Mark Pope’s recruiting strategy seems to be paying off as Kentucky overcame the disappointment of missing out on the No. 1 recruit in the 2026 class by completing the recruitment of top 10 recruit Ryan Hampton instead.
But missing out on Tyran Stokes, the top recruit in the 2026 class, came with added pressure on Pope, which seems to have prepared the Kentucky coach for dealing with top recruits early. And after the Hampton capture, the focus seems to be fully on the 2027 class.
Beckham Black is next on the radar for the Wildcats, with the five-star recruit recently speaking fondly of Pope and has high hopes for Kentucky should he choose to join it…