Recruiting: Calipari, Kentucky Checks in on Boogie Fland, Flory Bidunga, Alier Maluk

Recruiting: Calipari, Kentucky Checks in on Boogie Fland, Flory Bidunga, Alier Maluk

Unfortunately for Kentucky, the back half of the month of March was not spent playing more NCAA Tournament basketball. The loss to Kansas State in the Round of 32 ended an overall disappointing 2022-23 season that witnessed many ups and many, many downs. 

The only thing left for head coach John Calipari and his staff to do? Hop back on the recruiting trail. 

That's exactly what the Hall of Fame skipper and his assistants have been doing, as multiple high profile recruits in the Class of 2024 and 2025 have seen Kentucky blue courtside. 

Perhaps the most important target is 2024 5-star point guard Boogie Fland. The 6-foot-3, 175-pounder is the No. 7 player and No. 1 PG in the class, per the On3 Industry Rankings. Hailing from Harlem, N.Y., Fland holds a bevy of offers from plenty of notable programs. Kentucky offered back in July and have begun to make a harder push to try and land the Archbishop Stepinac product's commitment. 

New St. John's head coach Rick Pitino has entered the fray in the recruitment and will have a hometown advantage moving forward. Fland has taken unofficial visits to St. John's, Seton Hall and UConn, with his only OV coming back in October with North Carolina, the current leader in the clubhouse. 

Another top-10 player in the '24 Class that saw Calipari stop by is 5-star center Flory Bidunga. Kentucky offered the No. 3 player in the class back in October, though it doesn't appear to have stock in the recruiting battle, as Cincinnati has been the favored landing spot for the Kokomo High School standout for some time. 

Bidunga hails from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the same country as Kentucky superstar Oscar Tshiebwe. Standing 6-foot-9, 210 pounds, he is the No. 1 center in the class, per all four major recruiting services. 

Moving into the 2025 class, associate coach Orlando Antigua was in attendance to watch 4-star power forward Alier Maluk earlier this week. Kentucky is yet to make an offer, but other SEC compatriots Texas A&M, Auburn and LSU have done so. Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Ohio State are some of the early frontrunners in the recruitment. Maluk plays for Imani Christian Academy in Pittsburgh and is considered a 5-star by Rivals. 

Kentucky has missed on some top targets as of late, most notably 5-star Ian Jackson, Naasir Cunningham, Tahaad Pettiford and Ace Bailey. There are no current commits in either the 2024 or 2025 class. 

Inside Kentucky basketball's somber locker room after NCAA Tourney defeat HERE.

More on the potential roster overhaul in Lexington HERE.

More on the loss to Kansas State 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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