Saturday, a source close to Green said.

“UK is still one of the top schools until [we] hear they have no interest in Jalen,” said the source, who requested anonymity because he did not want to be seen as usurpring Green’s recruitment process. “That is Jalen’s dream school and I think he would play well with the kids they have and that have already committed.”

Green is currently on an official visit to Oregon, and is also considering Kentucky, Memphis and Auburn. The source said Green and his family still had to speak with Kentucky coach John Calipari to see if Kentucky is still actively recruiting Green. Green’s camp had spoken with Calipari late this week before the Clarke commitment.

Kentucky now has four commits for 2020 in Clarke, a shooting guard, shooting guard B.J. Boston, small forward Cam’Ron Fletcher and power forward Lance Ware.

The Wildcats don’t have a pure point guard committed for 2020 and the source said Green could still play the point with the other recruits they have coming in.

“They don’t have a point guard in that bunch,” the source said. “Brandon Boston and T-Clarke are both shooting guards, maybe a three if you want to put Brandon Boston to the three.”

Kentucky may well lose sophomore point guard Ashton Hagans and incoming freshman point guard Tyrese Maxey to the NBA Draft. Both are projected first-round picks, as is incoming wing Kahlil Whitney.

Still, for 2020-21, they figure to return point guard Immanuel Quickley and wings Keion Brooks, Dontaie Allen and Johnny Juzang.

“So I think they’re going to lose a point guard and I don’t mind Jalen running point,” the source said. “Then you put Brandon at the three. You can look at it different ways.

“If T-Clarke is truly a two, then you can move Jalen to the one and let him run the point.”

Calipari still appears to be making Montverde (FL) Academy point guard Cade Cunningham a top priority and visited him Monday, the first day coaches could go out.

Kentucky’s addition of Clarke may also impact California shooting guard Josh Christopher, who is also considering Arizona State, UCLA, Missouri and Michigan, and Montverde small forward Scottie Barnes, who also lists Duke, Kansas, Miami, Oregon, Florida State, California, and Ohio State.

Another player it could impact is Jonathan Kuminga, the 6-7 wing now at The Patrick School (N.J.). Kentucky and Memphis are expected to see Kuminga, who also has the option of reclassifying to 2020 as Clarke did. Kuminga is the No. 1 player in the Class of 2021 and the No. 1 pick in 2022, per one mock.

Kentucky And Memphis are expected in coming days for @JonathanKuming6

LSU And Nebraska had their whole staffs here this week. https://t.co/QgmAMPBZbk

— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) September 11, 2019