While many thought that the exodus of John Calipari to Arkansas meant the Kentucky Wildcats would stop getting 5-star prospects, Mark Pope has emphatically put that to rest.
Prospects and incoming recruits have been listening to Mark Pope, and he’s been able to reel in some of the best in the country from the class of 2025, including the likes of Malachi Moreno, Acaden Lewis, and Jasper Johnson, all of whom could finish as 5-star recruits when the final class of 2025 rankings come out.
All eyes are now on Caleb Wilson, the top recruit from the state of Georgia and the No. 8 overall player in the Class of 2025, per 247 Sports. Wilson is considering Kentucky, and it appears that it could come down to the Cats or Tar Heels.
If you follow Trilly Donovan on his Discord, he recently said that someone told him that Kentucky had already received signed paperwork from Wilson during the early signing period but was waiting to announce at a later date, similar to the AJ Dybantsa recruitment.
However, in a recent article at On3, recruiting guru Joe Tipton touched on that rumor, saying Wilson’s father has denied the claim.
“There were some rumors circulating on Monday that Wilson had signed with Kentucky. According to Caleb’s father, Jerry, he has not signed anywhere. I spoke directly with Caleb on Monday night, and he said the plan is for him to commit in January,” Tipton wrote.
However, Tipton did have some good news, saying that Kentucky’s NIL offer is currently the highest Wilson has received thus far.
“According to a source, Kentucky has the highest NIL pledge for Wilson by a significant margin. My gut tells me Kentucky wins this one out, but a late move from the Tar Heels wouldn’t shock me,” Tipton wrote.
If true, then that’s a very good sign for where Kentucky basketball stands in the NIL landscape of college basketball. You’re simply not going to win recruiting battles like this unless you’re willing to get into seven-figure deals. It sounds like Kentucky has that kind of money to work with and is willing to commit large portions of it to get elite recruits like Wilson.
In a separate article at On3, Jamie Shaw said he’s still picking Kentucky to win this battle, putting his confidence level at 60% that Wilson will end up in Lexington.
“UNC has made a late push, but sources around the recruitment continue to suggest they are watching Kentucky here. This one should be wrapping up soon, but continue to pay attention if there are any shifts as January is right around the corner,” wrote Shaw.
Wilson would be the highest-rated recruit for either the Tar Heels or Cats. With Johnson, who plays with Overtime Elite in Atlanta, coming to Kentucky, his potential could be enticing to a player like Wilson.
Per MaxPreps, the senior forward is averaging 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 3.6 blocks per game. He should be a prominent force on both ends of the court in the college ranks.
With a choice coming soon, expect more information on this in the near future.
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