Kentucky Wildcats

TRENDING: Pair of future Kentucky Wildcats named to Iverson Classic

Published

5 months ago

February 9, 2024

Two promising future Wildcats have earned spots in the prestigious Iverson Classic, as announced on Wednesday.

Somto Cyril, a signee for Kentucky, and Billy Richmond, committed to UK, have both been selected to join the 28-man roster for the upcoming eighth annual event. Scheduled to take place from May 2-4 in Hampton, Virginia, the Iverson Classic is a highly anticipated showcase of top high school basketball talent.

Last year, several current Kentucky players, including Aaron Bradshaw, Rob Dillingham, Justin Edwards, and DJ Wagner, participated in the event, with Edwards and Wagner earning Co-MVP honors. Wagner’s standout performance also earned him the title of Iverson Classic National Player of the Year in 2023. Additionally, former Wildcat and NBA Draft pick Cason Wallace was recognized with the same award in 2022. Notably, former Kentucky guard TyTy Washington showcased his skills by winning the event’s 3-Point Contest in 2021.

Somto Cyril, standing at 6 feet 10 inches and weighing 240 pounds, has been making waves in the basketball world while playing for Overtime Elite this season. His impressive performance led to a significant rise in the 247Sports rankings for 2024, climbing 24 spots to reach No. 44 overall. Cyril’s inclusion in the Iverson Classic roster further underscores his talent and potential impact on the court for Kentucky.

“His sheer strength, motor and athleticism are off the charts, making him an imposing rebounder and rim protector,” 247Sports national recruiting analyst Travis Branham said. “For his size — 6-foot-10, 250-pounds — there isn’t a more powerful or explosive player in the senior class.”

Cyril, who has been limited by injury this season, was named OTE Defensive Player of the Year last season.

“Somto is a great kid with an unbelievable story,” Kentucky head coach John Calipari said. “He fell in love with basketball while watching YouTube and Anthony Davis highlights. He made it his goal to get to Kentucky and he achieved that goal by being an incredible athlete, shot-blocker and rebounder with a great personality. We’re happy to have him joining us next year.”

Billy Richmond, a highly touted 5-star wing hailing from Camden, New Jersey, has solidified his status as a top prospect, moving up four spots to No. 20 overall in the 247Sports national rankings. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches and weighing 200 pounds, Richmond’s recent stellar performance at the prestigious HoopHall Classic showcased his talent and versatility on the court.

In a standout display, Richmond led Camden High School to a 67-62 victory over North Mecklenburg High School from North Carolina, scoring a game-high 26 points. Notably, he connected on 4 of 5 three-pointers while also making a significant defensive impact by limiting 5-star Duke signee Isaiah Evans to 21 points on 7 of 22 shooting from the field. Additionally, Richmond achieved a personal milestone by surpassing the 1,000 career points mark during the game.

Richmond committed to join the Kentucky Wildcats on December 21, opting for Kentucky over offers from other top programs such as Alabama, LSU, and Memphis. His addition bolsters Kentucky’s 2024 recruiting class, which currently ranks No. 2 nationally according to the 247Sports Composite Team Recruiting Rankings, trailing only Duke. Alongside Richmond, the Wildcats’ recruiting haul includes 5-star center Jayden Quaintance from Raleigh, North Carolina, 5-star combo guard Boogie Fland from White Plains, New York, and 4-star combo guard Travis Perry from Eddyville, Kentucky.

Kentucky signees in the Iverson Classic:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2017), Quade Green (2017), Jarred Vanderbilt (2017) PJ Washington (2017), Tyler Herro (2018), Immanuel Quickley (2018), Kahlil Whitney (2019), Brandon Boston Jr. (2020), Terrence Clarke (2020), Lance Ware (2020), Daimion Collins (2021), Bryce Hopkins (2021), TyTy Washington (2021), Chris Livingston (2022), Cason Wallace (2022), Aaron Bradshaw (2023), Robert Dillingham (2023), Justin Edwards (2023), DJ Wagner (2023), Somto Cyril (2024), Billy Richmond (2024)