Kentucky’s pursuit of a 15th scholarship player has taken an unexpected turn as one of its top recruiting targets appears to be moving in another direction.
After recently emerging as a leading contender for Serbian prospect Nikola Kusturica, the Wildcats have seen that momentum fade. On Tuesday, 247Sports recruiting analyst Travis Branham logged a Crystal Ball prediction in favor of UCLA, signaling that Mark Pope and Kentucky are now unlikely to land the talented 6-foot-8 international forward.
Although Kusturica would have added another promising piece to Kentucky’s already loaded roster, missing out on his commitment does not leave the Wildcats in a difficult position. Pope has assembled impressive depth this offseason, making the final scholarship spot more of an opportunity to strengthen the roster than an immediate necessity.
With Kusturica seemingly off the board, attention now turns to other potential additions.
One player to keep an eye on is four-star center and reclassification candidate Caleb Ourigou. According to KSR’s Jack Pilgrim, Ourigou quietly made an official visit to Kentucky last weekend, giving the Wildcats another intriguing option as they continue evaluating candidates for the final scholarship.
Pope also confirmed on Tuesday that Kentucky’s coaching staff remains “fully engaged” in finding the right player to complete the roster. The Wildcats continue to explore both the international recruiting market and possible late reclassification prospects before making a final decision.
Rather than rushing to fill the final scholarship, Pope appears content to stay patient until the right fit becomes available. That measured approach has been a defining theme throughout Kentucky’s offseason and has allowed the Wildcats to build one of the nation’s deepest rosters heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
The search for Kentucky’s 15th scholarship player is still ongoing, and while Kusturica may no longer be the favorite, the Wildcats remain in position to add another valuable piece before the season begins.
