LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky has hired Baylor assistant Alvin Brooks III as associate head coach, bringing in a 20-year coaching veteran who helped build the Bears into the 2021 national champions during eight seasons with the program.

Recently-hired Wildcats head coach Mark Pope cited Brooks’ experience as a recruiter, strategist and relationship builder who has been mentored by some of college basketball’s best coaches — including longtime Baylor coach Scott Drew, who turned down the job before the school hired Pope nearly two weeks ago.

Brooks said he was excited to join Pope’s staff in a release Thursday and added, “I’m very appreciative of the opportunity to join a storied program, with such a passionate fan base as we chase banners together.”

The Houston native previously coached at Kansas State before joining Drew’s staff at Baylor and has also worked at Sam Houston State, Bradley and Arkansas-Fort Smith, where he won the 2006 NJCAA Division I title. Brooks earned another junior college title the next season at Midland.

Brooks’ father, Lamar coach Alvin Brooks II, was Kentucky’s director of operations under Billy Gillispie from 2007-09. Pope recently hired former Georgia and Cal coach Mark Fox as associate coach along with Jason Hart and Cody Fueger as assistants.

There are 36 prep races for qualifying for the 2024 Kentucky Derby, and even the most ardent of horseracing fans could get overwhelmed with so much to keep track of. However, one race has historically stood above all others in producing winners at Churchill Downs, the Florida Derby. Fifteen horses have pulled off the Florida-Kentucky double, while no other prep race has seen more than 11 horses win both. So, should this year’s Florida Derby winner in Fierceness make his way into your Kentucky Derby 2024 bets?

The Todd Pletcher-trained horse is the 3-1 favorite, according to the latest 2024 Kentucky Derby odds, just edging out Sierra Leone (7-2). Pletcher was the last trainer to pull off the Florida-Kentucky Derby back in 2017 with Always Dreaming, but Fierceness has stiff competition at Churchill Downs. The 150th running of the Kentucky Derby takes place on Saturday, May 4, at Churchill Downs. Before making any 2024 Kentucky Derby picks, be sure to see the horse racing predictions and futures bets from SportsLine’s elite horse racing expert Jody Demling. 

A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling enters the 2024 Kentucky Derby having nailed the winner of the Belmont Stakes four of the last six years, including an exacta in 2022 with Mo Donegal and Nest. He also called Flightline’s win at the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November of that year. 

Demling is at his best in the biggest horse races in the world like the Kentucky Derby 2024. In fact, he has hit 10 of the last 15 Derby-Oaks doubles at Churchill Downs. That means he held a ticket with the winners of both races all but five times in the last 15 years. He’s also called 10 of the last 19 Preakness winners, including nailing his Preakness winner, exacta and superfecta picks in 2023, keenly understanding when the Kentucky Derby winner was poised for victory or a massive upset. Anyone who has followed him is up huge.

Now, with the 2024 Kentucky Derby odds already on the board, Demling is sharing his picks and 2024 Kentucky Derby predictions over at SportsLine. Go here to see them.

Top 2024 Kentucky Derby predictions

One of Demling’s surprising 2024 Kentucky Derby picks: He is fading Fierceness, even though he’s the top favorite and just won the Florida Derby. With a 110 Beyer Speed Figure en route to the win at Gulfstream Park that towers over this year’s crop of three-year-olds, it’s easy to see the potential in this Todd Pletcher-trained son of City of Light by Stay Thirsty mare Nonna Bella.

However, consistency has been an issue for this undoubtedly talented colt. After breaking his maiden in his first start at Saratoga, Fierceness finished a disappointing seventh in the Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct. He followed with an unbelievable showing on his way to a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but then opened his three-year-old season with another dud, finishing third in the Holy Bull Stakes. So which Fierceness will we get at Churchill Downs? See which other 2024 Kentucky Derby horses to avoid at SportsLine.

Another stunner: Demling is high on Resilience, even though he’s a 35-1 longshot. He’s a target for anyone looking for a huge payday. A bit of a late-bloomer who didn’t win any of his first three starts, Resilience finally broke through on New Year’s Day at Gulfstream Park. After a disappointing fourth place in his fifth career start at the Risen Star Stakes, he then solidified himself as a Kentucky Derby contender with an early April win at the Grade II Wood Memorial Stakes. That race has been very favorable to success at the Kentucky Derby as 11 horses have won both, making the Wood Memorial the second-best prep race at producing Derby winners.

Also in Resilience’s favor are his connections and his pedigree. He is trained by William Mott, who is the reigning award winner for Outstanding Trainer, and who won the 2019 Derby with Country House. Additionally, Resilience was sired by Into Mischief, who was a Grade I winner back in his day and also sired the Kentucky Derby winners in 2020 (Authentic) and 2021 (Mandaloun). So, three of the last four Derby winners have a connection to Resilience, and given his impressive final tune-up at the Wood Memorial, he’s a name to consider with 2024 Kentucky Derby bets. See which other horses to back at SportsLine. 

How to make 2024 Kentucky Derby picks, bets

Demling is especially high on an epic double-digit longshot who “keeps getting better and better.” Demling is sharing which horse it is, along with his entire projected 2024 Kentucky Derby leaderboard, over at SportsLine.

Which horse wins the Kentucky Derby 2024, and which double-digit longshot is a must-back? Check out the latest 2024 Kentucky Derby odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling’s picks for the Kentucky Derby, all from the expert who nailed 10 Derby-Oaks doubles.

2024 Kentucky Derby odds, futures

Since Mark Pope arrived in Lexington 10 days ago, the Big Blue Nation has remained focused on how he’s building the Kentucky roster from the transfer portal. We’ve taken our eye off the ball. The new Kentucky head coach has still found plenty of time to prioritize high school players in the 2025 recruiting class.

Many questioned Pope’s ability to recruit top prospects from the high school ranks. On the day he finalized his three-man recruiting staff, one of the ten best players in America announced that Kentucky is one of his top choices.

Will Riley tells On’3s Joe Tipton that he’s trimmed his options to five: Kentucky, Arkansas, Alabama, Arizona, and the NBL. “Great program, great coaches and I can learn a lot,” Riley said.

The 6-foot-8 athlete is the second-ranked small forward and the No. 9 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class, according to On3. He’s from Kitchener, Ontario, and if that sounds familiar, it’s because you went to Rupp Arena during that 2016 Kentucky basketball season. He shares the same hometown as former Wildcat standout Jamal Murray. Team Canada will have a few former Wildcats in their starting lineup at the Paris Summer Olympics.

Riley has only taken one visit so far. He spent time at Arizona in March. Trips to Alabama and Kentucky are on the horizon.

There was some initial hesitation that Kentucky would take a step back in recruiting once John Calipari departed, and rightfully so. What he did on the trail in Lexington is unprecedented. Taking a step back doesn’t mean Kentucky is all the way out on recruiting future pros.

Jonathan Givony compiled a way-too-early mock draft for the 2025 class this spring. There you will find one Will Riley at No. 16 overall. Kentucky is still fishing in the right waters under Mark Pope.

More Kentucky News and Views on the KSR YouTube Channel

Kentucky Sports Radio has expanded its coverage of the Wildcats in the most ridiculous manner possible on our YouTube Channel. Here you will be able to find interviews with coaches and players, as well as commentary from the KSR crew. From Rapid Reactions following big events to our lengthy lineup of live shows, subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel to stay up to date on everything happening around the Big Blue Nation.