Kentucky basketball fans are used to top recruiting classes. It didn’t always produce results, especially in the final years of the John Calipari era, but the blame for that went to the coaches, not the players. When Mark Pope took over the job, the biggest worry from Big Blue Nation was that he wouldn’t be able to land elite recruits.
In year one, Pope got a pass. Heading into his second season, he landed a couple of very good players with Kentucky ties in Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno. However, as he began recruiting for 2026, he went after nearly all of the top 20 players in the class, including the top overall player in Tyran Stokes.
Now it’s November, and commitments are happening. Just in the past week, Maximo Adams, who had ties to Pope through his brother, and Cameron Williams both made decisions, and both went elsewhere.
So, who is left on the board for Pope and the Wildcats? There are some big names, but can the Kentucky staff close on them? Failing to land any of them would be a nightmare scenario for fans. Here’s who to keep an eye on.
Tyran Stokes – No. 1 overall
The recruitment of Stokes remains interesting. He and his team have been nearly silent, and nobody knows when a commitment might be announced. He’s the best player in the class, and the most enigmatic. Kentucky remains the favorite, but Kansas remains a strong contender despite not being a Nike school, but nobody really knows what he is thinking right now.
Christian Collins – No. 8 overall
For a while, it looked like he would stay home with either the USC Trojans or UCLA Bruins. However, the Wildcats have stayed in the mix, and they have even been recently predicted to land the forward. Getting both Stokes and Collins would be a massive win for Pope, but the commitment of one could push the other elsewhere. With his potential, he would be a great fit for Pope.
Caleb Holt – No. 5 overall
It might be down to Kentucky vs the Alabama Crimson Tide for Holt’s services. It’s unlikely that both he and Stokes will end up in Lexington, though, so the waiting game continues. He took an extra visit with the Wildcats during Big Blue Madness, so there’s certainly strong interest there, but it’s certainly a fluid situation with all three of these players.
Deron Rippey Jr. – No. 15 overall
Kentucky would certainly like to get a point guard in this class, and Rippey is one of the best available, but it looks like other teams are leading the way, including the Tennessee Volunteers. Pope is likely still in contact, but the odds of landing him at this point are much slimmer.
Jordan Smith – No. 2 overall
The Duke Blue Devils are getting the predictions to land Smith, and have been the favorite for a while. Again, Kentucky is likely staying in contact, but the talented guard seems destined to end up elsewhere unless something changes in the coming weeks.
Brandon McCoy – No. 9 overall
McCoy is a big strong guard who has said that he isn’t leaning one way or another at this point. However, some have pointed to various schools as leaders, and he hasn’t visited Kentucky so far. Pope and the Cats don’t seem to be out of it, but not really in it either.
Mikka Muurinen – NA
One of the more advanced players in the class, Muurinen might have been a perfect fit for Mark Pope’s offense. However, he has signed to play professionally in Europe, and will likely be a part of the 2026 NBA draft rather than at any college.
Baba Oladotun – No. 10 overall
It never seemed that Kentucky was in the lead for Oladotun after he reclassified to 2026. He is super-talented, but plays the same position as Stokes, who is a higher priority for Pope. He is predicted to commit to Arkansas when he announces his decision.
Arafan Diane – No. 16 overall
Diane is a mammoth center who would certainly provide strength on the interior for the Wildcats. However, it appears as though he’s headed for Houston instead. He’s the third of three centers that Kentucky targeted that ended up elsewhere.
