Days after adding Milan Momcilovic to the 2026 Kentucky roster, Mark Pope has made another splash by securing the signing of 6-foot-6 star Ryan Hampton.
Hampton, a five-star recruit from the 2027 class, is the highest-rated commit in Mark Pope’s Kentucky tenure so far, per On3’s Joe Tipton. This signing lines up perfectly with Kentucky’s roster, giving the Wildcats a potential offensive star to succeed their current transfer star, Milan Momcilovic.
Shortly after news of Hampton’s commitment broke, fans on X made their opinions known on Pope’s offseason success.
“Literally EVERYONE wants to play for Mark Pope,” a fan commented.
Another fan said the narrative about Pope’s apparent shortcomings in recruiting could now be put to rest:
“So much for the Pope can’t recruit crowd.”
One fan showed appreciation for Hampton’s game and fit with Kentucky, saying:
“Demon. Perfect for Pope’s system. Lottery pick.”
Another fan commented:
“Hampton’s game fits Pope’s pace perfectly. BBN’s getting a stud.”
One user expressed their shock at the news being announced on an unassuming Sunday, saying:
“Whelp I did not see that one coming this morning.”
Pope seemingly left no doubts in Ryan Hampton’s mind about coming to Kentucky, as the five-star prospect completed his official visit just 24 hours prior.
Hampton, who also had offers from Kansas, Auburn, Arizona State and Villanova, chose the Wildcats “because of Mark Pope and coach Mo Williams.”
In an interview with 247Sports, the 2027 recruit said:
“They showed me a vision and play for me to reach my ultimate dreams and goals. They will challenge me to be the best I can be on and off the court.”
Mark Pope Continues Rebuilding Kentucky Roster After Disappointing 2025-26 Season
Since taking over Kentucky in 2024, Pope’s Wildcats haven’t made much noise in the SEC, finishing with a 10-8 record in back-to-back seasons. With a second-round exit in 2026, Pope was put on the hot seat by multiple analysts as he struggled to fill the shoes of the legendary John Calipari.
However, Pope has addressed his previous shortcomings in a major way by making six new transfer portal signings so far. Headlined by Milan Momcilovic, these signings include Frank Kepnang, Zoom Diallo, Jerone Morton, Justin McBride, and Alex Wilkins.
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