Here’s where Kentucky basketball commits, targets landed in new recruiting rankings

On Monday, 247Sports posted its new basketball recruiting rankings for the 2023 class.

On Tuesday, Rivals.com followed suit.

Both updated rankings featured the top 150 players in the class of 2023, which includes a plethora of players connected to the Kentucky men’s basketball program.

UK has three commits in the 2023 class — guards Robert Dillingham and Reed Sheppard and small forward Justin Edwards — and the Cats are still in pursuit of other top players, including big man Aaron Bradshaw and standout combo guard DJ Wagner.

Here’s a look at where players with Kentucky ties landed in the updated 247Sports and Rivals rankings.

Kentucky commits in the 2023 class

Of the three players committed to Kentucky in the 2023 class, small forward Justin Edwards, out of Philadelphia, was the highest-ranked future Wildcat. Edwards, who committed to UK in late July, is No. 2 in the new Rivals150 rankings and No. 3 in the new 247Sports rankings.

A reason for the jump by Edwards? His impressive athleticism that was on display during several showcase events this summer, including the Nike EYBL Peach Jam event in July and the Under Armour Next Elite 24 event in Chicago.

Next on the rankings among UK commits is point guard Robert Dillingham, who checked in at No. 6 in the Rivals rankings and No. 13 in the 247Sports rankings.

Both new rankings represented a drop for Dillingham from previous rankings. Dillingham committed to Kentucky in late June.

Lastly, in-state shooting guard Reed Sheppard came in at No. 22 in the updated Rivals rankings and No. 44 in the new 247Sports rankings. Sheppard, the son of two former UK basketball players, dropped more than 20 spots in the new 247Sports rankings.

He committed to Kentucky last November, and he recently made headlines for his attempts to help organize a charity basketball game in Lexington to help Eastern Kentucky flood relief efforts.

Uncommitted Kentucky recruits in 2023 class

Among players who have Kentucky offers in the class of 2023 and who aren’t committed to a school or professional pathway, DJ Wagner was ranked the highest, checking in at No. 3 in the Rivals150 and dropping from No. 1 to No. 2 in the 247Sports rankings.

Wagner is a lightning-rod prospect who has been the center of a recruiting firestorm between Louisville and Kentucky. A legit three-level scorer, Wagner displayed the best of what he can be as a basketball player during May’s Nike EYBL stop in Louisville.

Center Aaron Bradshaw ⁠— who plays on the same EYBL team as Wagner — made a slight jump in the updated Rivals150 rankings, moving from No. 10 to No. 8. In the 247Sports rankings, Bradshaw rose from No. 11 to No. 4.

Bradshaw is a top Kentucky target who visited Lexington on June 10, but he opted to not commit to a college this summer. He visited Louisville on June 12.

Small forward Ron Holland is No. 12 in both of the new rankings.

Small forward Andrej Stojakovic is No. 32 in Rivals’ rankings (a slight drop) and No. 17, according to 247Sports (a slight rise).

Lastly, power forward J.J. Taylor is No. 45 in the new Rivals rankings and No. 117 in the new 247Sports rankings. Taylor dropped nearly 70 spots on 247Sports’ list.

Committed Kentucky targets in 2023 class

Among players who have Kentucky offers in the class of 2023 but are now committed to another school or a professional pathway, small forward Mackenzie Mgbako is the top-ranked prospect. A Duke commit, Mgbako is No. 5 in both the new Rivals and 247Sports rankings.

Small forward Matas Buzelis, who chose to join the G League Ignite earlier this summer, checked in at No. 7 in both rankings.

A pair of former UK targets who have committed to Oregon are high up the updated rankings. Marquis “Mookie” Cook is No. 25 in the Rivals rankings and No. 10 in the 247Sports rankings. Kwame “KJ” Evans Jr. is No. 16 in the Rivals rankings and No. 11 in the 247Sports rankings.

Louisville, in-state player rankings

Louisville’s lone 2023 class basketball commitment is Kaleb Glenn, who checked in at No. 69 in both the rankings.

Shooting guard George Washington III, formerly of Christian Academy-Louisville, is No. 77 in the Rivals rankings and No. 106 in the 247Sports rankings.