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.”

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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.”