Mark Pope and the Kentucky coaching staff spent another full day in Memphis for Nike EYBL Session II, and one thing is becoming very clear — the Wildcats are aggressively tracking some of the biggest stars in high school basketball.
According to KSR’s live coverage, Pope, Mo Williams, and Cody Fueger were constantly moving from court to court watching elite 2027, 2028, and even 2029 prospects. But among all the names being evaluated, one player continues to stand above the rest for Kentucky: No. 1 overall recruit CJ Rosser.
Kentucky coaches have reportedly been present for nearly every Rosser appearance during the event, showing just how important he has become on the Wildcats’ recruiting board. Pope and Williams were once again courtside watching the five-star standout on day two, reinforcing the idea that Rosser may currently be Kentucky’s top overall priority in the 2027 class.
Another major storyline developing in Memphis is Kentucky’s growing interest in elite guard King Gibson. The talented prospect has not received an offer yet, but momentum appears to be building quickly. Mo Williams has reportedly been heavily involved in the recruitment, and Gibson’s strong performances are putting him firmly on “offer watch” with the Wildcats.
Kentucky also continued evaluating several already-offered stars, including Marcus Spears Jr., Beckham Black, Paul Osaruyi, Ryan Hampton, and Chase Lumpkin.
Beckham Black may have had one of the biggest performances of the entire weekend. The five-star guard exploded for 28 points while shooting efficiently from the field and beyond the arc, adding eight assists and showing why he’s becoming one of the hottest names in the country.
Marcus Spears Jr. also impressed Kentucky’s staff with a dominant two-way outing, finishing with 18 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks.
Meanwhile, Kentucky’s newest offer, five-star wing DeMarcus Henry, remained a major focus for Pope. After receiving an offer Friday night, Henry immediately drew more attention from the Wildcats’ staff during another strong showing in Memphis. The explosive scorer dropped 25 points in his previous outing and continues trending upward nationally.
The Wildcats were also seen monitoring younger future stars, including 2028 top recruit Adan Diggs and elite big man Erick Dampier Jr. Even though direct contact with 2028 prospects is still restricted until June 15, Kentucky clearly appears to be laying the groundwork early.
Elsewhere, assistant coach Mikhail McLean was spotted alongside Kentucky legend Rajon Rondo while watching five-star point guard Nasir Anderson at the Adidas 3SSB event in Indiana.
As the live period continues, one thing is becoming obvious: Mark Pope and his staff are wasting no time building relationships with the next generation of elite talent. And based on the attention Kentucky is giving some of these prospects, the Wildcats could be setting themselves up for another massive recruiting haul.
