Kentucky lands commitment from 3-star WR Ardell Banks

After losing five wide receivers this offseason to the transfer portal, Kentucky is adding a pass-catcher out of high school in the class of 2023 in three-star Ardell Banks.

Banks, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound receiver out of Massillon, Ohio, committed to Kentucky over Arizona State, Cincinnati, Wisconsin and Pittsburgh on Monday.

“After evaluating these 5 schools it comes down to The University of Kentucky,” Banks announced.

It came down to these 5 schools Pitt ,Cincinnati,Arizona state , Wisconsin and Syracuse after evaluating these 5 schools it comes down to The University of Kentucky💙🤍🫡 @vincemarrow @UKCoachStoops #BBN let’s go !!! pic.twitter.com/aMYUktegfK

— Ardell Banks (@50kdell) December 5, 2022

Kentucky associate head coach Vince Marrow secured the commitment for the program during an in-home visit with the three-star receiver on Monday.

Banks, a standout at Washington High School in Massillon, earned a scholarship offer from the Wildcats in early November and quickly scheduled an official visit to Lexington for the team’s game vs. Vanderbilt. He told KSR after the trip that “(Kentucky is) still at the top, it was a good visit.“

Drawing early comparisons to Kentucky freshman standout Dane Key, the rangy pass-catcher is rated as the No. 945 prospect overall, No. 139 wide receiver and No. 28 player out of Ohio, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Banks becomes Kentucky’s 14th commitment in the class of 2023 overall, joining fellow wide receivers Shamar Porter and Anthony Brown in Lexington. He was previously committed to Toledo before backing out of his pledge in September.

Now, he’s a Wildcat.