Kentucky is still very much in the mix for one of the most intriguing names in the 2027 class, as elite wing AJ Williams trimmed his list to 10 schools: Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, Arkansas, BYU, Auburn, Duke and Illinois.
Williams, a 6-foot-7 wing who reclassified into the 2027 group, is rated among the very best players in the country. ESPN and 247Sports have him at No. 5 nationally, while Rivals places him at No. 4, according to A Sea of Blue.
The Wildcats got in early, offering Williams on Sept. 1 and quickly earning a spot on his shortlist. That timing matters because his production makes the pursuit easy to understand.
In his most recent high school season, Williams put up 31.8 points and 12.7 rebounds per game. On the EYBL circuit, he added 19.3 points and 7.9 assists.
That assist number jumps off the page. Most wings with elite scoring profiles can fill it up, but very few are also creating that much offense for others against nationally ranked competition. Williams has also already been part of winning basketball on a big stage, helping the United States capture gold at the FIBA Under-17 AmeriCup.
What makes him so valuable is the way his game can stretch a roster. He has the size to play on the wing, the passing to function as a creator and the scoring touch to make defenses pay when they focus too much on his distribution. He does not need a traditional point guard to run every possession for him.
Kentucky is facing a serious fight to keep him in play. Duke and North Carolina bring the pull of blue-blood programs.
Auburn and Arkansas have been aggressive recruiters in the current era, and BYU has proven it can land elite prospects with resources and a clear plan. Georgia and Georgia Tech also remain relevant options, especially if proximity and familiarity carry weight.
Still, Kentucky has a pitch that fits Williams’ game. The Wildcats can sell him on becoming the kind of versatile wing who can sit at the center of a modern offense.
He would not be boxed into one role. He could initiate, attack mismatches, rebound and move across the lineup while shaping possessions in multiple ways.
The next step in the recruitment will be about visits and timing, with the path forward set to show which schools stay at the front of the race. For Kentucky, making the cut was the first important win. The bigger one would be landing a player with this kind of size, skill and offensive range.
In Other News...
Hornets Trade Could Trigger Another Roster Move Fans Will Notice
The Hornets move to bring in Dorian Finney-Smith came with a familiar kind of roster housekeeping attached, as Charlotte sent Buddy Hield, Ryan Nembhard and cash considerations to the Hawks. It is the sort of trade that can reshape a rotation in one shot while also forcing the front office to sort through the extra pieces that come back in the deal, especially for a team still trying to tighten its roster around the rest of the season.
Ryan Nembhard is the name to watch next, because there is a real chance he does not stay on the roster for long. If he is let go, he could still draw attention elsewhere, with teams such as the Nuggets mentioned as possible suitors, which would make this a trade with a second ripple effect after the headline swap is already complete. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Suddenly Face An Opening Night Problem With Two Rotation Pieces
The Hornets were already planning to use the preseason to sort through their depth, but two rotation spots now need extra attention after offseason on-court work left Kon Knueppel and Grant Williams sidelined. Both injuries are hamstring-related, and the timing matters because the team was counting on these minutes to get a better read on how the second unit fits together before games start to count.
Charlotte does have enough roster depth to absorb the losses for now, which should give the staff a chance to look at backup options and keep experimenting in exhibition play. Still, the absence of two players who were expected to factor into the rotation leaves an early-season wrinkle, with both set to be evaluated again in the first week of the regular season and unavailable when opening night arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Hornets Hit With Early Rotation Concern After Busy Offseason
Charlottes offseason has already delivered a reshaped look, and now the early rotation picture is getting a little murkier. After sending LaMelo Ball to Minnesota and adding Buddy Hield and Ryan Nembhard from Atlanta in the Dorian Finney-Smith deal, the Hornets were already sorting through how the pieces might fit as camp approaches.
The latest snag comes with Grant Williams and Kon Knueppel, who are both expected to miss the preseason because of hamstring injuries suffered during offseason on-court work. Their situations will be checked again in the first week of the regular season, leaving Charlotte with a little less time to settle on combinations and roles before the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]