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4-Point Play: Where Kentucky turns after Braylon Mullins cuts the Cats

Jack PIlgrimby:Jack Pilgrim•about 8 hours
Photo of Mark Pope (left) and Kentucky target Acaden Lewis via UK Athletics
Photo of Mark Pope (left) and Acaden Lewis via UK Athletics

Mark Pope and the Kentucky staff have turned into professional jugglers, balancing the start of season practices at the Joe Craft Center with 20 hours allowed by the NCAA per week while also making the most of the live recruiting period that runs from September to late April with only a few days blocked off here and there in that eight-month stretch. The schedule will get more complicated when the high school and college seasons begin, working around games on both sides to put together in-home, high school and campus visits. That’s why they’re racking up the SkyMiles now to lay the foundation for 2025 and beyond, getting a feel for targets they’re ramping up or falling behind with ahead of the early signing period in November, followed by the late period in April.

They got some clarity on one prized recruit Tuesday when top-25 prospect Braylon Mullins cut Kentucky from his list, leaving Indiana, UConn and North Carolina as his trio of finalists. Once seen as a top contender to land his commitment, the Wildcats took a hit with Jasper Johnson joining the fold, the Greenfield, IN native expressing fit concerns with the two shot-heavy guards overlapping in playing styles.

Where does that leave Kentucky as Pope looks to close out his first full recruiting cycle in Lexington for 2025?

All eyes on Acaden Lewis and Caleb Wilson

That question is pretty simple, actually. As the Wildcats have fallen back with Mullins, they’ve ramped up in a major way with top-30 point guard Acaden Lewis, who has cut his list to four with Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina and UConn remaining in contention. Coming off an official to Storrs with the Huskies, a visit to Lexington has been privately scheduled and should be revealed sooner rather than later. It will be a chance for UK to close after being seen as the firm favorite coming down the home stretch of his recruitment.

The best part of that development? Top-five recruit Caleb Wilson wants to team up with him in college, the two publicly discussing a package deal with Jasper Johnson doing his part to recruit them both to Kentucky.

You’ve already got the No. 2 center in the nation in Malachi Moreno — who also openly pushed for Lewis — to go with the No. 14 overall prospect in Johnson, two consensus top-30 recruits nationally. Can Pope add two more in Wilson (No. 5) and Lewis (No. 30)? Today’s development was a step in that direction, the Wildcats pushing their chips in on that four-man class.

Among the other seniors still technically on Kentucky’s radar — a dwindling list as Pope nails down his top priorities:

  • Nate Ament (No. 4 overall, No. 2 SF)
  • Chris Cenac (No. 7 overall, No. 4 PF)
  • Mikel Brown Jr. (No. 11 overall, No. 2 PG)
  • Brayden Burries (No. 12 overall, No. 1 CG)
  • Niko Bundalo (No. 25 overall, No. 7 PF)

Jasper Johnson cooks at OTE

It’s easy to get caught up in what Kentucky is potentially losing in Braylon Mullins, inarguably among the best shooters in high school basketball, but don’t forget what the Wildcats are adding in Jasper Johnson, either. The five-star guard is a dynamic scorer with an endless bag of tricks as a shot-maker, built to get buckets under Mark Pope in Lexington.

Making his way to Overtime Elite for his senior year of high school, the Lexington native made quite the first impression in Atlanta last week, dominating in his first run with RWE. Johnson hit tough shots and facilitated at the highest level, “doing whatever he wanted,” as one attendee noted, namely putting a poor defender on a poster.

And he’ll be teaming up with Newport’s own Tay Kinney, a fellow top-25 recruit nationally in the class of 2026, giving the Wildcats a chance to double-dip with in-state standouts at OTE in back-to-back classes.

Alvin Brooks III rocks March Madness socks on day one

That’s for then, but what about now? The folks in Lexington have their eyes on the prize, understanding the assignment from day one of hanging banners at Rupp Arena. Don’t believe me? Look at the socks UK Associate Head Coach Alvin Brooks III wore on the first day of practice.

“March Madness socks in September,” he posted on his Instagram story, adding a ‘backward design model’ that included identifying desired results, determining assessment evidence and planning learning experiences and instruction to build toward those desired results.

And if there’s a guy who understands March Madness results, it’s the 2021 national champion during Brooks’ time at Baylor.

How did things go for the Wildcats on the first day of practice? All of the intel is over on KSBoard, including individual standouts and big-picture takeaways that should have Big Blue Nation counting down the days to Big Blue Madness.

(Spoiler alert: it was a good day inside the Joe Craft Center.)

Want more Kentucky Basketball intel? Join KSR Plus for access to bonus content and KSBoard, KSR’s message board, to chat with fellow Cats fans and get exclusive scoop.

Daimion Collins cleared to play at LSU

We’ll wrap up today with a positive update on a kid who has been through a lot dating back to his time at Kentucky and is now closer to home at LSU. Losing his dad as a sophomore in Lexington and then missing the majority of his debut season in Baton Rouge due to injury, Daimion Collins has been fully cleared for all basketball related activities.

Collins played in just six games during the 2023-24 season after dislocating his shoulder in November, averaging 4.3 points and 2.2 rebounds in 10 minutes per contest. Looking for a fresh start under Matt McMahon with the Tigers, the former five-star now has that opportunity going into his redshirt junior season at full strength.

Best of luck to Daimion as he looks to reach his potential in the SEC.

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2024-09-24