Mark Pope’s first full recruiting cycle as Kentucky’s head coach has entered the crucial stretch, and the Wildcats are deeply involved with several key targets who could shape the next era of Kentucky basketball. The pressure is mounting to land the foundational pieces for the future.
Deron Rippey Jr.: Kentucky makes its pitch
Deron Rippey Jr., the dynamic 6-foot-2 point guard from Blair Academy, remains one of the hottest names in the 2026 class. After completing visits to Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, UNC, Syracuse, and Texas, Rippey still has trips planned to Duke, NC State, and Tennessee.
His comments to Adam Zagoria about his Kentucky visit revealed just how aggressively Pope's staff is pursuing him:
“It was good — they kind of wanted to sell me on their brand.