Top-10 recruit Miikka Muurinen includes Kentucky in list cut

Kentucky remains in the hunt for one of the top recruits in 2026 as five-star forward Miikka Muurinen has included the Wildcats in his list cut down to seven.

UK joins Arkansas, Duke, Indiana, Michigan, NC State and North Carolina among finalists for the 6-10 standout from Finland, currently ranked No. 8 overall and No. 1 at his position, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

Muurinen was offered by Kentucky last summer after Peach Jam and recently told KSR+ he’s planning to take an official visit to Lexington in the fall. He was originally set to visit campus last September before that trip fell through.

The five-star power forward took official visits to Michigan, Utah and Arkansas in the fall with the Wolverines and Razorbacks the only programs to host him among finalists. No other visits have been finalized at this point.

Before cutting his list down to seven, Muurinen also considered and held offers from Kansas, Illinois, Alabama, UCLA, Nebraska, Cincinnati, Texas Tech, Utah, Iowa, Texas, Creighton, Minnesota, Arizona State, BYU, St. John’s and Ohio State, among others.

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What are his thoughts on the Cats?

“I see how they let their bigs play,” he told On3’s Jamie Shaw in January. “They’re one of the schools I’m looking at right now. And Coach (Mark) Pope, I like him. He’s a big guy, a funny guy with high energy, and I like that. I’m excited to take a visit there.”

He previously said he plans to commit in the fall or winter and is sticking with the 2026 class. Role and playing style are top priorities when it comes time for a decision.

”In college I see myself as a stretch four, I think I could handle it a little more. … That’s something I’m looking a little more at doing in college,” he told On3. “The biggest factor for me will be, how are the schools going to play me? That’s what matters. I’m comfortable as a stretch four, shooting the ball, catching it at the top of the key and using my dribble, catching lobs, you know the basic stuff as a four or five man today.”

Some heavy hitters on that list of finalists. We’ll see where things go with Kentucky in the coming months, starting with an official visit this fall.