5-Star 2024 SF Naasir Cunningham Doesn't Include Kentucky in Final Five

The Wildcats are out of the running for another coveted 5-star prospect in the 2024 class.

Kentucky basketball has once again missed out on a 5-star recruit in the 2024 class. 

Naasir Cunningham — a a 6-foot-7, 170-pound small forward out of West Orange, N.J. — has trimmed his list down to five schools, not including Kentucky: 

2024 five-star Naas Cunningham is down to five schools: Duke, Kansas, Memphis, Rutgers, and UCLA.

He’s also scheduled a visit for next week: https://t.co/OVG7K9b4SB pic.twitter.com/OEzBfWc2gA

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) February 9, 2023

Cunningham is considered the No. 4 player in the 2024 class, per the On3 Consensus. The ESPN 100 and 247Sports both rank him as the No. 3 player in the class. He currently resides in Atlanta, playing with the YNG Dreamerz for Overtime Elite alongside 2023 Kentucky signee Rob Dillingham.

On Jan. 18, Cunningham announced that he had received an offer from coach John Calipari and the Wildcats:

Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Kentucky💙🤍 Go Wildcats ! pic.twitter.com/Wk0zjJxVZJ

— Naas Cunningham (@NaasCunningham) January 18, 2023

However, a report from Kentucky Sports Radio's Jack Pilgrim states that a "committable" offer was never actually available. 

Top 2024 target Ian Jackson — a 5-star shooting guard and No. 2 overall player in the class — announced his decision to commit to North Carolina over Kentucky. Ace Bailey, the No. 6 player in the class, also committed elsewhere, choosing Rutgers over UK, as well as a host of other schools still in the running in his recruitment.

Cunningham may join Bailey in Piscataway, N.J., head to Memphis or take the well-traveled path to a Blue Blood. Either way, add him to the list of top prospects in the 2024 class that won't be in Lexington. 

More on Kentucky's loss to Arkansas HERE.

More on 2023 5-star signees DJ Wagner and Aaron Bradshaw HERE.

More on Daimion Collins HERE.

Game notes from the defeat can be found HERE.

Everything John Calipari said after the loss HERE.

Want the latest on national football and basketball recruiting, including Cats targets? Head over to SI All-American for the latest news, blogs, and updates about the nation's best prospects.

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