Report: Mark Pope targeting Baylor's Alvin Brooks III as third Kentucky assistant coach

Mark Pope has already hired two assistant coaches to his new staff at Kentucky and is now zeroing in on his third target. According to Kentucky Sports Radio, Pope is targeting current Baylor associate head Alvin Brooks III to join Cody Fueger and Jason Hart as the Wildcats assistants.

Brooks has spent the past eight years in Waco working as the top assistant to Scott Drew. He is regarded as one of the top recruiters in the country having helped the Bears to bring in top players such as Ja’Kobe Walter and Keyonte George in recent years.

Additionally, Brooks has helped develop players such as Jeremy Sochan and Davion Mitchell into NBA lottery picks. He also brings experience as an assistant on the staffs at Kansas State, Sam Houston State and Bradley prior to his time at Baylor.

Alvin Brooks III is the son of current Lamar head coach Alvin Brooks, who previously worked as the director of basketball operations at Kentucky under Billy Gillispie from 2007-09. KSR stated in its report that multiple sources have confirmed Brooks III is expected to accept the offer and round out Pope’s first staff.

Pope is set to take over a Wildcats program coming off of its second first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament in the past three years. Now that it appears his staff is close to being completed, he can focus on getting his roster together to attack 2024-25.

Mark Pope adds Jason Hart to Kentucky staff Monday

Kentucky announced Monday that Pope had hired Jason Hart as an assistant coach to mark the second addition to his staff so far this offseason.

Hart was a standout player during his career and has been in the coaching ranks since 2011, bringing a multitude of experiences with him ahead of his next chapter with the Wildcats.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join the Big Blue Nation,” Hart said. “I’ve played and coached at every level of basketball and there is not a more passionate fan base than this one. I will give every ounce of energy to our players and this program, and I can’t wait to get started. I want to thank Mitch Barnhart and Mark Pope for their confidence in me, and I want to say a special thanks to my family for their continued support.”

Hart played at Syracuse, making the school’s All-Century Team after scoring 1,503 career points with 709 assists (second in program history) and an all-time program-leading 329 steals. Also spending nine seasons in the NBA after being selected with the No. 49 overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks.