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Kentucky Staff Attends Justin Edwards-Reed Sheppard Battle, Watching Future Prospects

Published

4 years ago

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Tristan Pharis/KY Insider

On Sunday, Freedom Hall was host to the scholastic Play-by-Play Classic, a 23-year-old event where the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and several other NBA players and Kentucky Wildcats have played in.

This year’s edition was headlined by Kentucky commits Justin Edwards and Reed Sheppard who went head-to-head in the primetime game, but also included a few other players that the Wildcats have shown interest in for future classes. Both John Calipari and Orlando Antigua were in attendance to watch.

Let’s take a closer look at the battle between the two Kentucky Wildcats and two other Kentucky targets performed.

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Justin Edwards vs. Reed Sheppard

The primetime event of the night was a matchup between two future Kentucky Wildcats, Justin Edwards and Imhotep against Reed Sheppard and North Laurel, and it lived up to the hype.

From start to finish the game was close, with each team answering the call when they needed. However, Edwards and Imhotep were able to make a late push to separate themselves to a 59-54 victory.

Both future Wildcats showcased their versatility. Edwards finished with a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double where he showed that he can score from inside and out. As for Sheppard, he was a stat sheet stuffer, flirting with a triple-double of 14 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds.

Their performances earned each of them the respective MVP honors of their team. Following the game, both had high praise for one another and mentioned that they would much rather play with each other, rather than against each other.

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Other Targets/Expressed Interest

Jasper Johnson (Woodford Co., Versailles, KY)

Ranked as the No. 1 sophomore in Kentucky, and a top-40 prospect in the country overall, Jasper Johnson is receiving interest from top schools around the country such as Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, and Tennessee.

Standing 6-foot-2, 165 pounds, Johnson is still growing into his frame, but possesses great length which allows him to be active in the passing lanes. On the offensive side, he possesses a smooth jump shot and some surprising explosiveness.

Coming off a 41-point performance on Saturday, Johnson put his scoring ability on display again on Sunday. The combo guard had 20 points en route to a 68-50 Woodford County victory.

Jasper grew up a Kentucky fan as his father, Dennis Johnson, was an All-SEC defensive end for the Kentucky football team. However, he would like to hear more from the Wildcats, which will likely happen this spring if he sustains his high level of play.

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Jayden Johnson (Trinity HS, Louisville, KY)

Just a freshman, Jayden Johnson is considered to be the best freshman prospect in Kentucky and a top-25 player in the 2026 recruiting class. Already standing 6-foot-5 and 175 pounds, Johnson has good size and length, and will almost certainly grow into his frame as he ages.

As for his game, he plays beyond his years, with one college coach saying, “he plays like a junior or senior”. This is a big reason why he has already drawn so much interest from high-major Division-I programs, including Kentucky. While the Wildcats have not offered Johnson, he already holds offers from Cincinnati, Missouri, and West Virginia.

On Sunday, Johnson did not have his best game offensively as he was a clear emphasis for Huntington Prep on defense. With that said, he still hit the two free throws to seal the game and showed his aforementioned maturity: being a leader and talking on defense, and displaying the ability to find open teammates.

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BB Recruiting

Kentucky Is in Daily Contact with Five-Star Big Man Darius Wabbington, “Kentucky’s legacy is no joke”

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3 weeks ago

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July 2, 2026

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Five-star big man Darius Wabbington lists Kentucky among six finalists, praising Mark Pope's coaching, Kentucky's program prestige, and Mo Williams' recruiting energy.
Team USA

As the high school basketball circuits conclude later this month, college basketball coaches are starting to key in on their primary targets for the 2027 class. For Kentucky, one such player is five-star big man Darius Wabbington.

Kentucky assistants Cody Fueger and Mo Williams have been in contact with Wabbington on a daily basis, trying to convince him that Kentucky is the place for him. When asked about Williams, the newest coach on the UK staff, “Great energy,” Wabbington exclaimed. “Another extremely smart coach who knows what it takes to get to the next level.”

Since joining the staff in April, Williams has really made a difference for the Wildcats on the recruiting trail, with multiple prospects having positive things to say about him and his recruiting approach.

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As for what Wabbington is looking for in his future school, he is prioritizing fit and his relationship with the coaching staff, and he has a positive view of Mark Pope and the prestige of Kentucky basketball.

“I think Mark Pope is one of the best coaches in the country, and Kentucky’s legacy is no joke. I’d love to be a part of both”

The two sides are working on setting up a visit, as Kentucky was announced as one of six finalists earlier this week, along with Arizona, Texas, Louisville, Indiana, and North Carolina.

In June, Mark Pope got a commitment from top-ten prospect, Ryan Hampton, who Wabbington calls “my guy,” and could begin recruiting him to join him in Lexington.

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Kentucky Basketball Receives Prediction to Land International Star Nikola Kusturica

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1 month ago

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June 17, 2026

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

Published

2 months ago

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June 7, 2026

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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. 

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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. 

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