BB Recruiting

KY Insider: Basketball Recruiting Update

Published

7 years ago

April 15, 2019

The offseason has arrived and John Calipari and the rest of the Kentucky staff are in full recruiting mode for the spring recruiting period.

A lot has happened in the past wee following the National Championship game, lets take a closer look at where the Cats stand and what they have been up to.

Matthew Hurt Calls Off Visits before Decision Date

Kentucky really needs some frontcourt depth next season, and one player the UK staff would love to put on the UK blue and white is 2019 five star big, Matthew Hurt.

Hurt will decide the day before his birthday on April 19th and will choose between the four premier bluebloods in college basketball, Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, & North Carolina.

Most recruiting analysts believe that all signs point to Hurt choosing Duke and that belief grew even stronger when Hurt called off in-home visits from Kentucky and Kansas on Sunday.

Duke makes the most sense, due to the fact that he will have the least amount of competition and would play the most at Duke compared to the other schools.

Here is a recent interview of Hurt at last weekend’s Nike Hoop Summit.

Calipari Visited 2020 Five Star Jalen Johnson

John Calipari kicked off the week by taking a trip to Wisconsin to visit the No. 3 overall recruit in the 2020 class, Jalen Johnson.

Johnson was offered back in September and told CatsPause.com, “It feels great. It’s very humbling. He said they don’t really offer guys this early so being one of the few means a lot.”

With 15 schools still on his list, Johnson is far from making a decision. However, the 24/7 Sports predictions show Duke in the lead at 71%, followed by Wisconsin at 29%.

As a junior, Johnson carried led Nicolet to a 27-1 record and its first-ever Wisconsin state championship that included a 20 point and 20 rebound title game performance.

Johnson is already being compared to NBA All-Star Paul George, and if he wants to bring his three-and-D style of play to Kentucky, he will be welcomed with open arms.

UK Extends Offer to 2020 Big Man Cliff Omoruyi

Kentucky just offered top-60 junior big man Cliff Omoruyi, a source tells @Rivals @RowlandRIVALS https://t.co/5wmT93evNh— Corey Evans (@coreyevans_10) April 12, 2019

While visiting verbal commit Khalil Whitney, a 6-10 teammate of Whitney’s with a 7-6 wingspan caught Calipari’s eye. That freak athlete is Clifford Omoruyi, a rising recruit from Nigeria in the 2020 class.

Kentucky is the first elite school to show interest among other schools such as Florida, N.C. State, Miami (FL), and Seton Hall.

Omoruyi is ranked as the 56th overall recruit by Rivals and ESPN, while 24/7 Sports ranks him 74th. However, with Kentucky’s newfound interest he will likely receive a bump.

Reclassification has yet to be reported as an option. but it is something to keep an eye on if all else fails.

UK Target Jaemyn Brakefield, will NOT reclassify

Jaemyn Brakefield, a 6-foot-8 210 pound, power forward, is considered one of the best bigs in the 2020 class. Many believed that there was a strong possibility Brakefield would reclassify and Kentucky was a real option.

Last week, Brakefield layed that belief to rest and will stay in the 2020 class and even suggested that his recruitment was far from over and is “still wide open”.

My recruitment is still wide open and I will remain in 2020— Jaemyn Brakefield (@Jaemyn1) April 7, 2019

Brakefield has been a Kentucky target for a while and has visited Big Blue Madness the past two seasons. Brakefield is a skilled lefty that would be a great piece to next year’s recruiting class.

Names to Keep an Eye On

Makur Maker

Really blessed to have @UKCoachCalipari and Coach Kenny Payne, for an in home visit today. Looking forward to having them watch us @DreamVisionBall in Dallas. #MakerMob #BBN pic.twitter.com/Dh1xQSqaWV— MK (@MakurMaker) April 15, 2019

Cousin of NBA player Thon Maker, Makur Maker received a visit from John Calipari and Kenny Payne on Sunday.

At 7 foot 235 pounds, Maker is an athletic specimen in the 2020 class. Maker is a bit of a mystery as he is ranked 15th by Rivals, 50th by ESPN, and 69th by 24/7 Sports.

Maker is yet to receive a scholarship offer, but with his mobility and NBA size Maker could be a “unicorn” in Lexington.

Names to Keep an Eye On

The Hauser Twins

Could Calipari take two more graduate transfers?

On Monday, the Huaser twins of Marquette put their names into the transfer portal. Sam Hauser, a 6-8 forward, averaged 12.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while shooting 40.2% from three. While his brother Joey, a 6-9 forward, recorded 9.7 points and 5.3 boards per game, shooting 42.5% from deep.

Virginia and Wisconsin seem to be the frontrunners those far, but if the Cats can’t find another big, maybe they could go towards a “small ball” style of play with the Hauser twins.

Related Topics:John Calipari Matthew Hurt

BB Recruiting

Kentucky Basketball Receives Prediction to Land International Star Nikola Kusturica

Published

7 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.