The offseason is well underway, and it is now transitioning into AAU season. As coaches from across the country head to different events starting with the live period this weekend, you can find Mark Pope and the majority of his staff in Memphis for the first Nike EYBL event of the year.
Kentucky
Fans flock to first KY Derby Week Sunday Funday races in over a decade
Kentucky Derby post positions for Renegade, Fulleffort and Further Ado
After the Kentucky Derby post position draw, expert handicapper explains which horses will have tough decisions early on in the race and why.
Sunday racing during Kentucky Derby Week returned on April 26, drawing both Derby regulars and newcomers.
Organizers dubbed the event “Sunday Funday,” marking the first time horse racing had been held at Churchill Downs Racetrack on a Sunday during Derby Week since 2010.
With gates opening at 11:30 a.m. and the first race post time at 12:45 p.m., it seemed some staffers and attendees came straight to the racetrack from church.
“Some of us have to go to church and get blessed before we come,” said a woman dressed in her Sunday finest by the Paddock Gate, with 10 minutes to go before the gates opened for the day.
“Some of us stay blessed,” another worker responded.
Billy and April Bensing were among those who took in the day’s racing from the Stakes Room & Balcony.
Speaking outside the Paddock Gate, the Shively couple — dressed in bright fluorescent orange and pink — said they typically attend 502’sDay, the Tuesday of Derby Week, each year with family and friends, largely because the crowds are thinner.
But when they heard Churchill Downs was adding a seventh day of racing to the eight-day Kentucky Derby schedule, they jumped at the chance to come for a second day without the kids.
For Chad and Leslie Cooper of Jonesville, Louisiana, another day of racing meant another outfit to put together. This year marked their second visit to Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby Week, after having such a good time last year.
“We came so far to do this, we’re going all out. It don’t matter if it’s low-key or not,” Leslie Cooper said.
She added, “Our kids are all grown and gone, so we can just enjoy ourselves.”
In contrast, Taiya Hardy was attending her first horse race. She also took the opportunity to wear a brightly colored spring dress on what started out as an overcast, chilly day that later turned abundantly sunny.
“Colorado doesn’t have clothes like these,” she said of the outfit and hat, the latter of which she purchased at Pix Shoes at 210 S. Preston St. in downtown Louisville.
Also coming to Churchill Downs for the first time were Jack and Kathy Arzooyan and their cousin, Wendy Franz. The Minnesota and Michigan residents, along with seven other family members, traveled to Kentucky this past week to search for a common ancestor.
They succeeded in finding his gravestone at Grove Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville, about 40 minutes outside Louisville.
Their flight home was scheduled for April 27, but in the meantime, the cousins decided to take advantage of everything the home of twin spires has to offer.
“This is icing on the cake,” said Kathy Arzooyan.
For Sam and Taylr Henson, bourbon was the main draw to Louisville. That Derby Week happened to coincide with their trip was an added bonus.
The couple traveled from Nashville, Tennessee, to Louisville to attend a few bourbon tastings around town. Coming to “Sunday Funday” was not on the couple’s itinerary, but a spur-of-the-moment decision.
“We were up doing some bourbon tastings, and then we were like, ‘Oh, we can get in on this.’ So we went to Macy’s yesterday and bought outfits, and we’re here,” Sam Henson said.
Both donned flowery, spring-inspired outfits that popped with color, accessorized with headwear in traditional Derby fashion — for Taylr, a white, flowery fascinator, and for Sam, a white fedora with a black band.
Although the couple did not initially plan to stop by the racetrack, they realized that their time in Louisville was a perfect opportunity to enjoy the famous “Derby experience.”
“Everybody talks about it, and you see it on TV and everything, so we just wanted to come see it firsthand,” Sam Henson said.
Anna Murphy had her own way of bringing bursts of color to Churchill Downs. As the 2026 Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby bottle artist, she will be at the track all week, painting an enlarged version of her artwork that appears on the commemorative Woodford Reserve bottle on site.
The Chicago artist has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from the University of Louisville. But despite her connection to the city, this year marks her first Derby experience.
Murphy is most looking forward to admiring the fashion on display throughout the week, she said.“That’s such a big part of the artwork on this year’s Derby bottle, as well, is the fashion and the hats,” Murphy said. “That’s my favorite part.”
As the clock winds down toward May 19, the recruitment of Miles Brown is entering the phase every SEC staff both loves and fears—the emotional stretch run. This is where relationships outweigh graphics. Where consistency matters more than hype. And where programs find out whether months of effort truly connected with one of the South’s premier defensive backs.
Brown, the electric four-star cornerback out of Martin, Tennessee, is set to announce his commitment with Rivals, choosing between the University of Kentucky, the University of Mississippi, the University of Louisville, and The University of Tennessee. But in the final days leading into the decision, Kentucky has positioned itself like a program determined to close strong.
The Wildcats’ presence in Martin throughout the spring evaluation period has not been accidental. Cornerbacks coach Allen Brown has made Brown a priority from the jump, first visiting on May 5 before returning the following week alongside defensive coordinator Jay Bateman. In recruiting, repeat visits this late in the process send a clear message: you are not simply wanted—you are viewed as a cornerstone. And when speaking with Brown, the foundation of Kentucky’s push became crystal clear.
“The relationships I have built with their staff and just the love they show on a day-to-day basis.”
That statement may be the most important quote of this recruitment. In today’s recruiting landscape, elite prospects are constantly evaluating more than football. They are studying energy. Authenticity. Development plans. Communication. Families want to know who will still be present when adversity hits. Brown’s comments suggest Kentucky has consistently answered those questions.
And from a pure football standpoint, it is easy to understand why the Wildcats — along with the rest of the finalists — continue pushing aggressively for his signature. Brown is built for modern SEC football. Long, instinctive, and explosive in transition, he brings the kind of multi-dimensional skill set defensive coordinators crave in today’s game. He has the frame to play physically at the line of scrimmage, the fluidity to survive in man coverage, and the ball skills of a wide receiver. That last trait is what jumps off the tape most. Brown does not simply defend passes. He attacks the football.
That mentality showed up throughout his sophomore season when he became one of Tennessee’s most dynamic two-way athletes. Offensively, he hauled in 54 receptions for 984 yards and 16 touchdowns. Defensively, he added 39 tackles and three interceptions while routinely changing momentum with his instincts and competitiveness. His state championship performance only elevated his national profile further, showing impact ability in all three phases of the game.
But what separates Brown from many highly ranked defensive backs is his understanding of development.
“I’m looking for a place where I can be developed and be the best version of myself.”
That answer reflects maturity beyond rankings and NIL chatter. Brown is focused on trajectory. He wants coaching. Structure. Accountability. The programs remaining in contention all offer different paths, but Kentucky’s staff has clearly emphasized long-term player development throughout the process.
Ole Miss continues to present itself as an aggressive SEC contender capable of producing defensive playmakers. Tennessee carries the natural home-state appeal and national momentum. Louisville remains firmly in the mix with strong relational ties. But Kentucky’s consistency late in the race feels significant.
The Wildcats are recruiting Brown like a future face of the secondary. As commitment day approaches, the final decision may ultimately come down to which program convinced Brown not only where he can play football but also where he can evolve into the best version of himself both on and off the field. That is the battle now unfolding behind the scenes. It is why May 19 suddenly feels like one of the most important recruiting dates in the region this spring, especially for Kentucky!
Featuring plenty of the class of 2027 and 2028’s top prospects, Coach Pope, Mo Williams, and Cody Fueger are trying to get some closer looks at the players they should focus on heading into another high school recruiting cycle.
Players that the staff watched on Friday include:
- ‘27 forward, CJ Rosser
- ‘27 guard, King Gibson
- ‘27 forward, Marcus Spears Jr.
- ‘27 guard, Ryan Hampton
- 27 guard, Beckham Black
- ‘27 wing Gabe Nesmith
- ‘27 guard, Chase Lumpkin
- ‘27 center, Paul Osaruyi
Plenty of names to keep up with as more names will likely emerge as the summer rolls on. Should be interesting to watch how the staff approaches this year’s recruiting cycle compared to the last.
This would have been fun.
A look at some of Kentucky’s newest football offers.
A familiar face heads to South Carolina.
Oweh continues to dominate.
Kerr will try to turn the Warriors back around.
Not a ton of rookie QB’s will get looks this season it seems.
It will be a low-scoring tourney in Philly.
Kentucky
Kentucky Newsmakers 5/17: Congressional candidate Erin Petrey; Visit Lex President Mary Quinn Ramer
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – On the latest edition of Kentucky Newsmakers, WKYT’s Bill Bryant talks with candidate for Kentucky’s Sixth Congressional District Erin Petrey and Visit Lex President Mary Quinn Ramer.
Erin Petrey is one of several candidates running for the Democratic nomination for Kentucky’s sixth House District. She discusses what she would do in Congress
Later, Mary Quinn Ramer discusses the state of tourism in Lexington.
Copyright 2026 WKYT. All rights reserved.
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