4-Point Play: Kentucky hosts pair of five-star recruits on official visits

It’s an important recruiting weekend for Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats, one that should provide clarity regarding the program’s efforts in 2025 and who will be joining Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno in their top-ranked class. We know all about the push for Acaden Lewis and Caleb Wilson, the pair of blue-chip prospects openly talking about teaming up together with Lexington seen as a possible (if not likely) destination.

So what does it mean that Kentucky is hosting a pair of five-star recruits at those same guard and forward positions this weekend? Coincidence, calculated or unrelated?

Chris Cenac and Mikel Brown arrive in Lexington

The former is a 6-10, 210-pound forward out of New Orleans, rated as the No. 5 overall prospect and No. 2 at his position in the On3 Player Rankings while the latter is a 6-3, 165-pound guard out of Orlando, rated as the No. 15 recruit and No. 2 at his position. It’d be huge getting either five-star on campus for a visit, but together? At the same time? Certainly hurts those narratives Pope can’t recruit with the big boys at Kentucky.

Cenac and Brown both arrived on Friday, the former sharing a photo from Memorial Coliseum while the latter is keeping things quiet for now — but he’s there, a source tells KSR.

2025 five-star forward Chris Cenac has arrived for his official visit to Kentucky

(IG: chriscenac1) pic.twitter.com/f5Nk2PW0Sa

— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) September 27, 2024

Kentucky is thought to be in a better position with Cenac than Brown, but not the overwhelming favorite for either — LSU is the perceived leader for the Louisiana native while Adidas ties are strong with the standout guard, who is coming off a visit to Louisville.

Meanwhile, the Wildcats have emerged as heavy favorites to land No. 30 overall prospect and No. 5 point guard Acaden Lewis with a decision coming ahead of the early signing period this fall. That would certainly help their chances with Caleb Wilson, the No. 6 recruit and No. 3 power forward in 2025, who pushed up his commitment timeline to “November or December, probably” following his official to Kentucky earlier this month.

We saw the Wildcats take Brandon Garrison’s commitment while hosting Great Osobor on a visit, but we also saw them close on Johnson and Moreno despite sitting pretty with Braylon Mullins and Eric Reibe — first to decide gets the spot. It’s gone both directions.

Will these officials push Lewis and Wilson to join the party sooner rather than later or could we see Cenac and Brown slide in to complicate those plans? Potentially a mix of both? That’s a good problem for Pope to have no matter how things unfold, assuming you’re able to land at least two of the four.

Amari Williams leads the break with an assist to Andrew Carr

Pope is a fan of positional versatility, prioritizing passing, shooting and dribbling at all five positions. He singled out Amari Williams for his ability to pass and feel to make the right reads at center coming from Drexel — beyond his status as a three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year. The Kentucky head coach actually said Williams, along with Brandon Garrison, “finished second and third in the whole summer in terms of assists.”

“They really stir the drink for us,” he said.

How about leading a fast break off the steal, Williams bringing it up and finding Andrew Carr for the spin-cycle dunk in transition? Yeah, that’ll do.

Oh, and throw in a contested Koby Brea three from the corner, drilled in Trent Noah‘s eye — sorry, Trent.

No such thing as too much Kentucky basketball practice content from the Joe Craft Center. Enjoy it as we continue to count down the days to Big Blue Madness.

Keeping the energy 🆙 pic.twitter.com/kGHmLJybDg

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) September 26, 2024

Keegan Brown accepts role with Wisconsin Herd

Remember all of that chatter about Keegan Brown, Pope’s former Director of Video & Analytics Strategy at BYU, potentially following the Kentucky head coach to Lexington back in the spring? He was a key staff member who Pope described as “a real, young talent in this game who encouraged us to push the envelope a little bit” out in Provo. He announced he was leaving BYU in June with many assuming a move to UK was inevitable.

Fast forward nearly four months and Brown has indeed found a new home, but it will not be in Lexington. Instead, he’s been named Head Video Coordinator with the Wisconsin Herd — the Milwaukee Bucks’ G-League affiliate — while also joining the NBA’s Future Basketball Operations Stars program.

“This journey has been a long one, filled with challenges and setbacks, but I wouldn’t change a thing. For those out there chasing similar dreams, I want you to know: if you truly love this game, keep pushing. Pour your heart, mind, and soul into it,” Brown announced Friday. “Success doesn’t come overnight, and I had to create my own luck along the way. It took 8 years, 7 Summer Leagues, 5 PITs, countless events, conferences, and 57 ‘no’s’ from NBA & WNBA teams before I finally got my ‘yes.’

“I’m beyond thrilled to take this next step, but this is just the beginning. The journey continues!”

I'm beyond excited to share that I’ve accepted the position of Head Video Coordinator with the Wisconsin Herd for the upcoming season. In addition, I’ve also been selected to join the NBA’s Future Basketball Operations Stars program, which I’ll be completing alongside my new… pic.twitter.com/IC2zLD9U0D

— Keegan Brown (@Keegs32) September 27, 2024

Scratch that one off the list, BBN. Brown is headed to the pros.

Any bets on how quickly Big Blue Madness tickets sell out?

Tickets for Coach Pope’s first Big Blue Madness at Kentucky are available starting right — *checks clock* — NOW. Friday, Sept. 27 at 5 p.m. ET marks the beginning of the virtual stampede to see the Wildcats in the unofficial tipoff to college basketball season with the annual event scheduled for Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. ET inside Rupp Arena.

With campout canceled once again due to ongoing renovations at Memorial Coliseum, tickets — all free — will be distributed exclusively online at Ticketmaster.com and through the Ticketmaster app by the time this post goes live.

In fact, if you’re reading this and you haven’t joined the queue, it’s probably too late. Just being honest.

Again, all patrons require a ticket for BBM, regardless of age. Online orders will have a minimal service fee attached with a limit of four tickets per household. All duplicate orders will be automatically canceled — looking at you, resellers.

Meanwhile, tickets for Club Blue’s Blue/White Preseason Event scheduled for Friday, Oct. 18 at Memorial Coliseum are still available.

It’s going to be a fun couple of weeks, BBN.