Kentucky continues to recruit 7-foot-3 Italian center Luigi Suigo

Mark Pope and his staff continue to recruit a 7-foot-3, 240-pound center out of Italy.

Olimpia Milano’s Luigi Suigo, a class of 2026 prospect, is hearing from some of the biggest schools in college basketball. Jacob Polacheck of KSR+ first broke the news of Kentucky’s interest in Suigo back in February, and the two sides appear to have remained in contact since then. On3’s Joe Tipton reported this week that the likes of UK, Illinois, Purdue, BYU, Louisville, and Texas A&M, among others, are some of the programs currently showing interest in the Italian big man.

Illinois is the only school so far to host Suigo for an official visit, which happened in February. The 18-year-old will take his second and third OVs later this month to see Purdue (Matt Painter loves his seven-footers) and Indiana. Suigo is considered a four-star talent in the class of 2026 by On3.

An Italian 7’3” center is being recruited by the likes of Illinois, Purdue, BYU, Kentucky, Louisville, and Texas A&M.

Read (On3+): https://t.co/TZGAx1lHzl pic.twitter.com/OFY6SvHFCE

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) June 9, 2025

At the Adidas Next Generation Tournament earlier this year, Suigo averaged 9.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. He shot 58.9 percent from the field, 30 percent from three, and 77.8 percent from the free throw line. Suigo was a silver medalist at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup as a member of the Italian National Team and was named the MVP of the LBA 2025 Next Gen Cup.

“Everyone that goes in the paint against Suigo gets their shot blocked,” Italian basketball scout Giuseppe Invernizzi told KSR+. “He completely dominates near the basket.”

Pope is casting a wide net with his 2026 recruiting efforts. He’s already managed to land one international prospect, incoming freshman Andrija Jelavić. Could Suigo find his way to Lexington, too?

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