Who chose the props for Meleek Thomas' Kentucky photoshoot?

2025 five-star guard Meleek Thomas took his official visit to Kentucky this past weekend. Even though the Cats ultimately lost to Tennessee on Saturday night, the 6’3″ shooting guard got to enjoy one of the best atmospheres in Rupp Arena this season before things went south.

We’ll hear more about how that visit went as the week goes on, but today, we got a glimpse of what Thomas, the No. 6 overall player in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking, looks like in a Kentucky jersey. When you see the pictures, you’ll understand that the jersey is the most boring part of this story.

In the photoshoot that must have been styled by Carrot Top, Thomas posed with:

• An Ovo X Kentucky Varsity Jacket — That makes sense, Drake connection
• A baseball bat — Maybe a dual-sport athlete?
• One of those large hats that are popular now — A little odd, but the kids like ’em
• A small plastic shovel — Wait, what?!
• A construction zone vest — Is this now a theme? Will 2025-26 be a rebuilding season?
• A blue cowboy hat — Maybe a nod to all of Kentucky’s country music stars?
• A gold paper crown — Gold standard?
• Blue heart sunglasses — Yeah, I got nothing. Is this now a joke about Nashville bachelorette parties?

This bizarre photoshoot comes a few months after 2024 five-star center Jayden Quaintance posted a picture of a Kentucky cookie cake from his official visit that was, let’s say, not exactly Gold Standard:

Quaintance ended up committing to Kentucky; hopefully, the quirky photoshoot props have the same effect.