Kentucky
Caleb Wilson is either trolling or praising Kentucky recruits
Despite a hard-fought battle by Mark Pope, Caleb Wilson is heading to Chapel Hill for his college basketball career after picking North Carolina over the Kentucky Wildcats.
The rising top-10 commit had it down to just those two programs and ended up choosing the Tar Heels. Apparently, he had decided far before he actually made the official announcement, reportedly giving UNC a silent verbal in December.
Now, Wilson is either trolling the Wildcats or giving them some very strong praise. We’ll let you decide which it is.
Bleacher Report Hoops posted a video with Wilson in which he gave his top five recruits from the 2025 class, and many incoming Kentucky names were on his list, an odd amount for a player who just spurned their future school.
The Tar Heels, who typically have a strong recruiting class as well, didn’t have any make the cut, just a strange situation.
“I put Acaden Lewis at the 1, Jasper Johnson at the 2, me at the 3, Nate Ament at the 4, and Malachi Moreno at the 5,” Wilson said.
As you probably already know, Kentucky has already signed Lewis, Johnson, and Moreno while also being a finalist for Ament. So there’s a chance, albeit a small one since Ament is seen as a longshot, that Wilson just named four future Wildcats to his top five recruits.
It should also be pointed out that none of the Kentucky commits are ranked in the top 10. The highest ranking any of them has is Johnson being 17th overall at ESPN. Moreno and Lewis aren’t even in the top 20 of any service.
Wilson was among the biggest players that had yet to commit to the class of 2025, so missing on him this late was a big setback. The No. 1 player from Georgia and the No. 4 power forward in the class, Wilson is a 6-foot-9 forward and has the ability to be a scoring machine who’s expected to be a star for the Tar Heels.
Kentucky, meanwhile, is looking elsewhere to fill that void on next year’s roster.
Kentucky football coach Will Stein reflects on new position
Will Stein was officially introduced to fans and media as the head coach for the Kentucky Wildcats, replacing Mark Stoops.
LEXINGTON — Kentucky football had its first spring game under new coach Will Stein at Kroger Field on Saturday.
The offense, in blue jerseys, had its moments. So too the defense, donning white uniforms.
Ultimately, the blue squad earned a 23-18 victory in a game called just after noon because of inclement weather.
Stein admitted he “got emotional” as he charged onto the field prior to kickoff.
“I know it wasn’t a real game, but when I ran on the field, I definitely — man, I felt it,” he said. “It was like a wave running over me. And very, very, just cool.”
While it doesn’t count in the standings, Stein walked away pleased.
“I think we got a lot of really good work,” he said. “That’s the goal of spring is to improve with fundamentals and technique, learn how to practice, learn what winning edges that we need throughout spring to go into summer and fall and prepare the team for play. And we came out of the scrimmage clean. There (were) no injuries, which to me, that’s the biggest win of the day. I could (not) care less about the score.
“If we come out clean, that’s good. The Wildcats won.”
New starting QB Kenny Minchey looked about as expected, with sharp passes evened out by moments of inconsistency. Martels Carter Jr., a defensive back who is lining up at running back this spring, scored a touchdown and had several nice runs.
And the defense forced multiple three-and-outs and also picked off one Minchey pass on a two-point conversion.
This story will be updated.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
Time is of the essence if you’re Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats right now. With the transfer portal set to close in just a few days, chaos reigns as programs and players scramble to secure their next opportunities. Among the fray is Kentucky, which finds itself navigating a tumultuous landscape in search of elite talent. With many of the Top 25 players already committed, the urgency for the Wildcats to land a game-changing recruit has never been more at the forefront following this season.
One of Pope’s primary targets is Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman. The 6-foot-9 rising junior made waves during his time at Syracuse, averaging 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 47.4 percent from the field last season. His potential is undeniable; many experts predict Freeman will be a future first-round NBA draft pick, making him a coveted asset for any program.
Freeman’s recent visit to Kentucky has sparked much-needed hope. However, despite positive feedback from his trip, he left without making a commitment to join one of college basketball’s blue bloods. The competition is fierce. The question looms: Can Kentucky outmaneuver these schools and secure his commitment?
Advertisement
Well, Friday morning, the Cats were able to outlast one of their deepest competitions for now in Connecticut. Freeman was set to make his way to see the Huskies, but he has since cancelled his Friday visit, per UConn Report (subscription required). Now it appears the Huskies officially have bowed out of the race. That’s one down, and just the Alabama Crimson Tide, it appears, stands in the way for Mark Pope and Kentucky.
Mark Pope faces additional pressure following the return of Rob Wright to BYU, leaving the Wildcats in a precarious position when it comes to key portal targets. They need to act swiftly to avoid being left without significant talent as the portal closes. Freeman’s skill set would not only bolster their roster but would also complement rising star Malachi Moreno, as Freeman would be the ideal fit for the power forward.
As the clock ticks down, all eyes are on Mark Pope and his ability to close this deal. The stakes are high, and for Kentucky, landing Donnie Freeman could be the key to turning chaos into triumph, but will they be able to close perhaps the deal amidst the age of transfer portal madness? Well, they are one step closer now, it appears.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky basketball closing in on a Donnie Freeman commitment?
-
New Jersey5 minutes agoNearby shooting interrupts 13-year-old’s birthday party in Paterson; 1 killed, 3 injured
-
New Mexico11 minutes agoCalm and warmer conditions move into New Mexico
-
North Carolina17 minutes agoMemorial service held for former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett
-
North Dakota23 minutes ago
Richard D. Langowski Obituary April 16, 2026 – Tollefson Funeral Home
-
Ohio29 minutes agoThree Buckeyes Who Proved They Belong at Ohio State Spring Game
-
Oklahoma35 minutes agoOklahoma’s Jahsiear Rogers ‘Knew It Was Time to Showcase’ His Talents In Spring Game
-
Oregon41 minutes agoOregon Tight End Jamari Johnson Speaks Openly About New Role
-
Pennsylvania47 minutes agoPennsylvania State Police investigating incident in Salisbury Township
