Kentucky
Cameron Boozer says Kentucky is 'completely different program' under Mark Pope
Cameron Boozer was at the top of the priority list for Kentucky under John Calipari, the Wildcats a sneaky darkhorse to land the nation’s best frontcourt recruit in 2025. Miami (FL) had the hometown edge while the five-star prospect’s father, Carlos Boozer, is a Duke legend — the Blue Devils will be in the conversation until the end no matter what. That’s been the core three, plus Florida and UNC as other schools making a push.
And then Coach Cal left in the middle of the night to Arkansas, shaking up the basketball world at every level.
John Calipari’s move to Arkansas
“It was interesting, for sure. I wasn’t really expecting it,” Boozer told KSR. “When I first saw it, I was like, ‘Oh, that’s weird.’ I don’t think anyone was really expecting it, I was really surprised by it. I wasn’t expecting him to leave Kentucky.”
Instead of pitching Lexington and the larger-than-life brand that is Kentucky basketball, Calipari is now pitching Fayetteville and the Razorbacks. To say it’s an adjustment would be an understatement, Boozer trying to make sense of it all while hearing out the Hall of Fame coach in his transition from blue to red.
To make it a little easier on his prized recruit, Coach Cal is comparing his move to a high-profile business relocating — same product, different home.
“Cal called me the other day, said he’s the same coach, just moving headquarters,” the five-star forward said. “He said he wants to recruit us still and that he’s still very interested in us. He said it’s like when a big company moves to a new location, it’s the same thing he did.”
Where do things stand with Kentucky?
Boozer hinted that a visit to Arkansas could be in the works and things are going well with the Razorbacks in early conversations. As for Kentucky and where things stand under new head coach Mark Pope? Well, it’s complicated.
Has the No. 2 overall recruit heard from the Wildcats since the change?
“No,” he said bluntly.
What does he know about the new staff in Lexington?
“Nothing,” Boozer added.
As for his thoughts on the program itself post-Calipari, the five-star forward admitted the new Arkansas coach is really all he knows about Kentucky — he is just 16 years old, after all. Boozer was still in diapers when Coach Cal arrived in Lexington, so his entire life has been John Wall, Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, De’Aaron Fox and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
So if Pope and his staff were to express interest, it’d be an entirely different conversation and pitch. Not that he wouldn’t be receptive to the new-look Wildcats, but change is change.
“I think it’s a completely different program. I think a big part of all their success recently and the players they’ve gotten is because of Coach Cal,” Boozer said. “If (Kentucky) were to reach out, it would be a whole different recruiting process.”
Miami, Duke, UNC and Florida among schools pushing
Again, that works on Kentucky’s side, too. Pope has been relentless in his pursuit of filling out a coaching staff and debut roster, one he expects to compete at a championship level in year one. High school recruiting is simply on the back burner for now — as it should be, at least for a few weeks. Nothing personal either direction.
As for the other schools involved, Boozer again singled out Miami (FL), Duke, Florida and UNC as the schools prioritizing him most at this point.
We’ll start with the hometown Hurricanes.
“They’ve been recruiting me since freshman year,” he said. “They’ve been saying the same stuff (as other schools), that they’re interested in us and they really want us there.”
Keeping it in the state, the five-star forward’s AAU teammate and four-star SG Alex Lloyd just committed to Florida. Could he join him in Gainesville?
“(Alex) said it’s a great school and he’s excited to go,” Boozer added. “It’s a great opportunity for him. Coach (Todd) Golden is a great coach, as well, so I’m glad my dog is committed there.”
What about Duke and the opportunity to be a legacy star in Durham?
“They came to visit us,” he said of their push for him and his twin brother, Cayden. “They’ve been saying the same stuff, that they are super interested in us. They talked about some stuff with the portal, some stuff about their players. We just have good communication.”
Could he play for his father’s arch rival in Chapel Hill? The Tar Heels are making a push.
“They offered me a little while back, but they’ve been active ever since they offered me,” Boozer said. “I think they offered me last year during EYBL. They want to get us up for a visit and that they’re super interested in us.”
Nailing down a decision
His brother is a blue-chip prospect in his own right, Cayden Boozer ranked No. 16 overall and No. 3 among point guards. It’s assumed the twins will play together in college, but is that a guarantee? That remains up in the air, their decisions made separately based on their own fits and needs.
“We could go together, we could not,” the standout forward said. “At the of the day, we are doing our own process. So it’s about what school is right for us. It might be different for me, or might be the same for both of us.”
When could we see a final decision for the No. 2 overall prospect in the rising senior class?
“Probably sometime around the start of the next school season,” he said.
It’s clear Kentucky has some work to do if it wants to jump back in the race under Pope.
13 things more likely to happen than winning the Powerball jackpot
Hoping to win the Powerball jackpot? Here are 13 things more likely to happen than becoming an instant millionaire.
The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Thursday, June 25, 2026 winning numbers for each game.
Cash Ball
02-08-24-32, Cash Ball: 09
Check Cash Ball payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
Evening: 6-3-0
Midday: 9-6-0
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Evening: 5-7-6-0
Midday: 5-2-6-6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Millionaire for Life
03-13-14-34-45, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Courier Journal digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.
On Thursday, Kentucky’s home and away SEC opponents for the 2026-27 season were revealed and on top of learning the three opponents who they will play twice, there are some very intriguing matchups. In conference play, Kentucky will face six teams who are among the top 25 in many preseason rankings.
In SEC play, Kentucky will play Tennessee, Vandy and Ole Miss all both home and away. The home matchups include Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vandy. As for the road tilts, the Wildcats will face Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee and Vandy. Let’s take a look at some interesting developments from the schedule release.
John Calipari returns to Rupp Arena (again)
In Calipari’s first year with Arkansas, he got the best of Kentucky when he came into Rupp Arena and left with a 10-point victory, a game where you could really feel the tension all game long in the building from Kentucky fans, which translated onto the court with the players. Last season, it was Kentucky who shocked everyone when they stole one on the road against a top 20 Arkansas team after a rough up-and-down season up to that point. Now, the two will face off again as Kentucky will look to get the win in Rupp and make sure Calipari doesn’t get two in a row in the building. It’ll be another highly-anticipated showdown.
Kentucky hits the road at Texas
This is shaping up to be a major challenge for Kentucky next season and may even end up being one of the biggest games of the season. Texas is seen by many as a clear top 10 team, with some even having them within the top five and when you combine that with the fact that the game is on the road, the Wildcats will have their hands full. The Wildcats fell to the longhorns in the 2024-25 season, and it’ll be a much stiffer challenge this time.
Which game could be a trap?
We don’t have the game-by-game dates yet, so it’s hard to say with a lot of confidence, but opponent-wise, Georgia could really give Kentucky fits. In Pope’s first year, his team struggled handling the physicality of the Bulldogs and now, they’ve retained one of their best guards for another year and have added physicality through the portal. Mike White’s teams love to make opponents uncomfortable and they could do that once again down in Athens. Another sneaky team to watch is Oklahoma, who will have very good guard play. Kentucky will face both teams on the road.
Overall, it’s a pretty fair SEC schedule for a Kentucky team who has the capability of a return to being atop the conference once again. Mark Pope has such a system-fit squad and he can do some damage in the SEC.
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Fourth of July festivities to celebrate in Louisville
See the Fourth of July festivities planned in Louisville for America’s 250th birthday celebration.
Fourth of July is almost here, and Kentuckians are getting ready to light up the sky.
Before you plan your fireworks celebrations, it’s important to know what is and isn’t allowed under Kentucky law. Here’s what to know about fireworks laws and safety tips in the Bluegrass State ahead of Independence Day.
Can you set off fireworks in Kentucky?
Yes. As long as you live in a place where local ordinances don’t prohibit it, according to the Kentucky State Fire Marshal’s website.
Are fireworks legal in Louisville?
In Louisville or Jefferson County, larger display fireworks are not legal due to a local law. Some consumer products that don’t leave the ground, such as sparklers, are allowed.
If the cautionary label on the firework has the words “explosive,” “emits flaming pellets,” “flaming balls,” “firecracker,” “report” or “rocket,” it is automatically a no-go, according to the Louisville-Jefferson County Code of Ordinances.
But, smaller ones like sparklers, cylindrical or cone fountains, wheels and ground spinners are legal. Still, don’t let the size fool you − they can burn up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Learn more: Check out these 4th of July events taking place across Kentucky
How to use fireworks safely
The state fire marshal suggests following the following advice when using fireworks:
- Use fireworks outdoors.
- Obey local laws.
- Keep a bucket of water or a working water hose nearby.
- Use fireworks as intended and avoid altering them or combining them.
- Never relight “dud” fireworks. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
- Spectators should keep a safe distance from the person lighting the firework (the individual lighting it should wear safety glasses).
- Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a “designated adult operator.”
- Do not use homemade fireworks or illegal explosives.
- Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community.
- Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
- Read and follow all instructions on the label.
Former Courier Journal reporter Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez contributed. Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.
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