Who Kentucky is in touch with to open 2025 contact period

The direct contact period for rising juniors officially opened at 12:01 a.m. ET this morning, an opportunity to find out Kentucky’s top recruiting priorities in the class of 2025. Unlike most years, though, a first wave of offers has already been distributed to seven different players. Darryn Peterson was the first last August, followed by Koa Peat, Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas this past April and Jasper Johnson, Cameron Boozer and Cayden Boozer in May.

John Calipari has been adamant throughout his time in Lexington about waiting until the summer of recruits’ junior campaigns to extend scholarships, almost always in person. There have been exceptions — typically with players seen as likely reclass candidates — but nothing to this extent. It’s a clear change in philosophy, putting an emphasis on early evaluation and displayed interest years before final decisions are made.

But that doesn’t mean the opening of the contact period isn’t significant for Kentucky. Today marks the first time staff members can reach out to recruits directly rather than express interest through parents and coaches. It’s a chance to begin building one-on-one relationships through text messages and phone calls as players look to schedule visits and start narrowing things down in their respective recruitments.

So who have Calipari and his staff spoken to Thursday? The list is already impressive, one featuring some familiar faces and other new names to keep an eye on.

Darryn Peterson

• Size: 6-foot-5, 175 pounds
• High School: Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy
• Hometown: Canton, OH
• Position: Shooting guard
• On3 Ranking: No. 8 overall, No. 4 SG

In his own words: “My dad talks with (Kentucky) a good bit, so a relationship is there for sure,” Peterson told On3. “They let their guards go to work and give them freedom. Wherever I go, I want to fit in. I feel like I fit in with how they play.”

Jayden Quaintance

• Size: 6-foot-10, 225 pounds
• High School: Word of God Christian Academy
• Hometown: Cleveland, OH
• Position: Center
• On3 Ranking: No. 29 overall, No. 5 C

Danny Carbuccia

• Size: 6-foot-0, 160 pounds
• High School: Archbishop Stepinac
• Hometown: White Plains, NY
• Position: Point guard
• On3 Ranking: No. 48 overall, No. 7 PG

Alier Maluk

• Size: 6-foot-10, 180 pounds
• High School: Imani Christian Academy
• Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
• Position: Power forward
• On3 Ranking: No. 36 overall, No. 5 PF

In his own words: “They are a blue-blooded school. Coach Cal has made a lot of history with his NBA talent in college,” Maluk told KSR. “One of the best coaches arguably of all-time.”

Shon Abaev

• Size: 6-foot-7, 185 pounds
• High School: Calvary Christian
• Hometown: Clearwater, FL
• Position: Small Forward
• On3 Ranking: No. 49 overall, No. 11 SF

Jasper Johnson

• Size: 6-foot-4, 170 pounds
• High School: Link Academy
• Hometown: Lexington, KY
• Position: Combo guard
• On3 Ranking: No. 21 overall, No. 1 combo guard

In his own words: “I’ve been watching them forever and they breed great guards. De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, Tyrese Maxey, so many great guards,” Johnson told KSR. “Just to be able to put on a Kentucky jersey and play at Rupp, inside my home state and city, that’d mean a lot. … It’s a big motivation. I can definitely see myself doing that one day, so I might as well lock into the opportunity to better myself.”

Meleek Thomas

• Size: 6-foot-3, 175 pounds
• High School: Lincoln Park Performing Arts
• Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
• Position: Shooting guard
• On3 Ranking: No. 3 overall, No. 1 SG

In his own words: “The coaches, the play style, the pro-environment, the player history, and how they recruit,” Thomas said of what interests him about Kentucky.

Caleb Wilson

• Size: 6-foot-9, 195 pounds
• High School: Holy Innocents Episcopal School
• Hometown: Atlanta, GA
• Position: Power forward
• On3 Ranking: No. 13 overall, No. 3 PF

Darius Acuff

• Size: 6-foot-1, 175 pounds
• High School: Cass Technical
• Hometown: Detroit, MI
• Position: Point guard
• On3 Ranking: Unranked

In his own words: “They send guys to the league,” Acuff told KSR+. “They produce the best of the best. I’m getting better every year. I’ve still got two years left in high school. I’m just trying to get better and keep going.” 

Trey McKenney

• Size: 6-foot-5, 205 pounds
• High School: St. Mary’s
• Hometown: Flint, MI
• Position: Shooting guard
• On3 Ranking: No. 20 overall, No. 7 SG

Isiah Harwell

• Size: 6-foot-6, 190 pounds
• High School: Wasatch Academy
• Hometown: Pocatello, ID
• Position: Shooting guard
• On3 Ranking: No. 7 overall, No. 3 SG

Will Riley

• Size: 6-foot-7, 180 pounds
• High School: The Phelps School
• Hometown: Kitchener, ON
• Position: Shooting guard
• On3 Ranking: No. 65 overall, No. 15 SG

Koa Peat

• Size: 6-foot-7, 200 pounds
• High School: Perry
• Hometown: Gilbert, AZ
• Position: Small forward
• On3 Ranking: No. 6 overall, No. 3 SF

In his own words: “They develop pros, and that is something that has really caught my eye,” Peat told On3. “Coach Cal (John Calipari) is a great coach.”

Davion Hannah

• Size: 6-foot-6, 180 pounds
• High School: Nicolet
• Hometown: Glendale, WI
• Position: Small forward
• On3 Ranking: No. 55 overall, No. 14 SF

Mikel Brown Jr.

• Size: 6-foot-0, 150 pounds
• High School: Sunrise Christian Academy
• Hometown: Orlando, FL
• Position: Point guard
• On3 Ranking: No. 24 overall, No. 3 PG

RJ Greer

• Size: 6-foot-3, 165 pounds
• High School: Springboro
• Hometown: Springboro, OH
• Position: Shooting guard
• On3 Ranking: No. 72 overall, No. 18 SG

This post will be updated throughout the day…

Want to keep the conversation rolling? KSBoard has a live thread breaking down each new name of interest for the Wildcats. Make sure you subscribe to KSR+ for access.