BB Recruiting

Kentucky Checks in on Pair of Top 2024 Recruits

Published

3 years ago

April 17, 2023

UK Athletics/© Robert Scheer/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

While there are still decisions to be made and players to be added to next season’s roster, the Kentucky staff is not laying in wait, instead, they are taking a look at the 2024 recruiting class. As the grassroots AAU circuits are picking up across the country, Kentucky stopped to see Flory Bidunga and Tre Johnson this past weekend.

Note: Rankings from 247Sports.

Flory Bidunga (2024, No. 1 C, No. 3 Overall)

Flory Bidunga, was shown by Kentucky that he is becoming more and more of a priority, visiting him for the second time this month, and this time it was with the entire staff.

Bidunga is a priority for good reason, as he is a top-3 rated player in the class of 2024 and the best big man in the class. Recently, he was named Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Indiana and was putting up monster stats this season, averaging 20.9 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 4.5 blocks per game.

While very interested, Kentucky does not seem to be one of the leaders for Bidunga, as things are currently trending with Cincinnati and Indiana. Last fall, Cincinnati hired Drew Adams as an Associate AD, the son of Mark Adams who runs Bidunga’s AAU team, Indiana elite.

With that said Bidunga is looking to take an official visit to Kentucky in June, and will also visit Kansas in the coming months. He has already taken a number of visits including to Indiana and Cincinnati, but only two official visits to Auburn and Florida.

Bidunga is expected to make his decision this summer, before the next school year begins. As Kentucky’s top big-man target in the class of 2024, Kentucky is definitely making sure he is a top priority.

Scouting Report: Flory Bidunga is an elite shot blocker. He has a terrific burst off the bounce, and is very physical. His explosion and physicality allow him to be an elite big-man, and one of the best regardless of class. His college-ready frame makes him one of the best in his class.

Tre Johnson (2024, No. 1 SG, No. 1 Overall)

After stopping in to see Flory Bidunga on Friday, Kentucky traveled to watch Tre Johnson, the No. 1 overall player in the class of 2024. Seen as Kentucky’s top priority overall in the class, Kentucky is again making sure of that before he hits the Nike EYBL circuit this coming weekend.

Johnson visited Kentucky on January 27th for the game against Kansas – which is his next official visit – with all reports that the visit went well. Tre’s father, Richard, opened up about the visit, complimenting Kentucky’s facilities, NIL model, and NBA preparation. However, the loss of KT Turner does have some impact, as he is a family friend of the Johnson family.

With that said, Kentucky is seen to be in a battle with Texas and Baylor – who he has already visited – for the prized recruit, and it will be interesting to see how things unfold in the coming months in this recruitment, as he is expected to make a decision before Peach Jam in July.

As for what he and his family are looking for, Richard, says, “he 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.”

Scouting Report: As a 6-foot-5, 180-pound Shooting Guard, he is the best all-around scorer in his class, and can really fill it up. He is a terrific knock-down shooter, with great length and quickness to create and get to the rim. He shows why he is the best player in the class with his elite scoring ability.

Kentucky’s staff is making sure they’re in great shape with some of their top priorities as the AAU season continues to ramp up.

Related Topics:Flory Bidunga Nike EYBL Tre Johnson

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.