A star-studded all-Kentucky lineup is possible in 2026-27

I know, I’m getting ahead of myself. Like, way ahead of myself. But with enthusiasm on the upswing across Big Blue Nation, I watched Team USA on a mid-summer afternoon with visions of the future dribbling in my head. Seeing Jasper Johnson alongside fellow Kentucky native and No. 1 overall prospect in 2026, Tyran Stokes, on the court in Switzerland, I wondered what it might be like if they did the same thing in Lexington in the 2026-27 season.

To make that happen, Johnson would need to return for his sophomore season, a very real possibility in the NIL era, considering his name has not popped up on many mock NBA drafts as of yet. Of course, Stokes would have to commit, too, something that is still very much up in the air. Mark Pope got the 5-star point guard on campus this summer for an official visit and spent additional time with him in Colorado Springs during the USA Select practices, but his recruitment has a long way to go.

Then, like most daydreams, my imagination wandered further. Assuming Malachi Moreno spends his sophomore year at Kentucky, and Trent Noah sticks around too, Kentucky would be a Tay Kinney commitment away from something unbelievably special: an all-Kentucky lineup on the floor at the same time for Kentucky, with each guy being either a 4-star or 5-star caliber player. Like Stokes, Kinney’s recruitment is far from settled, but the point guard from Newport is ranked 23rd nationally and is quickly rising up big boards. He, too, made an official visit to Kentucky recently.

The All-Kentucky Star-Studded Lineup

Just think about it:

PG: Tay Kinney
SG: Jasper Johnson
SF: Tyran Stokes
PF: Trent Noah
C: Malachi Moreno

This isn’t some token gimmick. It isn’t as if Mark Pope would put a bunch of Kentucky walk-ons on the floor on Senior Night for the sake of making Big Blue Nation smile. Four out of those five players will likely be McDonald’s All-Americans, all play different positions, bringing a unique skill set to the court, and they all hail from the Bluegrass.

To boot, the Cats would also likely have Lexington Catholic alumnus Reece Potter available as well, a 3-star recruit in his own right, and a good backup option if one of these five players leaves or does not commit.

Again, this is getting way, way, way ahead of myself. Maybe one or more of these Kentucky boys pulls a Travis Perry and spurns the Wildcats for mediocrity elsewhere. But a guy can dream, and I plan to try my hardest to speak this fantasy into existence.