Kentucky Basketball’s Recruiting Woes: Mark Pope Looks Abroad as Domestic Misses Mount
Mark Pope sounded optimistic when he spoke on his radio show late last month. He talked about the future, about finding “players that fit us” and how the transfer portal would be “really important” for Kentucky basketball moving forward. But as we sit here in mid-February, that optimism hasn’t exactly translated into recruiting wins.
Let’s call it what it is: Kentucky’s high school recruiting efforts are in a bit of a slump.
Hot Start, Cold Finish
Things started with promise. The Wildcats were in the mix for some of the top names in the 2025 and 2026 classes.
They looked like a real contender for Christian Collins, were leading for Tyran Stokes, and had serious interest in players like Jordan Smith and Brandon McCoy. But one by one, those targets have slipped away.
Stokes is trending toward Kansas. Collins is now expected to stay out West and play for USC.
Jordan Smith? Likely headed to Arkansas.
McCoy’s interest in Kentucky has cooled considerably. These aren’t just minor misses - these are cornerstone-type players, the kind that can define a recruiting class.
What’s Behind the Misses?
There’s no single reason why Kentucky is struggling to close. Recruiting is rarely that simple. But there are a few key factors worth unpacking.
First, there’s the way Pope runs his program. He likes to play deep into his bench - often using 10 players in meaningful minutes.
That approach can be great for team chemistry and development, but it’s not always what top-tier recruits want to hear. Most high-major guys are looking for 30+ minutes a night to showcase their skills and boost their draft stock.
Right now, Kentucky’s leader in minutes per game is Otega Oweh at 30, with Denzel Aberdeen right behind at 28. And that’s with three rotation players - Boogie Fland, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Aaron Bradshaw - sidelined.
If those guys were healthy, minutes would be even more scarce.
Then there’s the NIL landscape. Rumors have swirled online about Kentucky’s name, image, and likeness infrastructure - particularly how it’s affecting basketball.
But that narrative doesn’t quite hold up when you look at what Will Stein is doing on the football side. He’s landing big names, which suggests the support system is functioning.
Pope himself has praised the backing he’s received. So while NIL might be a factor, it doesn’t appear to be the main issue.
It’s also worth noting that Pope is operating at a level he hasn’t before. He’s recruited successfully at BYU and Utah Valley, but Kentucky is a different beast.
The competition is fiercer, the expectations higher, and the margin for error razor-thin. Still, he has help - assistant coaches Jason Hart and Alvin Brooks have reputations as strong closers on the trail.
The infrastructure is there. The results just haven’t followed - at least not yet.
Kentucky’s Best Shots: Sayon Keita and Miikka Muurinen
Right now, Kentucky’s best hopes for landing elite talent lie overseas.
Sayon Keita is one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2025 class. The 17-year-old has only been playing organized basketball for a few years, but his rise has been meteoric.
He’s currently suiting up for both the B team and senior squad at FC Barcelona, a testament to his rapid development and high ceiling. Scouts love his versatility - he’s long, fluid, and can defend multiple positions.
He’s still raw, but the upside is undeniable.
Then there’s Miikka Muurinen, a 6-foot-10 forward from Finland who once looked like he’d bypass college entirely. After a tough stretch in the Euroleague, though, Muurinen has shifted his focus to the NCAA as a stepping stone to the NBA.
In an interview with SKWEEK, he described college as a “one-year stop” to mature and prepare for the next level. He’s a gifted athlete with a smooth outside shot and a motor that doesn’t quit.
He may not have the physical strength of a traditional power forward, but his length and athleticism present real matchup problems.
A Risky Path Forward
There’s no doubt that Keita and Muurinen are high-upside prospects. But relying on international players with professional experience comes with its own risks - namely, NCAA eligibility.
The rules around international eligibility have evolved, but they’re still not entirely predictable. If the NCAA decides to reinterpret its stance, Pope could find himself without the very players he’s banking on to turn things around.
The Bottom Line
Kentucky fans are used to being in the thick of every major recruiting battle. Right now, they’re watching more top names slip away than commit.
Pope still has time to right the ship - the portal will be a major factor, and international recruiting could pay off in a big way. But the margin for error is thin in Lexington, and the pressure is only going to ramp up as spring approaches.
Pope says he’s excited. Now he needs results to match that energy.