Two Kentucky targets have cancelled visits this week. One of those being class of 2025 four-star center Eric Reibe was originally set to visit Lexington on September 13th, but has cancelled and is not expected to reschedule, per sources.

This news comes just a few weeks after the commitment of four-star big man Malachi Moreno, which played a significant impact on Reibe’s decision to cancel. With the expectation that Brandon Garrison will return for a junior season, there are already two spots filled in the Kentucky frontcourt next season.

Reibe currently plays in Maryland and is now zeroing in on other options. His list includes the likes of Kansas, Creighton, UConn, Indiana, and Oregon as some notable schools he is considering.

2026 Finnish target Miika Muurinen has also cancelled his visit to Kentucky this week, which was scheduled for September 14th. However, Murrinen, who is also a 2025 reclass candidate, has had some “great” conversations with Mark Pope and the staff and is expected to reschedule the visit. On Friday, Pope even was in attendance for his Pro Day with Arizona Compass Prep.

An athletic 6-9 wing, who can dribble, pass, and shoot, Murrinen has no shortage of suitors with the likes of Alabama, Duke, and North Carolina also in pursuit. He is visiting Utah this weekend and is set to visit Duke later this month.

With the commitments of Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno to kickoff the 2025 class, the staff will shift focus to wing and forward targets such as Tonde Yessoufou, Caleb Wilson, Chris Cenac Jr, Niko Bundalo, and Nate Ament. Plus other guard targets such as Mikel Brown Jr, Braylon Mullins, and Acaden Lewis.

“BOOM!” as Cody Fueger would say, Kentucky has received their second commitment of the 2025 class from five-star Jasper Johnson, who announced his commitment at his former high school in Woodford County on Thursday.

A 6-foot-4 guard and the No. 10 overall recruit in the 2025 class, Johnson is one of the highest-ranked recruits to come from Kentucky in years. While he is from the state and has numerous family ties to the university, it was far from a ‘gimme’ recruitment for the Cats.

Johnson’s father Dennis played football for Kentucky as an All-SEC defensive end for the Wildcats, as did his uncle Derrick as a defensive tackle. His late grandfather, Alvis Johnson, worked at UK as assistant athletics director. All that to say he grew up a North Carolina fan.

The Tar Heels stayed a threat til the end, along with Alabama. Over the last few weeks, there were varying reports that each school was in the lead. However, the idea of playing at home (along with some additional NIL offers) came out on top in the end.

Johnson joins Malachi Moreno in Kentucky’s 2025 class, and becomes Mark Pope’s highest-ranked commitment of his coaching career. While still early, the duo’s commitments push Kentucky’s 2025 class ranking up to third, per 247Sports.

Scouting Report

A left-handed combo guard with a 6-4, 175-pound frame, Jasper Johnson is a score-first player. With the ability to score from all three levels, Johnson is crafty around the rim and has deep range. With a lot of confidence, he is not afraid to shoot it, sometimes too much, shooting less than 40 percent during Peach Jam this summer. That leads to his shot selection, which needs improvement, and the Kentucky staff believes they can help that by using screens, hand-offs, and cuts, which Johnson often used in EYBL and fits Pope’s offense.

Johnson can also run point and is a good passer, but will need to learn how to impact games when he is off the ball. Defensively, he has good length, with a recorded 6’9 wingspan he can interrupt passing lanes. However, he struggles with more physical guards due to his lean frame.

Also published on A Sea of Blue.

There it is! Mark Pope has his first top 25 high school prospect, as Malachi Moreno has committed to Kentucky over Indiana, Ohio State, North Carolina, and others. The in-state product announced his decision at Great Crossing High School in Georgetown (KY) on Friday.

While Kentucky was Moreno’s dream school, they were not always in the lead in his recruitment. In fact, for a large part of the recruitment, Indiana was considered the leader.

However, Moreno, a top three center in the 2025 class and one of the highest-rated centers from Kentucky in years, quickly became a priority for Pope when he took the Kentucky head coaching job back in April. From that point, the current staff communicated with Moreno weekly and brought him in for multiple unofficial visits to campus and practice, ultimately leading to his commitment.

If you recall from Pope’s introductory press conference, Pope spoke on continuing to recruit in-state talent. “These young men that grow up in Kentucky, they bring a spirit to the team that cannot be fabricated or replaced. And it helps us to win, and we will continue to recruit them,” he said.

He has followed through on that, bringing in two talented in-state freshmen this season, and now has another coming next season.

What was Moreno ultimately looking for in a school?

“I’m going to be looking for a place where I can grow my faith,” he told On3 this summer. “Grow as a player, grow as a person, and be in a family-type environment,” and he believes he has found that in Kentucky.

With a 7-foot, 230-pound frame, Moreno is considered a true center. While he will need to become a more consistent shooter, he is versatile and has a good feel for the game. He runs the floor well and understands offensive spacing, scoring in transition and off cuts to the basket, and he also has the strength and footwork to score in the post. What Mark Pope loves about him most is his ability to facilitate the offense from the high post, using handoffs and finding teammates cutting to the basket. Defensively, he is a little flat-footed to defend on the perimeter, but again, will use his physicality in the post.

Moreno becomes Kentucky’s first commit of the 2025 class as the staff looks to build upon the class, with multiple targets making their decision this fall. One of those targets, Jasper Johnson will make his decision at the end of the month, with it coming down to Alabama and Kentucky. Another target, Braylon Mullins, one of the best shooters in the country, is an AAU teammate of Moreno’s.

Also published on A Sea of Blue.