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...
CJ Bailey Owned NC States Costly Late Mistake After Vanderbilt Loss
After NC States loss at Vanderbilt, quarterback CJ Bailey faced the cameras and tried to sort through the kind of ending that lingers long after the final whistle. Bailey talked through his mindset after the setback, what the game asked of him, and how the offense had to adjust along the way, including a shift from tempo to a huddle approach as the pace changed.
The most unavoidable part of the discussion was the late sequence in which Bailey fumbled, a play that shaped the final stretch and became the obvious focal point afterward. Even so, Bailey also pointed to the support he has felt from his family and the personal growth he has experienced this season, a reminder that for a young quarterback, one difficult night is only part of the larger arc. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Fans May Not Like What A Doeren Change Would Cost
Dave Doerens place in the pay hierarchy has been secure since NC State handed him a five-year, $28.1 million extension before the 2024 season, a deal that pushed him into the top 40 among college footballs highest-paid coaches. The contract came with the kind of commitment that signals stability, from a 2026 compensation figure of $6.375 million before bonuses to a package layered with performance incentives and perks.
Any talk of moving on from Doeren, then, is not just about football evaluation, but about the financial reality attached to it. The contract also carries a buyout that would top $9.75 million if he were fired without cause before January 2027, which helps explain why change at the top would come with a steep price tag for NC State, even before the usual questions about timing and direction enter the picture. [Read more 🡒]
NC States Vanderbilt Collapse Just Reignited A Painful Program Debate
A rough afternoon at Vanderbilt did more than hand NC State another frustrating result, it pushed the Wolfpack back into an uncomfortable national conversation. ESPN slotted them at No. 5 in its Week 3 Bottom 10 after the late-game fumble by quarterback CJ Bailey helped turn a winnable trip into a loss, and the snap judgment fit a program that has too often drifted between promise and disappointment.
The latest attention is only part of the story, though. The Athletic recently labeled NC State the most average Power Four program, a harsh but telling assessment of a team that has not consistently separated itself from the middle tier. For a fan base used to wondering whether the next week will bring progress or another letdown, the debate feels less like a one-off reaction and more like a familiar indictment. [Read more 🡒]