5-star PF Caleb Wilson includes Kentucky in Top 12, schedules official visit

It wasn’t long ago that Kentucky was thought to be out on five-star power forward Caleb Wilson. But the Wildcats are firmly in the mix.

According to On3’s Joe Tipton, Wilson has cut his list of finalists down to 12: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Duke, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee, Central Florida, and Southern California made the cut. More importantly, Tipton says that Wilson has scheduled an official visit to Lexington for the weekend of September 13 — Kentucky football hosts Georgia that Saturday.

The 6-foot-9, 195-pound Wilson is considered the No. 4 overall class of 2025 prospect by the On3 Industry Ranking.

NEWS: 5⭐️ Caleb Wilson, a top-5 prospect in the 2025 class, has cut his list to 12 schools, he tells @On3Recruits.

The 6-9 Power Forward has also scheduled two official visits 👀 (On3+): https://t.co/Nr1Vr8ocNX pic.twitter.com/5hgdsJ2MvK

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) July 31, 2024

Wilson was a major target for Kentucky under former head coach John Calipari. He even took an official visit to check out what the Wildcats had to offer last fall. Once Mark Pope took over the program in April, the new staff continued to monitor Wilson, although traction never appeared to truly pick up.

Something has clearly changed though. Pope and his assistants have been recruiting the Boozers twins (Cameron and Cayden), who are AAU teammates on the Nike EYBL circuit with Wilson for Nightrydas Elite, since the spring. Kentucky was a shadow at nearly every Nightrydas game throughout the spring and summer, ultimately ramping up its interest in Wilson. Nightrydas also won the 17U Peach Jam Championship earlier this month where Pope was front and center.

Across seven games played at Peach Jam, Wilson averaged 17.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, 2.3 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. He shot 62 percent from the field and was named Peach Jam Defensive MVP for his efforts.

Here’s what On3’s Jamie Shaw has to say about Wilson’s game:

“Caleb Wilson has a great frame, good length and natural pop. He plays really well in a phone booth, efficient movements in tight spaces, shows the footwork to shake free with the ball in the half court. He needs to continue getting stronger, which will help his base and balance. He is explosive around the basket, has go-to comfort over his left shoulder with patience. He can push the break and plays with pace. He has a vast array of offensive moves, at multiple levels. He is still learning his body and still gaining strength, this will only help his consistency. Tracking as one of the top players in his class.”

Not counting his trip to Kentucky last year under Calipari, Wilson has taken two official visits so far: Auburn and North Carolina. Along with a return visit to UK this fall, he’ll also spend an official visit on Alabama in September, according to Tipton. Georgia, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Alabama, and Auburn have all received unofficial visits in the past.

Wilson previously told Jacob Polacheck of KSR+ that he expects to take additional official visits to the likes of Arkansas (Calipari’s new team), Tennessee, Georgia Tech, and Kansas. This recruitment remains wide-open, but Kentucky is gaining momentum.