Kentucky Among Heap of Schools Reaching Out to Tennessee Transfer Julian Phillips

With June rapidly approaching and Kentucky basketball expected to take part in a tournament in July, head coach John Calipari is desperately in need of depth via the transfer portal.

You know by now that the Cats' top two targets thus far — Hunter Dickinson and Keshad Johnson — opted for other programs, leaving UK with a bleak outlook and not as many viable options left to choose from.

The withdrawal deadline for the NBA draft is May 31, meaning we'll soon see players opt to either head back to school, hit the portal or leave their name in the pro ranks. Tennessee forward Julian Phillips is among that list.

A former 5-star recruit out of Blythewood, S.C., Phillips arrived to Knoxville as a freshman last season and proceeded to pour in 8.3 points a game to go along with 4.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists. He played in 32 games, made 25 starts and shot 41.1 percent from the floor.

He then opted to test the draft waters, leaving a move away from the Volunteers as an option if he doesn't go pro. The former McDonald's All-American has obviously drawn plenty of interest as a result.

On Thursday, ESPN's Jeff Borzello reported a laundry list of programs that Phillips has reportedly heard from, including UK, as well as the likes of Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Indiana, Kansas, Memphis, Michigan, Texas, Villanova and others:

Tennessee transfer Julian Phillips has heard from the following schools, source told ESPN: pic.twitter.com/VDLse99OKI
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) May 25, 2023

Rivals' Rob Cassidy followed Borzello's report by saying that "Memphis, Cincinnati, Texas, Arizona, Auburn, (Kansas State) and Kentucky are among the schools on this massive list worth monitoring closely."

I'm told Memphis, Cincinnati, Texas, Arizona, Auburn, K-State and Kentucky are among the schools on this massive list worth monitoring closely.

Things obviously will change because recruiting, but early schools to watch are early schools to watch. https://t.co/7nK9iUJIbG
— Rob Cassidy (@Cassidy_Rob) May 25, 2023

Phillips had 13 games with 10 or more points last season, including a pair of double-doubles. He managed 25 points and eight boards in a win over USC early in the season on Nov. 24.

The 6-foot-8, 200-pounder is added to a list of talent that has reportedly received interest from Kentucky, which now also includes Rutgers guard Cam Spencer, St. John's forward David Jones and Phillips' UT teammate Olivier Nkhamoua.

Should Phillips opt to return to school, expect Kentucky to try and push hard for a move to Lexington.

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