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College Basketball recruiting roundup: Kentucky gets active

By Gabe Esquivel

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 09: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats directs his team during the Citi Hoops Classic at Madison Square Garden on December 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 09: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats directs his team during the Citi Hoops Classic at Madison Square Garden on December 9, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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December is an awkward time for recruiting. We are just a month removed from the early signing period ending, in which many recruits made their decisions and signed. We are also very far away from the next signing period, meaning that many prospects are taking this month to focus solely on their season and will focus on recruiting later.

Lets focus on the needles that are moving on the recruiting trail.

Flo Thamba gives some insight

Flo Thamba is 6-foot-10, 230-pound 2018 center who plays in Virginia. Growing up in South Africa, Thamba has been in the United States for around three years. Thamba, though, recently announced a final four list of schools that he is considering — Virginia Tech, Illinois, Nebraska, and Baylor. Thamba has great things to say about his official visits to Virginia Tech and Nebraska. Adam Zagoria states that Thamba is looking to make a decision around mid-January, after he finishes his visits. He is currently (as of Thursday) on an official visit to Illinois, and will be visiting Baylor in the beginning of January.

Kentucky starts planning

Coach Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats staff have began work on the 2019 class. Matthew Hurt, a 5-star 2019 big man, picked up an offer from the Wildcats after an incredible 48 point performance. Hurt is just the eighth player in the class of 2019 to receive an offer from Calipari, and with the 2018 recruiting trail in a slow period, it makes sense for Calipari to start building more 2019 relationships.

Probably the best point guard in the class of 2019, Cole Anthony got a look from Calipari as well. Surprisingly, he did not pick up an offer from the Wildcats, but a talent like Anthony will certainly attract one in time. This could be due to a possible logjam at the point guard spot in Kentucky with Quade Green, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and 2018 commit Immanuel Quickley all lacking obvious one-and-done talent.

On the current side of things, Calipari also watched 5-star 2018 big man Moses Brown, a teammate of Cole Anthony. 247Sport’s Crystal Ball has Moses Brown heavily leaning toward committing to Maryland, and Kentucky does not even have any predictions. Take that with a grain of salt, though. Never count out Coach Calipari and Kentucky when it comes to recruiting.

Next: The week that was in college basketball: 5 biggest takeaways

Xavier lands a graduate transfer

Evan Boudreaux, a 6-foot-8 forward from Dartmouth announced his decision to transfer to Xavier. Boudreaux, despite only having played for two years, is a graduate transfer who will be eligible to play next season. The former Ivy League player averages 17.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while shooting roughly 37 percent from 3-point range for his career thus far, and is a safe bet to be productive for the Musketeers next season. Boudreaux’s versatility will be very much welcomed in a year after losing the prolific Trevon Bluiett.