Kentucky basketball fans are used to elite recruiting hauls. Even when those recruiting wins didn’t always translate to postseason success late in the John Calipari era, fans rarely blamed the players—only the coaching. So when Mark Pope took over, the biggest concern across Big Blue Nation was simple: Could he recruit at a Kentucky level?
Pope’s first year gave him some grace. His second brought real optimism, headlined by strong in-state victories for Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno. But the 2026 class was expected to be the one where he truly tested himself on the national stage. He went after almost every top-20 prospect, including the No. 1 player in the class, Tyran Stokes.
Now it’s November. Commitments are rolling in. And Kentucky has taken a couple of hits: Maximo Adams—who had family ties to Pope—and Cameron Williams both made their decisions recently, and neither picked Kentucky.
So who’s still realistically on the board? Who can Pope still close? And what would missing on all of them mean?
Here’s the updated picture.
Strong Contenders
Tyran Stokes — No. 1 overall
Stokes’ recruitment is one of the quietest in the class. No timeline. No public signals. No leaks. Just silence. Kentucky is still seen as the favorite, but Kansas remains firmly in play despite Adidas/Nike complications. Nobody knows what Stokes is really thinking—but if Pope lands him, it’s a monumental win.
Christian Collins — No. 8 overall
For months, USC and UCLA seemed like the heavy favorites. But Kentucky kept pushing, and recent projections have actually shifted toward the Wildcats. Landing Collins would be massive, but there’s a twist: his commitment could potentially push Stokes elsewhere, or vice versa. Still, Collins fits Pope’s system extremely well and remains one to watch closely.
Caleb Holt — No. 5 overall
This looks like a Kentucky vs. Alabama showdown. Holt took an extra unofficial visit to Lexington during Big Blue Madness, showing clear interest. But like Stokes, he likely won’t join a class that includes the other. A true toss-up recruitment with several moving parts—and one that will likely come down to timing.
Less Likely Contenders
Deron Rippey Jr. — No. 15 overall
Kentucky wants a point guard in this class, but the momentum hasn’t trended their way. Tennessee and other programs seem to have the lead right now. Pope is still involved, but the odds have shrunk significantly.
Jordan Smith — No. 2 overall
Duke has been the long-standing favorite, and predictions continue to point toward Durham. Kentucky hasn’t been ruled out, but it would take a major shift to pull him away at this stage.
Brandon McCoy — No. 9 overall
McCoy insists he isn’t leaning anywhere, but buzz around other programs is stronger than Kentucky’s at the moment. He also hasn’t visited Lexington yet, which makes the Wildcats more of an outside possibility than a real threat.
All but Out
Mikka Muurinen — NA
Once seen as a near-perfect fit for Pope’s system, Muurinen has chosen the professional route in Europe. Expect him to surface in the 2026 NBA Draft instead of college basketball.
Baba Oladotun — No. 10 overall
Kentucky never gained momentum here, especially after his reclassification. With Stokes being the clear priority at his position, Oladotun was always a longshot. He’s now widely expected to pick Arkansas.
Arafan Diane — No. 16 overall
A massive, physically imposing center, Diane would have been an interior game-changer for Kentucky. But the traction has shifted completely toward Houston, making it clear he’s headed elsewhere.
