Top 2027 Recruit CJ Rosser Set to Visit Kentucky for Matchup with Oklahoma
Kentucky fans heading to Rupp Arena on Wednesday night won’t just be watching the Wildcats take on Oklahoma-they’ll also be sharing the building with the top-ranked junior in high school basketball.
CJ Rosser, a 6-foot-10 power forward out of Southeastern Prep in Orlando, Florida, is making an unofficial visit to Lexington, continuing what’s already been a busy recruiting season for the No. 1 player in the 2027 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. This will be Rosser’s third campus visit of the season, having already checked out North Carolina in November and Louisville just last week.
Rosser’s recruitment is already drawing attention across the country. He’s been spotted at Duke and Florida State as well, and his list of suitors is only growing.
But Kentucky is firmly in the mix, having extended a scholarship offer back in May 2025. He’s one of seven juniors with a UK offer and one of three from his own high school team-Southeastern Prep-joining point guard Beckham Black and center Obinna Ekezie Jr. on that list.
Leading the charge for Kentucky in Rosser’s recruitment is assistant coach Mikhail McLean, who’s quickly built a reputation as a rising star on Mark Pope’s staff. McLean has been instrumental in UK’s frontcourt development and has taken a hands-on approach with Rosser’s recruitment.
That included an international trip last summer to watch Rosser shine for Team USA at the FIBA U16 Men’s AmeriCup in Mexico. Rosser didn’t just participate-he started all six games and helped lead the U.S. to a gold medal, averaging 13.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game.
Rosser’s game is tailor-made for today’s fast-paced, positionless style of basketball. At last summer’s Peach Jam-a premier Nike EYBL event that brings together many of the top high school players in the country-Rosser spoke about his growing relationship with Pope and the Kentucky coaching staff. He said he’s been in regular contact and likes what he’s seen from the Wildcats under Pope’s leadership.
“I really liked their play style a lot, that’s really how the game’s going,” Rosser said, pointing to Kentucky’s win over Duke in the 2024 Champions Classic as a moment that stood out.
That style-up-tempo, ball movement, spacing, and pick-and-roll action-lines up with how Rosser sees himself fitting into the college game. He’s made it clear he wants to play in a system that runs, spreads the floor, and leans into versatility.
And if Kentucky fans are looking for another reason to be excited about Rosser, here’s one: his favorite NBA player is none other than former Wildcat Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s currently making a strong case for back-to-back MVP honors with the Oklahoma City Thunder. There’s something poetic about Rosser watching SGA’s alma mater go head-to-head with SGA’s current team while considering his own college future.
While Rosser’s visit is a big moment for the program’s long-term recruiting outlook, the more immediate concern for UK fans is the 2026 class. As of now, Kentucky hasn’t landed a commitment from any high school senior in that group. That puts them in a rare spot-just one of two SEC programs, along with Georgia, still waiting to get on the board for 2026.
The Wildcats are still in the hunt for several top-10 players in the class, but none are currently leaning toward Kentucky. That said, Pope remains confident.
Speaking on his weekly radio show Monday night, he addressed the state of recruiting and gave fans a glimpse into the staff’s mindset.
“I’m excited about recruiting for next year. I think we’re in play with some players that fit us, that I think could be really, really special here,” Pope said.
“We’ll see how that goes. We’re in the process of recruiting our own players and recruiting players that are still available.
Of course, this portal will be really important for us. But I’m excited about where we are right now.”
So while the 2026 picture continues to develop, the presence of CJ Rosser in the stands at Rupp Arena is a reminder that Kentucky’s recruiting reach remains strong-and that the future, especially in 2027, could be very bright.