BB Recruiting

Coveted Transfer Keshad Johnson Commits to Arizona Over Kentucky. Where Does Calipari Turn Next?

Published

3 years ago

May 20, 2023

After playing four years for the reigning national runner-up, San Deigo State, and playing a key role in the program’s most successful stretch, Keshad Johnson had plenty of suitors when he entered the transfer portal.

After taking visits and sitting down with his family, Johnson made a decision on Saturday, committing to Arizona over Kentucky, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and USC.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Keshad Johnson (@kj_showtime0)

Johnson was certainly a player Kentucky wanted, and given the stage of the offseason, it is disappointing they couldn’t get a commitment. Especially so when considering the reaction of he and his mentor of his Kentucky visit.

With that said, Johnson has one year of eligibility remaining and there is a larger role at Arizona. Kentucky has several elite freshmen coming in, including Justin Edwards and Aaron Bradshaw who will share wing responsibilities. Could this indicate that Chris Livingston could be making a return?

At this moment, that is not likely. It was surprising to see that Livingston opted out of the 5-on-5 scrimmages of the NBA Draft Combine as he is considered to be a borderline draft pick and NBA scouts have publicly criticized him.

Then again, all it takes is one team. Livingston does have upcoming workouts with NBA teams, and he and his camp are confident that they can find a way to a guaranteed contract, or at minimum a two-way contract. It should be noted that his agency, LeBron James-owned Klutch Sports, has some pull in the league.

As it stands, it is May 20^th and Kentucky only has seven scholarship players who are expected to contribute. For reference, each program is given 13 scholarships. Of course, Kentucky awaits the decisions of Livingston, Antonio Reeves, and Oscar Tshiebwe by the May 31^st deadline.

If all three were to return, Kentucky has a full roster, but that is not likely to happen. Reeves is expected to return – it has been eerily quiet however – with Livingston and Tshiebwe expected to stay in the draft. That certainly leaves some roles to be filled.

Kentucky’s interest in Keshad Johnson was kept under the radar until they were announced as a finalist. I suspect that UK has some quiet interest in other transfers/potential grad transfers that haven’t become public yet.

While it’s fair to question the strategy, if there is one, I would say hold final judgment. In today’s college landscape, anything can happen, and quickly (i.e. grad transfers, reclassifications). For reference, Reid Travis, who is considered to be one of Kentucky’s best transfers, announced his transfer on May 30^th and committed to Kentucky in mid-June. Just last year, Ugonna Onyenso made the decision to reclassify in mid-July.

John Calipari is entering a make-or-break year at Kentucky. Just like he has done for much of his Hall of Fame career, wants to prove people wrong. At the end of the day, Calipari is responsible for the roster he puts on the floor, and I don’t expect anything less than a Final Four-caliber team.

Only time will tell.

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.