Kentucky shops local

Good morning! Hope you had a fabulous weekend. It’s OK if it wasn’t in the tropics like Dan Hurley. He was certainly due for a stroll on the beach.

Let’s dive into the news.

1. Mark Pope taps Kentucky’s local pipeline

Kentucky hasn’t always retained the top in-state prospects, but it refocused on those players the last few years. New UK coach Mark Pope wasn’t about to stop that recent trend.

On Friday, 4-star prospect Malachi Moreno, the top center in the class of 2025 and the No. 26 overall recruit, per the 247 Sports composite, announced he’ll head to Lexington. He chose the Wildcats over Indiana, Louisville, Ohio State, Iowa, Notre Dame and Arkansas. (That last program should make BBN puff out their chests a bit.)

“It’s the best feeling in the world,” he told On3.com “Being a Kentucky kid and growing up watching the success they had made me want to go there even more.”

It’s the first commitment for Pope in the class of 2025, and continues the run of recent in-state players for UK. That includes the likes of Reed Sheppard and 2024 prospects Trent Noah and Travis Perry.

The 7-1 Moreno might have a bit more upside than Noah and Perry though. He runs the floor well, has good athleticism and excels as a rim protector, rim-runner and rebounder.

As he continues to improve his outside shot, he’ll be even better in Pope’s offensive system that prizes big men who can stretch a defense.

Landing Moreno was an important start for Pope’s tenure at UK. It’ll be interesting if Moreno’s decision helps lure other recruits in.

The Cats are doggedly pursuing 5-star guard — and Lexington native — Jasper Johnson, who is expected to make his decision later month among Kentucky, Alabama and North Carolina.

Pope isn’t viewed as a coach who’ll load up on freshmen like John Calipari did, but if he can snag 3-4 top prospects in each class, with 1-2 from the area, it’ll go a long way to endearing him to the BBN.

2. Will we start seeing top prospects commit?

The top of the 2025 recruiting rankings isn’t the usual programs. Not that they’re bad programs, but these certainly aren’t the ones that usually sit atop the rankings.

Subscribe to Premium to read the rest.