LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky men’s basketball once again will welcome a standout recruiting class when head coach John Calipari brings five newcomers into the program for the 2023-24 season. Highly-touted prospects Aaron Bradshaw, Rob Dillingham, Justin Edwards, Reed Sheppard and D.J. Wagner have continued to impress since signing with the Cats in November.
The Wildcats have signed more top 25 players under Calipari’s leadership than any other school. Nearly a quarter of all Rivals’ top-10 prospects nationally over the past 15 classes have signed with the Cats. The 2023 class is no different.
In nine of the 15 years, Calipari has inked a No. 1 class by at least one of the three major recruiting publications. With the additions, Kentucky has signed 72 top-50 recruits, 57 top-25 players and 33 top-10 players (according to Rivals) in what will now be Calipari’s 15 recruiting classes at Kentucky.
More on the Cats’ five newcomers and their accomplishments this season:
Aaron Bradshaw
– No. 2 in Rivals.com final 2023 recruiting rankings
– No. 2 in 247Sports.com 2023 recruiting rankings
– No. 6 in ESPN 2023 recruiting rankings
– 2023 McDonald’s All-American Game participant
– 2023 Iverson Classic selection
– NJ.com First-Team All-State
Aaron Bradshaw is putting in WORK 😤 pic.twitter.com/TNlMroQdDH
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) March 29, 2023
Rob Dillingham
– No. 14 in Rivals.com final 2023 recruiting rankings
– No. 13 in 247Sports.com 2023 recruiting rankings
– No. 14 in ESPN 2023 recruiting rankings
– 2023 Iverson Classic selection
– 2023 Iverson Classic Crossover Award winner
Bringing home some 🏆 from the @iversonclassic pic.twitter.com/lpbBRaKEp1
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) April 29, 2023
Justin Edwards
– No. 3 in Rivals.com final 2023 recruiting rankings
– No. 3 in 247Sports.com 2023 recruiting rankings
– No. 3 in ESPN 2023 recruiting rankings
– MaxPreps Pennsylvania High School Player of the Year
– 2023 McDonald’s All-American Game participant
– Member of USA Men’s Nike Hoop Summit Team
– 2023 Iverson Classic selection
– 2023 Iverson Classic Co-Most Valuable Player
CO-MVPS 🤩
DJ Wagner and Justin Edwards bring home MVP honors at the @iversonclassic! pic.twitter.com/CIqwHYrYK7
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) April 30, 2023
Reed Sheppard
– No. 26 in Rivals.com final 2023 recruiting rankings
– No. 48 in 247Sports.com 2023 recruiting rankings
– No. 22 in ESPN 2023 recruiting rankings
– 2023 McDonald’s All-American Game participant
– Mr. Kentucky Basketball 2023
– Helped Team Ohio go 5-0 to win the Junior International Championship in Italy, earning MVP honors after scoring a game-high 26 points in the title game
Junior International Championship MVP 💪@reed_sheppard lead Team Ohio to a 5-0 record and the 2023 Junior International Championship in Italy. pic.twitter.com/If6ozDsnGB
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) April 18, 2023
D.J. Wagner
– No. 6 in Rivals.com final 2023 recruiting rankings
– No. 4 in 247Sports.com 2023 recruiting rankings
– No. 4 in ESPN 2023 recruiting rankings
– McDonald’s All-American Game MVP
– 2023 McDonald’s All-American Game participant
– Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year
– Member of USA Men’s Nike Hoop Summit Team
– 2023 Iverson Classic selection
– 2023 Iverson Classic Co-Most Valuable Player
– 2023 Iverson Classic 3-point Champion
– 2023 Iverson Classic National High School Player of the Year
– Stephen Jackson Community Leadership Award winner
– NJ.com First-Team All-State
.@iversonclassic National High School Player of the Year 🏆 pic.twitter.com/5Oqu1lcoKJ
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) April 29, 2023
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s basketball team, follow @KentuckyMBB on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and on the web at UKathletics.com.
