BB Recruiting

2022 Nike EYBL Louisville Session Interview: Ron Holland

Published

4 years ago

June 2, 2022

Tristan Pharis

Photo By The Circuit

Ron Holland has created a reputation for himself as one of the most energetic and high-motor players in the country.

Rated as a top-10 prospect, Holland has the ability to impact the game from nearly all areas and he takes pride in that. When describing his own game this weekend at EYBL’s latest session in Louisville, Holland said, “I feel like I’m a position-less player. I can get the job done. I’m a basketball player. I can run the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. I can guard the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. I bring energy to the table. I do the little things that nobody else likes to do.”

Players like this are a coach’s dream, and it is easy to see why the Kentucky coaching staff has recently ramped up their interest in Holland. As a result, reports are that Kentucky has risen to the top of his final eight, which also consists of Arkansas, Auburn, Houston, Memphis, Texas, UCLA, and the G-League.

This weekend, I got the chance to catch up with Holland to ask him some details about his game and recruitment. Let’s see what he had to say.

I’ve watched you become an all-around better player and a significantly better jump shooter. What areas of your game do you still want to improve?

I feel like I’m a high-level dude, a high-level energy guy, so I feel like there’s always something I can work on. Right now, I’ve really been focusing on my ball-handling and consistency in my shot. I feel like me working on that going into college, I feel like that will be helpful to help me dominate as a freshman.

What are you most looking forward to in your Kentucky visit?

Them showing me how they do things over there. They got a whole lot of dudes in the league right now and they have a resume of putting dudes in the league. I really want to know how they do that.

How has Jai Lucas’s departure affected your recruitment with Kentucky?

I’ve been talking to Coach Chin a whole lot. He has been talking to me about basketball, but not just basketball. He talks to me about how I am doing, how my family is doing, what I’m in the gym working on, and stuff like that.

John Calipari loves position-less and high-motor players like yourself. How do you see yourself fitting in the program?

I have a resume of winning, so that is nothing new to me if I end up there. I know they get up and down and they like their dudes like that. If that’s what it takes to win, that’s what it takes.

Reports are that you are hoping to make a decision by the end of the summer. Does that still hold true?

I know I have said that before, but I am not sure when I am going to make my decision.

Holland would be a great all-around piece to add to Kentucky’s 2023 class. Check out some of his 2021-22 season highlights to familiarize yourself with one of Kentucky’s biggest targets.

BB Recruiting

Kentucky Basketball Receives Prediction to Land International Star Nikola Kusturica

Published

2 days ago

June 17, 2026

Tristan Pharis

Kentucky basketball has taken over as the favorite for Serbian star Nikola Kusturica, a projected lottery pick in 2028, with a prediction backing the Wildcats.

Just when many believed Kentucky’s roster was complete in terms of contributing players, Mark Pope might have an ace up his sleeve.

Last week, it was reported that Kentucky was among the frontrunners to land 6-foot-8 Serbian wing Nikola Kusturica. At the time, Gonzaga was thought to be the team to beat, having a more defined role to offer, compared to Kentucky, who has one remaining roster spot and a good amount of depth in wing positions.

Since then, things have shifted in a big way.

Gonzaga received a commitment from 18-year-old French guard Juwan Ekanga-Ehawa on Sunday. By Tuesday night, the Wildcats received a Crystal Ball prediction from 247Sports’ Travis Branham to land Kusturica, with a confidence level of 7 out of 10.

The 6-foot-8 wing currently plays for FC Barcelona in Spain’s Liga ACB and EuroLeague system. He just turned 17 years old and is reportedly seeking a two-year college opportunity before becoming draft-eligible in 2028, where he is already being projected as a lottery pick.

The on-court résumé speaks for itself. In the 2025 FIBA U16 EuroBasket, he averaged 20 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game while leading Serbia to a championship and was named tournament MVP. He also helped Barcelona capture the Adidas NextGen Finals championship last month, posting 20 points and 10 rebounds in the title game against Real Madrid.

Next, Kusturica will represent Serbia in the FIBA U17 World Cup from June 27 to July 5, and a college decision could come before then.

Mark Pope is carrying a lot of momentum in recent weeks after retaining Malachi Moreno and adding Milan Momcilovic to this season’s roster, as well as landing the first top 10 prospect of his career in Ryan Hampton. If he can close on Kusturica, that would cap off the roster in a significant way and continue to change the narrative around his recruiting ability.

BB Recruiting

Kentucky Earns Commitment From No. 6 Prospect in 2027 Class Ryan Hampton

Published

2 weeks ago

June 7, 2026

Kai McClelland

Photo via UK Athletics

How about a Sunday boom in the recruiting world for you BBN?

Ryan Hampton, the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2027 class, has officially committed to the University of Kentucky! This is Mark Pope’s first top-10 prospect that he’s earned a commitment from.

Hailing from Rockwall, Texas, Hampton recently took an official visit to campus with his family, which began on Friday, June 5 and spilled into Sunday, June 7, his commitment day.

The five-star wing averaged 21.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during the most recent EYBL Circuit, playing for LivOn and Nightrydas.

Hampton was the first recruit in the 2027 to officially visit with the Wildcats, and now he’s the first to call their shot early and choose the blue and white.

Pope has signed Milan Momcilovic, the No. 2 ranked transfer, and Hampton, his first top-10 high school prospect just in the past week.

It’s been a crazy week for recruiting, with the narrative around Pope’s ability slowing fading as the top guys continue to be attracted to the Kentucky brand.

BB Recruiting

Fast Riser Big Man Yann Kamagate Receives Scholarship Offer From Kentucky

Published

1 month ago

May 18, 2026

Tristan Pharis

Fresh off the first live recruiting period of the offseason, Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats have extended their first scholarship offer of the 2028 class.

Yann Kamagate, a prospect who went from unranked to the top five in 247Sports’ most recent recruiting rankings, received an offer from the Wildcats, he confirmed to KY Insider on Monday.

“Not everyone gets the chance to be seen by greatness,” Kamagate told KY Insider. “I’m grateful for the offer from Kentucky.”

Kentucky assistant coach Mikhail McLean, who works with the Wildcats’ big men and their development, watched Kamagate first-hand this past weekend in the Adidas 3SSB circuit in Mishawaka, Indiana.

The 7-foot big man was the talk of the weekend, displaying a high motor, extreme athleticism — a reported 7-9 winspam — and great feel for the game. On the circuit, he is averaging 13.9 points, a circuit-leading 10.4 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game.

Originally from the West African country of Burkina Faso, Kamagate moved to the United States just a year ago and has only been playing basketball for three years. Now, he is challenging for the top spot in the 2028 class.

He is currently represented by former NBA player and UCLA star Luc Mbah a Moute. Which is relevant as he is currently playing for the California Adidas team, Compton Magic, and attends La Cañada Flintridge (Calif.) St. Francis.

The offer is the latest signal that Mark Pope’s staff is casting a wide and aggressive net this offseason, and targeting players whose trajectories are trending sharply upward. Kamagate fits that profile exactly.