BB Recruiting

2023 Five Star Wing Set to Make Decision Tonight, Kentucky in the Top Two

Published

4 years ago

March 31, 2022

Photo via UK Athletics

Mookie Cook, a 6-foot-7, 200-pound, wing in the class of 2023 has announced that will be making his college decision tonight at 6:00 PM ET, per Joe Tipton.

2023 five-star Mookie Cook will announce his college decision on Thursday during halftime of the 6pm ET game of Geico Nationals on ESPNU. https://t.co/NcK2BE12I8— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) March 31, 2022

Cook is down between Gonzaga, Kentucky, and Oregon, with reports listing Kentucky and Oregon as the top two. However, it looks like the Ducks may be in a better position, receiving the only two crystal ball predictions for Cook back in early March.

As a Portland native, Oregon is the hometown school and that is a big draw. Cook’s coach, Ed Gipson, iterated that in an interview with Kentucky Sports Radio, saying, “If Mookie Cook steps on campus, even when he goes on his visit out there, that’s going to be a real thing. You know what I’m saying? Everybody would go crazy about it.”

On the Kentucky side, Cook played at AZ Compass Prep in Arizona, the same team that the TyTy Washington played for in high school, and is close with the Wildcat guard. Washington and his family were even Cook’s hosts during his official visit to Kentucky back in January, with Cook citing Washington as “big bro”.

When asked about Kentucky’s pitch, Cook explained to KSR, “It just speaks for itself, Kentucky is Kentucky. They want me to come there and have a great legacy.”

Another thing to note is that there have been rumors of reclassification, but Gipson and Cook have said that is not seriously being considered “as of now”.

Cook is a consensus top-five recruit and whichever team is able to land Cook they are getting an elite wing and one that has admittedly modeled his game after two of the best two-way players in the NBA, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.

Back in December of 2020, the consensus five-star recruit Cook was asked to give a scouting report of himself by Stock Risers, and this is what he had to say.

“I play both sides of the ball, offense, and defense. I can facilitate, I’m very versatile at 6-foot-7, I can guard any position 1-4, run the court hard and can shoot the three as well as bring the ball up. All-around game and I’m a team player.”

Who will come out on top? Oregon, the hometown school, or Kentucky with the teammate and family connections? We will find out tonight at halftime (estimated 6 PM ET) of the Geico Nationals on ESPNU.

Related Topics:Mookie Cook TyTy Washington

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.