If you’ve been stressing about the quiet 2026 recruiting cycle, it’s time to look a little further down the road, because Mark Pope just lined up a massive opportunity to change the narrative.
While the current class remains empty, Pope hasn't stopped hunting for the future. And on Wednesday night, when the Oklahoma Sooners roll into Lexington, the potential No. 1 overall player in the Class of 2027 will be watching from the stands.
CJ Rosser, a 5-star forward and a unicorn talent, is set to witness the Rupp Arena experience firsthand.
2027's No. 1 overall recruit CJ Rosser (@CJRosser7) discusses his recent visit to UNC, his upcoming trips to Kentucky and Louisville, and interest from Duke.
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) January 22, 2026
Story (+): https://t.co/w3iwNjSQXX pic.twitter.com/fbNVwy4O8k
CJ Rosser is the prototype target
Rosser isn't just a tall kid. He is the exact basketball lab experiment Mark Pope dreams about.
Standing 6-foot-8 with a wingspan that seems to go on forever, Rosser is a matchup nightmare who creates the kind of spacing this offense thrives on.
247Sports analyst Travis Branham didn't hold back on the hype:
"Rosser is a tremendous talent with great size, long arms... and is a unique floor-stretcher at his size and athleticism, able to drill shots off the catch and pull out to three. Rosser is in the conversation as the No. 1 overall prospect in the class of 2027."
Translation: He is a 6-foot-8 sniper who plays like a guard. Sounds exactly like someone we want to see suit up for the Blue and White.
The Battle for the Bluegrass
This isn't just a friendly visit; it's a statement game. Rosser was recently across town visiting Pat Kelsey and the Louisville Cardinals, and he didn't hide the fact that he was impressed.
"It's really just a good staff, and I love how they play," Rosser said of Louisville. "They play fast and with a lot of energy. Coach (Kelsey) is very energetic, and I like that a lot."
That quote should be bulletin board material for the Rupp Arena crowd.
With the Cardinals pitching their "energy," Wednesday night is the perfect stage for the Big Blue Nation to show Rosser what real energy looks and sounds like.
The long game
Pope might be taking his time with 2026, but the 2027 board is shaping up to be a monster. Rupp is better than the YUM! Center, even Louisville fans agree with that. But now we just need to show it.
Hopefully, for the Cats, the 2027 number 1 player likes Lexington more than the number 1 2026 player, Tyran Stokes, who is now projected as a Kansas lean.