Even after Tuesday night’s win over South Carolina, Kentucky’s season is spiralling, and Mark Pope is flailing on the recruiting trail in his second year. The Wildcats do not have any commits in the 2026 or 2027 classes, but on Tuesday, they received a bit of unexpected good news about their pursuit of 2028 four-star Kameron Mercer.
Mercer, a Cincinnati, Ohio native, is the No. 11-ranked player in the country according to 247Sports Composite, and is the No. 1 shooting guard in the 2028 class. On3 ranks him as the No. 1 point guard. He's a five-star prospect according to ESPN's rankings.
Mercer previously visited Lexington in the fall, and now he’s coming back to Rupp Arena for the Wildcats Saturday matchup with No. 25 Vanderbilt, according to Jacob Polacheck of KSR+.
NEW: 2028 No. 1-ranked PG Kam Mercer will take an unofficial visit to Kentucky on Saturday, Feb. 28, sources tell KSR+.
— Jacob Polacheck (@PolacheckKSR) February 24, 2026
Mercer will be in attendance for the Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt game.
He previously visited Kentucky in the fall. https://t.co/NbmJfLLNUq pic.twitter.com/7UiqQY7yZF
Elite 2028 recruit Kameron Mercer set to visit Kentucky for 2nd time
Along with his trip to Kentucky in the fall, Mercer also visited Ohio State and Louisville. This return trip could be a significant one for Pope and his staff as they look to build rapport with the future star from a nearby area. However, Pope first has to ensure that he’ll still be coaching at his alma mater by the time Mercer’s freshman year comes around.
Mercer previously told KSR+ after his first visit that, “I see myself fitting into Kentucky’s system because I love to play with pace and to space the floor, and that’s one thing Kentucky does. I’m a very versatile player who can defend multiple positions and play multiple positions, which would be great to play in a run-and-gun type of system.”
The Wildcats likely wouldn’t be off the board for Mercer if a coaching change is made, but the connection to Pope and his system is the type of positivity he desperately needs in a trying year.
Injuries have stolen any chance of this year’s Kentucky team reaching its full potential, with Jaland Lowe, Jayden Quaintance, and now Kam Williams missing significant time. Still, Pope’s lack of success has been frustrating for BBN, and his lack of recruiting success has given the fanbase very little hope to cling to.
While it’s great that Mercer is coming back, Pope needs to focus on finally securing a commitment from any of the top uncommitted players in the 2026 class: Tyran Stokes, Caleb Holt, or Christian Collins.