Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats are looking to recruit another major addition to their program.
On Thursday, Pope posted a graphic on X showing himself “On the Road” to Memphis, Tennessee, with a suitcase covered in Kentucky stickers set against the Memphis skyline. Fans quickly connected the dots as the first live recruiting period of the summer kicked off at the Nike EYBL circuit.
The post immediately sparked speculation that Kentucky could be preparing to make some major moves with several top prospects in the 2027 recruiting class.
The Wildcats will be closely monitoring multiple elite targets during the EYBL, like CJ Rosser, Ryan Hampton, Reese Alston, and more.
After an early NCAA Tournament exit and a disappointing 22-14 finish, recruiting good players and creating a solid roster is Pope’s top priority.
The Wildcats lost 11 players from last year’s team through graduation, the transfer portal, and NBA Draft declarations. Pope has already managed to add elite players like Zoom Diallo, Alex Wilkins, and Franck Kepnang, and now the focus is shifting towards securing long-term high school talent.
Kentucky Looking to Build Momentum on Recruiting
The EYBL is one of the most important platforms for colleges and NBA scouts to evaluate players at a young age.
This weekend could also serve as an opportunity for Pope’s newly assembled staff to strengthen relationships with younger prospects. Assistant coach Mo Williams is expected to play a major role during the recruiting period as Kentucky attempts to re-establish its dominance with top-tier high school players.
One name to watch closely is Kam Mercer from the 2028 class. While no offer has been finalized yet, Mercer has already visited Lexington in Feb and remains a prospect Kentucky appears highly interested in evaluating further this summer.
Another offseason move revolves around sophomore center Malachi Moreno. He was expected to return for another season earlier, but now he has reportedly climbed NBA Draft boards in recent months, which creates uncertainty around his future.
That possibility may explain why Kentucky contacted Russian center Gleb Firsov, a 6-foot-10 big man who could emerge as a backup option if Moreno ultimately stays in the draft.
For now, Pope has sent a clear signal that Kentucky is aggressively pushing to recruit talent as they are preparing for major roster developments in the near future.
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