KSR Today: Baseball leaves for Omaha, Basketball Recruiting heats up

We’re halfway through another summer week and there’s still plenty of news to keep the KSR machine churning. We’ve got a myriad of items on our Kentucky sports agenda today, including baseball’s departure for Omaha, another football camp at Kroger Field, and Mark Pope and his staff making the rounds at the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Orlando. Add in the fact that it’s Drew Franklin’s birthday and it’s a pretty fantastic Wednesday if you ask me.

Don’t worry, Drew. I won’t share which birthday you’re celebrating, but I’ll advise you to cherish your final year in your 30s. I’ve only got 14 days left in mine and I intend to make each one count. Whoops.

Anyway, let’s get to the rundown.

Kentucky Baseball leaves for Omaha

The road to Omaha begins today for the Kentucky Baseball team — literally. At approximately noon ET, the team bus will pull out of Kentucky Proud Park and BBN is invited to come see the Cats off. Parking is available in the purple lots and the bus will leave from the College Way lot right next to the stadium.

We’ll hear from the team again on Thursday, which is Media Day in Omaha. It’ll be Saturday (1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET, ESPN) before they take the field vs. NC State. Yesterday, Nick Mingione went on the Paul Finebaum Show to recap what he calls the best two weeks of his life. We’ve heard a lot of this before, but Mingione’s sincerity and joy are contagious.

What kind of crowd will Kentucky have in Omaha? That’s apparently a topic of discussion among some national writers. Tom Hart stood up for BBN, telling one college baseball pundit that Blue will get into Omaha, a case I’m sure he’ll make when he guest hosts KSR this morning.

Had a national college baseball writer (I won’t expose him here) tell me Kentucky fans won’t travel to Omaha. I countered with #BBN being a big event, party happy fan base that has the potential to take over the town. Who’s right? #RoadToOmaha

— Tom Hart (@tom_hart) June 11, 2024

Daniel Hager and Steven Peake will be among the Kentucky fans in Omaha. Last night, they previewed the Cats’ run on a new episode of “Bat Cat Beat,” which is required viewing as we get ready to pump it up at the CWS.

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Who — if anyone — will Kentucky offer today?

On the basketball front, eleven of Kentucky’s twelve scholarship players are now moved into the Wildcat Lodge. That leaves only Amari Williams, who will arrive later this week. Yesterday, we learned that Collin Chandler will wear the No. 5 at Kentucky, and saw pictures of Jaxson Robinson and Koby Brea making themselves at home in the locker room and lodge.

While the players settle into their new digs and attend summer classes, Mark Pope and his coaching staff are recruiting the next crop of Cats at the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Orlando, Florida. The NCAA evaluation period at the event ends today and so far, it’s been a busy one. Yesterday, Kentucky offered 2025 On3 5-star PF Chris Cenac and four-star PF Nikola Bundalo, who is not at the event but is a top 25 player in the class.

On3’s Jamie Shaw is in Orlando and named Cenac the MVP of Day 2. On3 ranks Cenac higher than the other services, at No. 6 overall and No. 3 among power forwards.

When it comes to bigs, at this camp, Chris Cenac might be on a level of his own. The 6-foot-10 power forward has excellent size and length, but he also moves in a very fluid manner. Cenac has been able to show a vast offensive bag, finished at the rim, stretching the floor, and also throwing passes from multiple levels. On3’s No. 6 overall in 2025 finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds in his first game of the day. He has great size and fluidity, his ball skills are developed as he pushes the break and makes plays. The piece that remains consistent with Cenac is his rebounding. He has good hands and excellent timing.

Jamie Shaw, On3

Who else does Kentucky have their eyes on? Brandon Ramsey detailed all the prospects Pope, Alvin Brooks III, Cody Fueger, and Jason Hart have been watching in Orlando and how they’ve fared. In addition to Cenac, the staff has been watching 5-star CG Brayden Burries, 4-star SG Hudson Greer, 4-star SF Tounde Yessoufou, 4-star CG Davion Hannah, and a pair of Kentucky boys, 4-star C Malachi Moreno and 4-star SG Kaden Magwood, among others. Be sure to check out his post for a full recap.

Will more offers come today? Jack Pilgrim is back from vacation and will be working the phones to see who the staff is watching closest.

One last Kentucky Football camp

Kentucky Football camp season is wrapping up. Today, the staff will hold the final Wildcat One Day Camp at Kroger Field, one more chance for the staff to check out some of the rising talent in the region and host visitors. Boyle County wide receiver Montavin Quisenberry camped at Kentucky on Monday and Nick Roush believes will ultimately commit to being a home-state hero.

Adam Luckett will be in Lexington today to keep an eye on other prospects and will share his thoughts on KSBoard. He also has a new recruiting notebook up that is well worth your time and a KSR+ subscription.

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NBA Finals Game 3

Can the Mavericks get off the mat now that the series is in Dallas? Game Three of the NBA Finals is tonight (8:30 PM ET, ABC), with Boston holding a 2-0 lead. The Mavs are a 2.5-point favorite but must get some offense going to avoid falling further into a hole. Only five of the previous 36 teams down 0-2 in the NBA Finals have come back to win the title.

Some threes from PJ Washington would help. As bettors of the KSR Parlay are well aware, the former Cat is 1-8 from beyond the arc over the first two games. Maybe being back in American Airlines Center will help him find his groove again.

Marvel Trivia with Shannon the Dude at KSBar

If you’re looking for something to do tonight, Shannon the Dude is hosting Marvel trivia at KSBar starting at 7 p.m. Although this graphic depicts him as Thor, he will be wearing a Spiderman costume and will likely roll his eyes if you challenge any of his questions and answers about the MCU. (Do we think he knows that means Marvel Cinematic Universe?)

Tom Hart Day on KSR

You might as well make it a day at KSBar, which is also the site of today’s radio show. Come on by to enjoy the show, which is guest-hosted by Tom Hart because it’s Wednesday, and wish Drew Franklin a happy birthday. I hear we even have a special drink available in his honor.

The fun starts in an hour on 790 WKRD and affiliates across the state, or right now on the KSR Preshow.