Mark Pope made a pledge to prioritize in-state talent at Kentucky as those prospects “bring a spirit to the team that cannot be fabricated or replaced.”
“It helps us win, and we will continue to recruit them” he said at his introductory press conference.
Pope followed that up by re-recruiting Travis Perry, the state’s all-time leading scorer, back to Kentucky before landing Trent Noah — No. 5 on the all-time scoring list — following his decommitment from South Carolina. He’s also extended scholarship offers to top-20 prospects Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno in the 2025 class, pushing hard for commitments from both.
Another name to keep a close eye on down the road? 2026 four-star Tay Kinneyout of Newport, KY, a top-40 prospect and early contender for best point guard in the rising junior class. The 6-0, 160-pound standout looked the part at USA Basketball Junior National Team U17 Training Camp as one of the youngest competitors in the …