Kentucky basketball has officially made the cut for one of the most highly regarded recruits in the 2027 class.
Elite forward AJ Williams announced Monday that he has narrowed his recruitment to 10 schools, with Kentucky joining a strong group that includes Duke, North Carolina, Auburn, Arkansas, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, BYU and Illinois.
Williams is considered one of the premier prospects in the country. He is ranked No. 5 overall by both 247Sports and ESPN and No. 4 nationally by Rivals. The 6-foot-7 small forward attends Eagles Landing Christian Academy in McDonough, Georgia.
His recruitment has gained even more attention after Williams moved up from the 2028 class to 2027. Before reclassifying, he had been regarded as the top player in the 2028 recruiting cycle.
Williams has already visited three schools from his current top 10, making stops at Duke, Auburn and Georgia Tech. More visits are expected to be scheduled, and Kentucky could potentially get an opportunity to host the highly sought-after prospect.
The numbers show why so many major programs are pursuing him. During his sophomore season at Eagles Landing, Williams averaged an impressive 31.8 points and 12.7 rebounds per game.
He also made his presence felt on the EYBL circuit while playing for Team CP3. Williams averaged 19.3 points and 7.9 assists per game while shooting 41.8% from the field and 31.1% from three-point range.
Internationally, Williams represented Team USA at the FIBA U17 competition and helped the Americans capture a gold medal.
Williams may not rely on flashy plays to make an impact, but his combination of size, scoring ability, rebounding and physicality makes him an intriguing prospect. At 6-foot-7, he has the ability to attack the basket, create his own shot and use his athleticism around the rim.
For Mark Pope and Kentucky, the challenge is that they entered the recruitment relatively late. The Wildcats offered Williams on September 1, giving them less time than some of the other programs involved.
Still, getting Kentucky into the final 10 is an important first step. The Wildcats will now have an opportunity to strengthen their relationship with Williams and potentially bring him to Lexington for a visit.
If Pope can make a strong impression during the next stage of the recruitment, Kentucky could have a legitimate chance to make a late push for one of the nation’s most talented young players.
