Mark Pope and Kentucky are making progress in the recruitment of 2027 four-star center Paul Osaruyi, but the Wildcats are facing serious competition from West Virginia.
Osaruyi, an 18-year-old standout at Bella Vista Prep, recently made his first official college visit to Kentucky. His trip to Lexington appears to have made a strong impression, as he spoke highly of both the program and the atmosphere surrounding Big Blue Nation.
Speaking about his visit, Osaruyi described the energy around Kentucky basketball as “super cool.” The 6-foot-10 big man also discussed the possibility of playing in front of a packed crowd at Rupp Arena, calling the experience something that “would be crazy.”
Despite the excitement surrounding his visit, Osaruyi made it clear that he is not ready to rush into a decision. He remains open to visiting other programs as he continues to work through his recruitment.
West Virginia Could Be Kentucky’s Biggest Threat
The West Virginia Mountaineers have been involved with Osaruyi for several years and appear to have built a strong relationship with the highly regarded center.
West Virginia assistant coach Yusuf Ali has Canadian connections that have helped strengthen the relationship, while Osaruyi also has familiarity with the Mountaineers’ roster.
Five current West Virginia players previously attended Bella Vista Prep, including freshman guard Miles Sadler, who reportedly has a close relationship with Osaruyi. That familiarity could give the Mountaineers an important advantage in the recruitment.
West Virginia also received an On3 prediction for Osaruyi earlier this year, further highlighting the program’s position in the race.
Still, Kentucky has plenty working in its favor.
The Wildcats landed Osaruyi’s first official visit, giving Pope and his staff an opportunity to make an early impression. Kentucky also has an advantage when it comes to NIL resources, while Kentucky commit Ryan Hampton is reportedly close friends with Osaruyi and has been recruiting him to Lexington.
Kentucky’s Other 2027 Big-Man Target Could Change Everything
One of the biggest factors in Kentucky’s pursuit of Osaruyi could be what happens with five-star center Lewis Uvwo.
Uvwo, regarded as the No. 1 center in the 2027 class, recently visited Kentucky and has narrowed his recruitment to four schools: Kentucky, Baylor, California and Providence.
His recruitment is much further along than Osaruyi’s, with a commitment expected around the early signing period in November.
If Kentucky lands Uvwo, the Wildcats could potentially reduce their pursuit of Osaruyi. On the other hand, missing on Uvwo could lead Pope and his staff to make Osaruyi an even bigger priority.
For now, Kentucky remains firmly involved in the race.
Osaruyi’s recruitment is still developing, with Arkansas, Indiana, Mississippi State and North Carolina among the other programs showing interest. But with Kentucky already securing his first official visit and building connections around him, the Wildcats have positioned themselves well.
For Big Blue Nation, the biggest question now is whether Pope can turn that early momentum into something more significant before Osaruyi makes his final decision.
