BB Recruiting

How Did Kentucky’s Two Five-Star Signees Perform in the McDonald’s All-American Game?

Published

4 years ago

March 30, 2022

Kentucky Signee Cason Wallace (Photo by Brian Spurlock | Icon Sportswire)

Kentucky is bringing in two top-10 to next year’s roster, Cason Wallace and Chris Livingston. They both faced off against each other in last night’s annual McDonald’s All-American game, with Livingston’s East team taking down Wallace’s West team, 105-81.

Keep in mind, this was just an exhibition (as you could probably tell by the score), but both showed flashes of their talent and earned praise from the broadcasters.

Kentucky has been missing that alpha male mentality in recent seasons, but Cason Wallace has shown that mentality and hopes to bring it with him to Lexington.

In addition to his mentality, the 6-4 combo guard, has been touted as one of the best defensive playmakers in this class. With his length and intangibles, Wallace has the ability to lock up his opponents.

Check out this short breakdown of Wallace from last summer’s Nike EYBL play.

With Cason Wallace officially committing to the Kentucky Wildcats here’s a look back at some of his Nike EYBL highlights from this past summer. The 6-2 and 18-year-old guard prospect has a mature game, great footwork getting into his jumper and impressive instincts on defense pic.twitter.com/G8M0df9Eat— DraftExpressContent (@DXContent) November 8, 2021

Wallace struggled from the field, shooting 3-10, but recorded seven points, five rebounds, six assists, and a steal, but was given praise from ESPN’s Cory Alexander. Alexander complimented Wallace on the leadership he showed throughout the week leading up to last night’s game, and also praised him for his ability to always make the correct play.

Livington’s night was a bit better, scoring 13 points and adding six rebounds, five assists and blocked a shot. If it weren’t for Livingston going 1-7 from the free-throw line, he would have had a serious bid to be the game’s MVP. With that being said, don’t freak out. Livingston was a 70% free throw shooter at Oak Hill Academy, so there shouldn’t be any strong belief that he is a liability at the line.

The 6-6 wing has a tremendous physical build, explosive athleticism, and some versatility that could allow him to play a point-forward role. Livingston is also a very active player that has a knack for coming up with loose balls, which ESPN’s Paul Biancardi pointed out, saying, ” He just plays hard all the time… He reminds me in many ways of a poor man’s Jimmy Butler.”

I feel sorry for the rims at Rupp Arena next season.

Kentucky commit Chris Livingston is UNREAL 🤯 @_chrisliv24 pic.twitter.com/9jhfV9mRBr— Overtime (@overtime) September 16, 2021

After losing to Saint Peter’s and a lot of roster uncertainty, there is plenty to be frustrated at, but Wildcat fans should be somewhat comforted knowing that these two guys are coming in next season. As Kyle Tucker put it, “both are absolutely grown-ass men.”

Related Topics:Cason Wallace Chris Livingston McDonald's All American

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.