Kentucky MBB hosting high-profile recruits for Big Blue Madness

It’s finally here, basketball season. Oh, how we’ve missed you.

Wednesday night was the Big Blue Nation’s first post-GLOBL JAM taste of what to expect out of the 2023-24 Kentucky men’s basketball team. With ESPN on location at Rupp Arena, Kentucky hosted its 13th annual Pro Day in front of over 50 NBA scouts and personnel. If you missed it, don’t fret — we’ve got plenty of takeaways here. That was just the appetizer though.

On Friday night at 7:00 p.m. EST on the SEC Network, Big Blue Madness will consume the Kentucky fanbase. Considering Thursday morning’s news of the arrival of 7-foot-2 Croatian freshman Zvonimir Ivisic in Lexington, there is plenty of basketball buzz across the state. While BBM has lost some of its luster over the years, there is belief that Kentucky and head coach John Calipari have some tricks up their sleeves for the 2023 edition.

With at least 10 high-profile high school recruits expected to be in attendance, the program will want to put on an extra entertaining show. So who will be in Lexington on Friday to soak in Big Blue Madness? Let’s find out together.

*All player rankings are courtesy of the On3 Industry Ranking*

CLASS OF 2024

Billy Richmond (SF) 6-6, 200 | Camden (Camden, NJ)
4-star: No. 24 overall, No. 9 SF

• Not long after Billy Richmond III cut his list down to four college options, it was revealed that he’ll take his second trip to Lexington in two months on Friday for BBM. He spent his official visit to Kentucky in mid-September. Richmond is also considering Memphis, Alabama, and LSU. It should be noted that his dad, Billy Richmond Jr., criticized Memphis’ NIL situation on Facebook the other day. Kentucky continues to trend as one of the primary frontrunners, but Richmond still has an official visit to Alabama set for next month.

Somto Cyril (C) 6-10, 240 | Overtime Elite (Enugu, Nigeria) COMMITTED
4-star: No. 51 overall, No. 7 C

• Kentucky’s lone commit for the 2024 cycle, Somto Cyril will make a return trip to Lexington where he will hopefully play the role of assistant recruiter. Cyril has been a Wildcat since late June.

Travis Perry (PG) 6-2, 170 | Lyon County (Eddyville, KY)
4-star: No. 88 overall, No. 11 PG

• Targeting a November commitment, Travis Perry will be in Lexington on Friday for the second time this month. The in-state product is also heavily considering the likes of Purdue, Missouri, Ole Miss, Western Kentucky, Michigan, and Cincinnati. Kentucky offered Perry last June and has hosted him multiple times for visits. Head coach John Calipari has made it clear that Perry is wanted at UK.

CLASS OF 2025

Darryn Peterson (SG) 6-5, 175 | Huntington Prep (Canton, OH)
5-star: No. 2 overall, No. 1 SG

• Arguably Kentucky’s top high school target, Darryn Peterson was the first class of 2025 member to receive an offer from the Wildcats. Now at Huntington Prep (WV), the five-star guard doesn’t appear to be coming close to a decision — he dropped a top 16 last month that included the likes of UK, North Carolina, Louisville, Kansas, UCLA, Indiana, and more. There’s been speculation that Peterson could find himself in the class of 2024 by the time it’s all said and done. UK would happily take him either way.

Caleb Wilson (PF) 6-9, 195 | Holy Innocents Episcopal School (Atlanta, GA)
5-star: No. 4 overaell, No. 3 PF

• One of the biggest risers in the high school basketball world this summer, Caleb Wilson is now a consensus five-star prospect. Kentucky offered him in June and it didn’t take long for him to lock in a visit for BBM. Wilson has upcoming official visits to Stanford (Oct. 20) and Auburn (Oct. 27). Tennessee is also standing out to the versatile big man.

Darius Acuff (PG) 6-0, 175 | IMG Academy (Detroit, MI) OFFICIAL
4-star: No. 9 overall, No. 1 PG

• Like Wilson, Darius Acuff was another big riser in the high school recruiting rankings this year, going from relatively unknown to a clear-cut top-15 prospect in a matter of months. Kentucky offered him in April and there has been constant communication ever since. Calipari even visited Acuff last month. This will be an official visit for Acuff, so he’ll be in Lexington all weekend. He’s already taken an official visit to Michigan and has an upcoming official to Rutgers in February.

Jasper Johnson (CG) 6-3, 165 | Link Academy (Lexington, KY)
4-star: No. 12 overall, No. 1 CG

• A homegrown kid, Jasper Johnson recently transferred from Woodford County to basketball powerhouse Link Academy (MO). He earned an offer from the Wildcats back in May and continues to hear from UK. A trio of Kentucky coaches even traveled to Link Academy last month to see Johnson in person. He’s coming off official visits last month to West Virginia and Georgia Tech.

Malachi Moreno (C) 6-11, 200 | Great Crossing (Georgetown, KY)
4-star: No. 41 overall, No. 4 C

• Another close proximity prospect, Malachi Moreno is steadily rising up the national rankings. Not only will he be at Big Blue Madness on Friday, but he’ll also return to Lexington a couple of weeks later on Oct. 28 when Kentucky football hosts Tennessee at Kroger Field. He officially visited Iowa last week. Although he holds offers from the likes of Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Arkansas, and plenty more, UK has yet to officially pull the trigger on a scholarship for Moreno. Could that offer finally come this month?

CLASS OF 2026

Jayden Johnson (SG) 6-5, 180 | Trinity (Louisville, KY)
4-star: No. 37 overall, No. 11 SG

• You’re probably going to notice a trend here. Jayden Johnson, another talented in-state prospect, has been hearing from the Wildcats since last year. He grew up a Kentucky fan and has been receiving interest from UK beginning with his eighth-grade season. The likes of Ohio State, Michigan, Xavier, Missouri, Cincinnati, and a few others have already extended him offers. This will be Johnson’s first visit to Kentucky.

Gabe Weis (SF) 6-7, 170 | Washington County (Springfield, KY)

• Get ready to hear Gabe Weis’ name mentioned more and more over the coming years. The in-state product has burst onto the scene and will likely be a top 100 recruit in the very near future. Just last week, Texas A&M and Nebraska extended offers, joining the likes of LSU, Illinois, Cincinnati, and Iowa. Kentucky coaches have taken notice, recently starting to ramp up their interest. Weis will be one to keep a close eye on moving forward.

Tay Kinney (PG) 6-0, 160 | Newport (Newport, KY)

• Finally, northern Kentucky’s own Taylen Kinney is on the verge of blowing up. The rising sophomore picked up an offer from Notre Dame on Wednesday, adding to a collection that already includes the likes of Cincinnati, Louisville, Purdue, Texas A&M, Ohio State, and more. He’s a prospect that UK will continue to monitor moving forward.

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