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One of Kentucky’s top basketball recruiting targets has cut his list of colleges

Most of the top basketball recruits in the 2023 class are likely still several months away from making their college decisions, but some of those high school juniors are starting to narrow their options.

Five-star wing Mookie Cook, a major Kentucky target, was the latest 2023 prospect to narrow his college list, releasing a group of nine finalists Tuesday afternoon. The 6-foot-7 recruit is now down to Kentucky, Arizona, Gonzaga, Kansas, Memphis, Michigan, Oregon, Texas Tech and UCLA.

Cook is originally from Portland, Ore., though he has transferred to Arizona Compass Prep — the alma mater of UK freshman TyTy Washington — for his junior season of high school.

Kentucky and Oregon are viewed as the possible favorites for Cook’s commitment. He took the first official visit of his recruitment to Lexington in October, and he has spoken highly of that trip in the months since. He’s scheduled to take an official visit to Oregon in February.

Professional opportunities straight out of high school will also be a possibility for Cook, who has also been the subject of reclassification talk in recent weeks. As of now, he is expected to stay in the 2023 class.

Cook is the No. 4 overall recruit in the 2023 class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, though he could be moving up in those rankings.

247Sports analyst Travis Branham wrote last month that Cook made a case for consideration for the No. 1 overall ranking with his showing at the Hoophall West event, and he continued to solidify his status as one of 2023’s very best recruits at this past weekend’s Hoophall Classic.

The current No. 1 player in the 2023 rankings is combo guard DJ Wagner, another major Kentucky recruiting target who took an official visit to Lexington in October.