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Kelsey Stuck will head to Lexington, KY, for her collegiate career after signing with the University of Kentucky. The backstroke/sprint freestyler will arrive on campus from Wilmington, NC, in the fall of 2025 as part of the Wildcats’ class of 2029.

Stuck competes for the Waves of Wilmington Swim Team and Hoggard High School. During her junior season for Hoggard, Stuck was a two-time finalist at the NCHSAA 4A State Championship, notching seventh-place finishes in the 100 backstroke and 50 freestyle. A week earlier, at the NCHSAA 4A Eastern Regionals, she won the 100 backstroke and was the runner-up in the 50 freestyle. She won both at the 2024 3A/4A MEC Conference Championship in January, helping Hoggard claim the overall title.

She most recently competed for the Waves of Wilmington at the 2024 Winter Junior Championships – East, where she logged season-best times in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, and 200 backstroke. Her best finish was in the 200 backstroke, where her time of 2:00.50 earned 48th place.

Stuck swum all her lifetime bests in her primary events in 2023, though she’s been close to them on multiple occasions in 2024.

Best Times (SCY):

• 50 freestyle: 23.55
• 100 freestyle: 52.13
• 200 freestyle:1:54.35
• 100 backstroke: 54.87
• 200 backstroke: 2:00.01

The Kentucky Wildcats are in a rebuilding phase and are looking to rebound from a ninth-place finish at the 2024 SEC Championships. None of Stuck’s lifetime bests would have scored at the 2024 SEC Championships, a conference that’s only gotten more competitive with the Texas Longhorns arriving this season.

However, Stuck will be a strong addition to the Wildcats’ backstroke and sprint freestyle groups as the team looks to add depth. Her lifetime bests would’ve landed her in a tie for fifth on Kentucky’s 2023-24 depth chart in the 50 freestyle, fifth in the 100 backstroke, eighth in the 200 freestyle and 200 backstroke, and ninth in the 100 freestyle.

The Wildcats have had a busy season recruiting in the high school class of 2025. Stuck joins Arianna Wertheim, Elizabeth Summa, Hadar Karp, Ava Fuller, Zalika Methula, Abby Dunford, Charlotte Driesse, and Sarah Shaffer in signing on with the Wildcats’ class of 2029.

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Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats are getting ready to take on the Florida Gators to start SEC play, and there will be a very important visitor on campus. Five-star small forward Anthony Thompson is going to be in Lexington for a visit to see the #10 Wildcats take on the #6 Gators in what should be an elite Rupp Arena crowd.

Thompson is ranked as the 17th best player in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports composite rankings. The 6’8 small forward from Ohio has drawn a lot of attention from school, and it looks like it will be a blue-blood battle for the five-star.

When watching film on Thompson he is the perfect player to play the three in Mark Pope’s system as he is excellent at getting to the rim but also poses a threat as a shooter from deep. The lefty is a great shooter, which, at his size in Coach Pope’s offense, will make him a star.

It is still very early in this recruitment, but he has already been on campus before, so seeing Thompson coming back for another visit is great. Coach Pope and his staff are putting themselves in a great spot early into this recruitment, and getting a foot in the door early always helps.

In the 2025 class, Coach Pope proved that he is more than capable of landing some elite five-star players, and he would love to do that again in the 2026 class. Thompson is a name for Kentucky fans to remember as recruiting picks up in the 2026 class.

Could we see a return of the 1996 denim jerseys? It sounds like Mark Pope is trying to make it happen for the Kentucky Wildcats.

During his weekly radio show earlier this week, Pope was asked about the possibility of bringing back the denim jerseys. He said he’s trying to clear some obstacles to bring back the famous uniforms.

“I’m not really allowed to say this, so it’s just between the two of us: I’m working on it,” Pope said. “It’s amazing the red tape that we have to go through to make this happen, but we’re pretty passionate about trying to make that happen. We’ll see what we come up with. It’s definitely on my agenda of things to get accomplished.”

Those denim uniforms first made their debut in February 1996 when Kentucky hosted Arkansas. Kentucky hosts Arkansas on February 1 this year.

Maybe that would be an opportunity to revive the denim. That certainly would invigorate the Big Blue Nation even more with the Razorbacks coming to town.

Regardless, it sounds like Pope would love to bring back the denim jerseys, and maybe that’s a good sign we’ll see Kentucky utilize more throwback uniforms moving forward. It would certainly be a popular move among BBN.

Tweet of the Day

A tough road ahead for the Cats.

Headlines

Kentucky to host Tru Edwards for visit – Cats Pause

This would be a really good pickup for Kentucky.

Mark Pope says ball screen defense improved but still a process – KSR

Florida will provide a test to see how much Kentucky has improved.

What can UK WBB expect from a tough SEC slate? – Herald Leader

SEC Basketball is a gauntlet this year.

KAT has another big performance as Knicks win 9th in a row – ESPN

Towns is having a fantastic year in New York.

Winners and losers from CFP Quarterfinals – Bleacher Report

Cam Skattebo was the star of the playoffs.

Ten NFL coaching jobs to keep an eye on – Yahoo

We could see several job openings.

Barkley talks missing chance to break rushing record – CBS Sports

He’ll finish about 100 yards shy of the record.

Is Ohio State now the team to beat in the CFP? – NBC Sports

The Buckeyes seem to be firing on all cylinders.

Sugar Bowl will now take place today – AP

Just an awful tragedy in New Orleans.