Kentucky is still in the mix for one of the most intriguing names in the 2027 class, and the list is getting smaller by the day.
AJ Williams has trimmed his recruitment to 10 schools: Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, Arkansas, BYU, Auburn, Duke and Illinois. The 6-foot-7 wing reclassified into the 2027 cycle and already sits near the top of the national board, with ESPN and 247Sports ranking him No. 5 overall and Rivals slotting him at No. 4, according to A Sea of Blue.
The Wildcats earned their place early. Kentucky offered Williams on Sept. 1 and moved quickly into the conversation with a player whose production jumps off the page.
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 another layer to his profile, averaging 19.3 points and 7.9 assists.
That last number is what makes him such a rare catch. High-end wings can usually fill it up. Far fewer are creating nearly eight assists a night against elite competition.
Williams also helped the United States win gold at the FIBA Under-17 AmeriCup, where he was part of a roster that had to value more than just individual scoring. That experience only adds to the appeal of a player who already brings size, scoring and playmaking in one package.
For Kentucky, the fit is obvious. Williams has the kind of versatility that lets a staff bend an offense around him.
He can bring the ball up, initiate sets, attack mismatches and still punish defenses when they overplay the pass. He doesn’t need to be tucked into one rigid role, and that kind of flexibility is exactly what makes him so dangerous.
The competition is real, though. Duke and North Carolina bring the blue-blood pull.
Auburn and Arkansas have been aggressive in this recruiting era. BYU has proven it can land elite talent with a strong pitch and resources.
Georgia and Georgia Tech could also matter if proximity and familiarity end up weighing heavily.
Kentucky’s case is tied to how a player like Williams can become the engine of a modern offense. He could affect the game in a dozen ways without needing a traditional point guard to do all the heavy lifting.
The next steps in his recruitment will show which schools get visits and how fast he wants to make a call. For Kentucky, getting onto the list was the first hurdle. Now the Wildcats get to keep selling the idea of Williams as a centerpiece.
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