Author: successsport360
If you want to understand the new Kentucky basketball era, look no further than September 3rd at midnight. The NCAA’s recruiting dead period ended—and Mark Pope was already knocking on doors. His first stop? In-state 5-star guard Tay Kinney. That midnight meeting wasn’t just business—it was a statement. In just 24 hours, Pope and his staff have flipped the recruiting game on its head with a coast-to-coast blitz that screams one thing: Kentucky is coming for the nation’s best. 5-Star Bombshell: Caleb Holt Is Coming to Lexington The biggest headline of the week dropped like a thunderbolt: Caleb Holt, the…
Kentucky basketball just scored another recruiting win—at least for now. After an in-home visit from Mark Pope and his staff, Deron Rippey Jr., a five-star guard in the class of 2026, has officially included the Wildcats in his list of ten finalists. The 6-foot-2 point guard out of Blair Academy (NJ)—the same school that produced current Wildcat Otega Oweh—made the cutdown announcement on Thursday, dropping Indiana and Kansas while locking Kentucky in alongside Alabama, Duke, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Syracuse, Tennessee, and Texas. Kentucky Makes the Right Impression Pope wasn’t alone on his Brooklyn trip to meet with…
Duke fans just got a treat—and it’s one that perfectly blends the past, present, and future of The Brotherhood. In a special edition of the Pro Devils Weekend podcast, Paolo Banchero (P5), one of the NBA’s brightest young stars, sat down with elite prospect Cam Boozer (CB12) for a conversation full of insight, laughs, and plenty of Duke pride. Just two weeks ago, Cam revealed that Paolo was his favorite former Blue Devil. Now, in a full-circle moment, the two shared the mic to dive into some of the biggest topics surrounding basketball and life beyond the court. Banchero’s Legendary…
Duke men’s basketball head coach Jon Scheyer has been named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Board of Directors, the organization announced Wednesday. Scheyer joins eight other coaches across all three NCAA divisions, officially beginning his term on September 2 during the Board’s annual fall meeting. The NABC Board of Directors serves as the leadership arm of the association, guiding strategic decisions, daily operations, and national advocacy efforts. “As college athletics and the game of basketball undergo unprecedented transformation, it’s vital that coaches continue to present a unified voice and demonstrate sound national leadership,” said NABC Executive Director…
Mark Pope hasn’t wasted any time proving that his recruiting philosophy is built on balance. The new Kentucky head coach is working tirelessly to secure elite talent for the next couple of seasons, but he’s also making sure the program has a long-term pipeline that stretches well into the future. While the immediate focus is on highly anticipated visits from 2026 prospects like Anthony Thompson, Arafan Diane, and others this September, Pope and his staff are already keeping one eye on the horizon—specifically the class of 2028. And at the top of that list? Louisville native Josh Lindsay, a name…
When Andrija Jelavic finally touched down in Lexington, he wasted no time making himself feel at home. From telling Big Blue Nation he was “excited to get number nine” to riding ziplines, roasting s’mores, and hanging out at the lake with his new teammates, the Croatian forward dove head-first into life as a Wildcat. And now that practice is underway? You’d never guess he missed the first eight weeks of summer workouts. Kentucky associate head coach Alvin Brooks III said on the Sources Say Podcast that Jelavic has blended in seamlessly. > “You cannot tell that he hasn’t been here.…
Mark Pope is wasting no time getting Kentucky basketball’s 2025–26 recruiting calendar rolling. This weekend in Lexington, the Wildcats will welcome two key members of the 2026 recruiting class for official visits: four-star forward Maximo Adams and five-star guard Caleb Holt. The timing couldn’t be better — their visits align with Kentucky football’s high-profile home game against No. 20 Ole Miss on Saturday at Kroger Field, adding to the energy around campus. Maximo Adams: A Familiar Connection At first, Adams was expected to be the lone visitor. The 6-foot-7 small forward from Sierra Canyon (California) has been on the radar…
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 wait is finally over—Kentucky basketball fans can now see the full 2025–26 Wildcats roster, and let’s just say Mark Pope has assembled a squad with a perfect mix of experience, size, skill, and star power. The Cats are gearing up for what could be one of the most exciting seasons in program history, and the depth chart is stacked from top to bottom. Backcourt Strength Kentucky’s guard play will once again be its heartbeat. Denzel Aberdeen brings toughness and quick decision-making, while veteran Collin Chandler adds a steady hand and perimeter shooting. Freshman sensation Jasper Johnson will be one…
The quiet of midnight didn’t last long. At exactly 12:01 AM—the very first second after the NCAA’s recruiting “dead period” lifted—two familiar rivals showed up at the same doorstep. Mark Pope and Pat Kelsey, the faces of Kentucky and Louisville basketball, both made their move for five-star point guard Tay Kinney. The Kentucky-Louisville rivalry, dormant for months, has exploded back to life in dramatic fashion. A Midnight Driveway Showdown Picture the scene: a silent Kentucky neighborhood, headlights cutting through the darkness, one car pulling away just as another pulls in. This wasn’t just recruiting—it was a declaration. Both programs wanted…