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Kentucky Has Contacted 7-Foot-5 Western Kentucky Transfer, Jamarion Sharp

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3 years ago

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© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

The Kentucky basketball staff still awaits important decisions from players such as Chris Livingston, Ugonna Onyenso, Antonio Reeves, and Oscar Tshiebwe, thus next season’s roster is far from finalized. However, a part of the fanbase is losing patience as they are wary that the staff may be waiting too long, which could lead to holes in the roster.

With that being said, the transfer portal stops or waits for no one, including Kentucky. While Calipari and Co have not taken the Arkansas approach – who have reached out to 84+ transfers – the Wildcats have reached out to a select few, most recently, Jamarion Sharp of Western Kentucky.

The 7-foot-5 center has proved himself as one of the best rim protectors in the country, leading the nation in each of his first two seasons. For his career, Sharp has averaged 7.8 points. 7.6 rebounds, and 4.4 blocks, which ranks 10th in NCAA history.

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While the extent of Kentucky’s interest is not yet known, they join a long list of teams that have shown interest in Sharp which includes Gonzaga, Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, and Memphis among others.

Sharpe and Kentucky are familiar with one another, as he actually faced off against Oscar Tshiebwe and the Wildcats as a freshman. In twenty-five minutes, he recorded 8 points, 7 blocks, and 6 rebounds before being ruled out for the rest of the game with an ankle injury.

While Sharp’s rim protection is elite, there are questions about what impact he can bring to the Power Five level in terms of other areas in his game, going up against bigger and more physical competition.

Kentucky’s interest in Sharp also tells a bit about the situation with Ugonna Onyenso. As KY Insider has previously reported, a return is back on the table but all options will be explored by those around him.

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Hopefully, the final decision for Onyenso is Kentucky, which is what he would prefer. However, his situation is unique as an international player. If that doesn’t come to fruition, it is promising to see the Wildcats showing some interest in other rim protectors.

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BB Recruiting

Kentucky Basketball Receives Prediction to Land International Star Nikola Kusturica

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2 days 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

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2 weeks 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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Fast Riser Big Man Yann Kamagate Receives Scholarship Offer From Kentucky

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1 month ago

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May 18, 2026

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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