BB Recruiting

Somto Cyril Commits to Kentucky, Will Remain in 2024 Class

Published

3 years ago

June 28, 2023

Tristan Pharis

UK Athletics

The Kentucky Wildcats have made another addition to the men’s basketball program!

On Wednesday, big man Somtochukwu ‘Somto’ Cyril pledged his commitment to the Wildcats.

247 Sports’ Travis Branham broke the news first, adding it’s unlikely Cyril will reclassify into the 2023 class.

NEWS: Somto Cyril, the No. 44 overall prospect in the 2024 class, has committed to Kentucky, he tells @247Sports.

Story: https://t.co/zbnIngFy2Q pic.twitter.com/yqHg6g0L1o— Travis Branham (@TravisBranham_) June 28, 2023

“They have been one of the schools I watched as a kid,” Cyril told 247 on why he chose Kentucky. “Growing up as a kid playing basketball, I think that was the first college basketball I watched.

“When I started playing I didn’t know much about basketball so I started watching on YouTube and I saw some of Anthony Davis’ highlights and how he played in college so I think that was the moment I fell in love with the game and who I wanted to be.”

With Oscar Tshiebwe remaining in the NBA Draft, the Wildcats needed to find a player that could contribute in the frontcourt. As a response, they looked to Cyril, who originally caught their eyes in the summer of 2021, just a few months after arriving in the States from his home country of Nigeria – raised in Enugu, just a few hours away from fellow Wildcat Ugonna Onyenso in Owerri.

Originally a part of the 2024 class, Cyril was expected to reclassify and join the team this coming season. However, that appears unlikely now based on what Branham is reporting.

Nonetheless, this is a big addition for the program, even if it’s not until the 2024-25 season.

Cyril’s 7-foot, 240-pound frame certainly suggests his body is ready for the college game. He’s currently ranked 28th overall in the 2024 class by Rivals.

Combining his physique and knack for trying to break the backboard, Cyril has been given the nickname “Baby Shaq”.

@somto_cyril broke the backboard so everyone could get their weekend started early. I guess that’s one way to end practice! pic.twitter.com/jCBwNt40cL— Hamilton Heights Athletics (@hhhawkssports) September 3, 2021

Somto Cyril recorded a 40 INCH MAX VERT at OTE’s combine 🤯 @somto_cyril @OvertimeElite @GMC pic.twitter.com/pQW5JeoAOt— Overtime (@overtime) April 9, 2023

The physical tools are apparent, but he currently makes the majority of his impact on the glass and defensively. In fact, he told On3’s Joe Tipton last year, “When I first started playing, I didn’t know how to put the ball in the basket.”

This is where his knack for defense began.

“My coach told me, ‘Even if you can’t score, you can still stop the other team from scoring’, so that’s the mindset I have. I block shots and get rebounds for my teammates. I don’t have to score, I just want to win the game,” Cyril explained.

In just 20 minutes per game for Overtime Elite this past season, Cyril averaged 8.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.4 blocks. For his efforts, Cyril was named the 2023 OTE Defensive Player of the Year while also earning First-Team All-OTE honors.

Looking ahead, Kentucky will hope the recent transfer addition of West Virginia forward Tre Mitchell can help offset the loss of Oscar Tshiebwe, who fans just said goodbye to after a historically great career.

Tshiebwe also met with Cyril during a visit in October of 2021.

“I watched him when I was visiting, and he put people to shame,” Cyril said of Tshiebwe. “I stood next to him, and he’s like 6-9, 6-8. He’s not really that tall, but when I see him play, I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ He’s doing a really good job to get those stats, like 20 and 20. That’s crazy.”

In the coming years, Cyril has the chance to follow in his footsteps at Kentucky, a program he “would always watch on TV” growing up.

As for next season, Kentucky could look to add one more body in the frontcourt if another transfer emerges. But as of right now, the 2023-24 roster appears set, with Cyril set to join the team sometime in 2024.

Check out some highlights of the newest Wildcat in action!

Also published on A Sea of Blue.

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.