The recruiting wars are officially on, and Mark Pope isn’t wasting a second.
As the clock struck midnight to open the fall recruiting period, Kentucky’s head coach was already knocking on doors. His first stop? Five-star in-state point guard Tay Kinney, the crown jewel of the 2026 class. Pope made sure Kentucky was one of the very first programs in Kinney’s living room — and he wasn’t alone. Louisville’s Pat Kelsey also showed up, setting the stage for a heated UK vs. UofL battle that could define the next chapter of the rivalry.
Kinney, a dynamic floor general ranked among the best in the country, has been leaning toward Louisville in recent weeks. But Pope’s late-night hustle sends a clear message: Kentucky isn’t giving up its homegrown superstar without a fight.
And Kinney is just the beginning.
Enter Deron Rippey Jr.
Not long after locking in with Kinney, Pope and his staff scheduled another heavyweight meeting — this time with five-star New Jersey guard Deron Rippey Jr.. The Bluegrass buzz around Rippey has grown all summer, with many Kentucky fans circling him as the point guard they hope to land in 2026.
But it won’t be easy. Duke’s Jon Scheyer is also set to make an in-home visit, making this another blue-blood showdown. The Cats getting in early, however, shows they’re serious about making Rippey the centerpiece of Pope’s second full recruiting class.
The Baba Oladotun Sweepstakes
Kentucky’s recruiting push doesn’t stop in the backcourt. According to KSR’s Jacob Polacheck, Pope also has a visit lined up with newly reclassified five-star forward Baba Oladotun, a 6’10” matchup nightmare out of Maryland.
Oladotun was previously the No. 1 prospect in the 2027 class before bumping up to 2026, where he instantly cracked the top five nationally. Kentucky is already working to secure an official visit, and with programs across the country circling, Pope knows he has to move fast.
The Bigger Picture
With three five-star talents lined up for visits in just the first days of the live recruiting period, Pope and his staff are proving they’re not here to play catch-up — they’re setting the pace. From midnight doorstep visits to coast-to-coast trips, Kentucky is attacking the 2026 class with the urgency of a program that refuses to take a step back.
This is only the beginning of September, but the message is clear: recruiting season is heating up, and Mark Pope wants Kentucky back at the top of the food chain.
