4-star 2026 SF Dean Rueckert has 'good relationship' with new Kentucky staff

Dean Rueckert was once a major recruiting target for Mark Pope when the latter was still the head coach at BYU. Not much has changed now that Pope is coaching at Kentucky.

A native of Provo, UT, Rueckert became close with Pope and assistant coach Cody Fueger (who followed Pope from BYU to Kentucky) before the two moved to Lexington. Pope and Fueger extended Rueckert an offer from BYU and hosted him for multiple unofficial visits on the Cougars’ campus. But it wasn’t until this past June that college coaches could reach out and contact class of 2026 recruits.

It didn’t take long for Pope and Fueger to rekindle that relationship on behalf of the Wildcats.

“Kentucky has (reached out),” Rueckert told KSR at the adidas 3SSB Palmetto Road Championship over the weekend. “Mark Pope, Cody Fueger. I got a good relationship with those guys when they were at BYU and now they’re still recruiting me while at Kentucky.

“I really like them. They have a lot of energy and they know how to get their guys going, playing hard.”

Rueckert, ranked No. 53 overall in 2026 by the On3 Industry Ranking, suited up for Utah Prospects 16U down in Rock Hill, SC for the final 3SSB event of the summer. The 6-foot-7 wing had multiple games last week where he stood out. Pope and Fueger even watched him play from the sidelines on a couple of occasions. Fueger, in particular, has been in his ear.

“Cody Fueger has reached out a lot, just checking up, talking,” Rueckert added.

6’6 Dean Rueckert Section 7 highlights! #27 in 247Sports 2026 rankings 👀 @dean_rueckert @Section7Az @247Sports pic.twitter.com/T2kRmN2JbP

— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) June 24, 2024

Rueckert was already interested in what Pope and his staff were pitching at BYU. Now that they’re at Kentucky, there’s an extra shine to those conversations.

“(Kentucky is) one of the best basketball programs in the country, like in history,” Rueckert said. “There’s not really much you can say to top them, they’re one of the best programs ever.“

It’s still early in the recruiting process, so Rueckert is keeping all of his options open. So far, he’s earned offers from the likes of Utah, California, Washington, UNLV, Washington State, and a few others. The new staff at BYU, led by head coach Kevin Young who coached in the NBA the previous eight seasons, is “reaching out a lot”.

“He’s an NBA coach,” Rueckert said of Young. “He knows how to get guys to the next level. It’s a cool opportunity that he’s there at BYU. It’ll be fun to watch how they do.”

Rueckert describes himself as a tall guard who can shoot and drive to the rim. He wants to improve his on-ball defense and staying in front of his man going into his junior high school season.