Kentucky is a Finalist for 5-Star Point Guard Ikenna Alozie

Mark Pope has cast a wide net to reel in big fish in the 2026 recruiting class. One of those big fish is Ikenna Alozie, and Kentucky is in the right waters.

On Tuesday, the five-star talent trimmed his list of schools to eight. Kentucky was among his top choices, along with Alabama, Arizona, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas, Louisville, and Washington.

A 6-foot-2 point guard who plays for Dream City Christian (AZ), Alozie is the nation’s No. 9 overall prospect and No. 2 point guard in the 2026 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Alozie is a Nigerian native who has yet to make a trip to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, despite being a target for the prominent programs in Lexington and Louisville. He has one official visit under his belt, a trip to Washington. His recruiting travels have also taken him to Arizona for an unofficial visit.

Even though he’s never been to Rupp Arena, in a conversation with Joe Tipton, he sounds like he wants to get to Lexington for a game. “Honestly, their environment. The arena is crazy. They’re known for their fanbase. The way their guards have impacted the game, I feel like I could fit well in that type of situation.”

Alozie trimmed his list as Kentucky was hosting another elite point guard. Five-star talent and Northern Kentucky native Tay Kinney is currently completing his official visit in Lexington. That’s setting up to be another battle between the Cats and the Cards on the recruiting trail.

The third-ranked point guard in the class, Deron Rippey, picked up an offer from Mark Pope following an impressive performance at the NBPA Top 100 Camp and at the USA 19 Training Camp in Colorado Springs. He spoke to Jack Pilgrim about his ascension in the recruiting ranks and shared his thoughts about Kentucky.

On3 Scouting Report on Alozie

Jamie Shaw shares what he sees in the talented point guard’s game: “Alozie is an explosive lead guard. He does not dance around with the ball, making a move and getting downhill quickly in a direct line to the front of the rim. Alozie is a quick-twitch defender, guarding the ball full court and his shooting looks like it continues to improve from three.

“Alozie is so explosive. He lives in the paint, putting constant pressure on the opposing team. His ability to collapse a defense at the point of attack, puts his Utah Prospects team is a lot of advantageous situations. He has quick hands on defense and plays with a competitive edge. The next step in his evolution is working through his passing reads (limiting turnovers), and the jump shot. His explosive burst, especially on the ball, is unique among his peers.”

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