Paul Osaruyi, a top 25 recruit in the 2027 class, is set to visit Mark Pope and his program this weekend. This will be Osaruyi’s first official visit, presenting as a huge opportunity for Pope and his staff to showcase what the Wildcats are all about.

The 6-foot-10, 225-lb center currently attends CIA Bella Vista Prep in Scottsdale, Arizona holding many offers from major programs such as Houston, BYU, UCLA, Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, North Carolina and many more. He’s currently a five-star recruit with recruiting sites such as On3, ESPN and 247 Sports ranking him in the top 25 players in the class.

“Kentucky is the other school that I have heard recently with the big man,” he told On3’s Jamie Shaw. “They are a ‘newer’ program in the mix, but seem to have made a relatively quick connection.” A Sea of Blue

In current connection, Kentucky commit Ryan Hampton previously told KSR that Osaruyi is one of his favorite teammates in this senior class and that he is trying to personally recruit him to join him in Lexington next season.

“He’s one of the guys that can really fit in the system,” Hampton told KSR’s Jack Pilgrim. “I just told him it’ll be a great fit for next year. Obviously, he’s a five-star; we’re rated really high, so that would be a good pick-up, for sure, for Kentucky basketball.”

Kentucky is pursuing Osaruyi hard, with Pope and his staff ready for the center’s arrival this weekend. Could the big eventually become a Wildcat?

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.

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.

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.