Connect with us

BB Recruiting

Kentucky Hosts No. 1 2024 Tre Johnson for Official Visit, Makes an Impression

Published

on

UK Athletics

At the end of January, the Kentucky Wildcats hosted the Kansas Jayhawks for one of the biggest matchups of the college basketball season. Kentucky took full advantage of the anticipation of that weekend, as they played host to the top prospect in the 2024 class, Tre Johnson.

In addition to Johnson, future Wildcats Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard were in attendance as well as 2025 recruits, Jasper Johnson and R.J. Greer. However, Johnson was undeniably the recruit of the highest priority.

Tre is the consensus No. 1 ranked prospect in the 2024 class. He is a 6-foot-5 versatile wing player that possesses the skills that the Kentucky staff was looking for previously in Ian Jackson.

Advertisement

The Johnson family arrived in Lexington Thursday night and began the official visit Friday morning, carrying into the game. The visit consisted of touring the campus, facilities, and spending time with the team to see how they prepared going into the game against Kansas. It should also be noted, that UK assistant K.T. Turner helped lead the tour as he is a “family friend” of the Johnson family.

In an interview with Cats Illustrated, Tre’s father, Richard Johnson, recapped the visit.

In the interview, Tre’s father was asked about what he and Tre were looking for at the schools they were visiting. “The coaching, the relationships, freedom, style of play, and then the crowd, player development, who is working the guys out in practice, the strength and conditioning, the nutritionist. Most of the colleges are providing those.”

Johnson confirmed that Kentucky is a place that meets these needs, “they’ve got top-of-the-line stuff. I don’t know the name of all of the machines, but they’ve got equipment that tells different areas of your body that’s weak, and you need to work more on.”

Advertisement

When asked about Coach Cal, his coaching style, and the team’s preparation for the game, Johnson commented, “Those coaches did their homework in the scouting reports, and breaking down film. I began learning some of the plays just watching them go over and rep them so many times. So the preparation was very good, because that’s what they’re going to do in the NBA and at the next level.”

Johnson also appreciated the atmosphere that Big Blue Nation brought not just to Rupp Arena, but to the city of Lexington. “The crowd was loud and very supportive. The game was at eight o’clock at night, and that morning they were already starting to line up. The crowds were coming. It was cold outside, and people were still lined up outside with their Kentucky apparel on ready for the game.”

Kentucky did end up losing Kansas, in part thanks to a poor shooting night from the three-point line. Richard took note that that is an area where Tre could contribute,“The shooting just wasn’t there for Kentucky that night. You could definitely see some areas where I feel Tre could have contributed, and will be able to play and to be able to shine in those moments.”

In conclusion, Johnson states that they enjoyed their experience at Kentucky. They were impressed by the campus and facilities, and had their questions answered. Including information about NIL opportunities.

Advertisement

“They talk about the opportunities to get NIL, and the different ways they help their players. Of course, your top players will get NIL. Most programs have NIL deals for everybody. Everybody is going to be able to get something. That’s big right now with college, so of course that’s something everybody is talking about, the NIL that they have.”

Tre Johnson has taken three official visits so far – Kentucky, Texas, and Baylor – and has two visits remaining – Kansas and Arkansas. The G-League and Overtime Elite are also routes that he and his family will consider.

Tre’s father states that the hope is to have a decision before the start of Tre’s senior year, “Hopefully by some time in the summer we probably will be able to make a decision before his senior year, so we won’t have those concerns. All of that is behind us so we can just work and get better.”

Advertisement

BB Recruiting

Top 20 Prospect Taylen Kinney Set To Visit Kentucky

Published

on

James Weber | The Enquirer

Taylen Kinney, one of the top guards in the 2026 class and the No. 1 point guard in Kentucky, will take an official visit with the Wildcats beginning on June 24.

The Newport, Kentucky native has been inserted in a bit of a bidding war with Louisville and other premier schools after his official visit with the Cardinals, but of course the true recruiting powerhouse had to cast a line in hope of a bite.

KSR’s Jack Pilgrim caught a video of Kinney working with Mark Pope one-on-one on the morning of June 17 at the USA U19 Training Camp in Colorado Springs.

Advertisement

A picture of Kinney, along with Malachi Moreno and Jasper Johnson, two of Kentucky’s incoming freshman on this year’s squad, came out of the camp. Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 player in the class of 2026, who already took a visit to Kentucky recently, was also shown in the picture. All four players are Kentucky natives.

Kinney is a priority for Kentucky, and Pope planting the idea of being a Wildcat in his mind this past weekend certainly builds the hype of his commitment being a future reality.

However, we can’t act like Pat Kelsey hasn’t already beat Pope to the punch, and it may be too late to change Kinney’s mind on being a Cardinal.

“I probably talk to coach Kelsey twice a week,” Kinney said. “He talks to my parents multiple times a week. I talk to the whole staff all of the time.”

Advertisement

He later added on some words that no Wildcat fan would want to hear.

“They (Louisville’s staff) just told me that I was their guy,” Kinney said. “I fit perfectly into their system, and there’s no other school that I fit better into than them.

A common member of Big Blue Nation would likely think “yeah alright, wait until you get that Kentucky treatment,” and with the climate of today’s recruiting trail, who knows what can happen.

It will likely be a long time before the star guard makes an official decision, but who doesn’t like a good back-and-forth between two rival programs. The bell has already rung, and round one goes to the Cardinals, but the Wildcats are coming out swinging for round two.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

BB Recruiting

No. 1 Ranked Recruit Takes Official Visit to Kentucky

The top-ranked recruit in the nation, Tyran Stokes, took his official visit to Kentucky following a prior delay.

Published

on

Tyran Stokes takes his official visit to Kentucky.
Mark J. Rebilas | Imagn Images

Being from Louisville doesn’t necessarily make you a cardinal, and Mark Pope has set out to prove that in the biggest possible way.

The top-ranked overall recruit in next year’s class, Tyran Stokes, officially took a visit to Lexington on Sunday, June 8. This comes in lieu of many rumors that he’d canceled his visit altogether due to frustration with fans trying to dig for information online.

Last month in a cryptic post on X, Stokes said, “Why can’t y’all give a kid some privacy”. As curious as that was, especially given the proximity to his originally planned visit to Kentucky, it seems that the true issue had no bearing on his choice to hear Coach Pope’s plea. 

Advertisement

And, as Kentucky fans now know, sometimes that’s all it takes to get a guy in blue and white.

The Louisville native, at 6’7, 230, has become widely renowned for his strong slashing ability as a multi-threat scorer on the wing. Stokes is the sort of player that, nobody who you already have on your team, you make room for him. He’s got an intangible build made for the big leagues, and he’s not even out of high school yet.

Stokes is the kind of guy that’d have NBA scouts sitting court side in Rupp Arena. While that level of national buzz isn’t always a good thing, it’s hard to underscore the possibility, and excitement, of the top recruit in the nation committing to the Cats come 2026.

In the very least, Kentucky is in the race, alongside Kansas and Louisville as heavy pursuers. It’s never too early to look ahead, and, as usual, Pope and staff are doing just that with the biggest names in the game.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

BB Recruiting

Kentucky Earns Commitment From European Big Andrija Jelavic

Published

on

ABA League j.t.d./Dragana Stjepanovic

Earlier today, Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats received the commitment from Andrija Jelavic, a 6-foot-11 big from Croatia.

As first reported by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, Jelavic is one of the most highly regarded European prospects that is taking his talent to the NCAA.

Soon to be 21 years old, Jelavic averaged 10.8 points per game on 60% shooting from the field to go along with 7.4 rebounds per game for Mega Superbet, the same club that NBA Champion and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic played for.

Advertisement

As a shock to most, who were expecting Pope’s next commit to be a guard of some sorts, international players can now sign lucrative NIL deals. Kentucky, along with several of the elite colleges, are now in the European market. 

Jelavic, with shades of current European big men, can do just about everything on the court. He can shoot, dribble, pass, finish at the rim, etc. With a very relevant comparison, Jelavic plays almost perfectly in the replacement role of Andrew Carr. 

His commitment now makes him the fifth member of Pope’s additions this offseason, joining Kam Williams, Jaland Lowe, Mouhamed Dioubate and Jayden Quaintance. 

With a 7’2” wingspan, joining an already impressive Kentucky frontcourt, it’s safe to say for certain that this new team will not lack in that department. 

Advertisement

Next year’s roster was loaded with talent already, but now with the addition of Jelavic, lots of questions are arising: Who will start? How many more players is Pope going to add? What will happen with the walk-ons? 

There’s plenty to think about for Pope and his staff before the season starts, but like he said back when he introduced himself to Big Blue Nation, “We’re here to win banners.” He’s going to make the moves he thinks will do just that for the Wildcats. 

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending