Kentucky’s 2026 Basketball Pro Day arrived at Rupp Arena with the kind of scene the Wildcats were hoping for: NBA decision-makers in the building, top recruits watching closely, and a roster getting its first real showcase before the games start counting.
The annual event is Kentucky’s 12th preseason scouting day, and it gives the Wildcats a chance to go through measurements, testing, drills and scrimmages in front of representatives from all 30 NBA teams. Mark Pope usually turns the afternoon into a full practice, so this is more than a casual workout. It’s the first real peek at the group in a competitive setting before exhibition play begins next week and the regular season opens November 3.
One of the more notable faces in the building was No. 2 overall recruit DeMarcus Henry, who was there on his official visit with his family. The five-star wing has already visited Louisville, UConn and Arkansas, and he’s also considering UNC, BYU, Ohio State and Kansas. He is expected to make his decision in November.
Kentucky also got a look at Kam Williams, who is edging closer to a return. He is not expected to do much at Pro Day, but he was on the floor getting shots up and making plenty of them as he continues to work back from back-to-back foot surgeries. The junior wing is expected to be available for the season opener against Manhattan on November 3.
Another familiar name in a new role was John Pelphrey, who was hired this week as Kentucky’s new director of player development. Pelphrey, known as The Unforgettable, was courtside and spending time around NBA scouts and special guests while representing the program in Mark Pope’s staff.
In Other News...
Kentucky Fans Face An Early Rupp Ticket Crunch
Kentucky basketball fans hoping to lock in their seats for next season will get an early shot at Rupp Arena this week, when single-game tickets for the first 10 home dates of the 2026-27 schedule go on sale to the general public on Ticketmaster Tuesday at 5 p.m. EST. The batch includes three exhibition games along with several regular-season matchups, giving the Big Blue Nation its first chance to plan ahead for what should be another busy winter in Lexington.
SEC home tickets will come later, depending on availability, so the early window does not cover the full conference slate. There is also a separate chance to land seats for Kentuckys CBS Sports Classic meeting with North Carolina at Madison Square Garden, with that matchup set for a presale and then a general on-sale on specified dates, adding another marquee event for fans willing to move quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys LSU Test Comes With Bigger Stakes Than Fans Realize
Kentuckys Week 6 meeting with LSU in 2026 already has the feel of a game that could tell a lot about where the Wildcats are headed. The Tigers are set to come to Lexington for Lane Kiffins third trip there in seven years, and they arrive with a roster that has been reshaped as much by the transfer portal as anything else. LSU added 41 players this offseason, a sign of just how much turnover the Tigers are trying to absorb after losing a number of key contributors.
For Kentucky, that makes the matchup more than just another SEC test. The Wildcats will be dealing with a team that looks different in a lot of places, but still carries the talent and speed that make LSU dangerous no matter who is running it out there. Arizona State transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt is expected to be one of the more important new faces, and his presence only adds another layer to a game that already comes with plenty of intrigue for a Kentucky team measuring itself against the leagues upper tier. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Overtime Heroics Turned On One Play Fans Might Have Missed
Kentuckys overtime escape over South Carolina had plenty of moving parts, but one of the biggest plays came in a spot fans could have easily missed. On the decisive two-point try, CJ Baxter stepped up in protection and helped keep the play alive long enough for Kenny Minchey to find an open lane for the game-ending pass. It was the kind of small-but-crucial detail that can get buried under a wild finish, even though it helped decide a game the Wildcats had spent much of the day chasing.
Baxters value to Kentucky has gone well beyond that single snap. He leads the Wildcats in rushing yards and touchdowns this season, making him one of the teams most important offensive pieces even before the final sequence in overtime. For Kentucky, the finish only added to the appeal of a comeback that erased a 17-point first-half deficit and turned a tense afternoon into a 35-34 win. [Read more 🡒]