Mark Pope is looking ahead to 2027 with a 5-star visitor headed for Lexington

All eyes, really for weeks now, have been firmly stuck on Milan Momcilovic. As Kentucky makes a strong push for the three-point specialist transfer, in an apparent head-to-head race with Pat Kelsey and Louisville (the high stakes are inherent there), Cats fans haven't been able to rest without a conclusion. The 2026-27 roster, to an extent, could depend on which way that falls.

But, in the meantime, Mark Pope is looking ahead to the class that comes after. The Wildcats' main target in the 2027-28 pool thus far has without a doubt been five-star forward Ryan Hampton. Initially, Hampton was seen as a reclass candidate and potential alternative to Momcilovic for this coming season.

Now though, since Hampton's intention to stay in the later class was confirmed, Kentucky's hunt for his commitment remains fixed on the future. Still, that reality doesn't seem so far off.

From Joe Tipton on X, Hampton has officially set a visit to Lexington this week. As the No. 6 overall recruit in his class, the Wildcats jumping on this one early could pan out as one of Pope's biggest recruiting wins yet, if he pulls it off.

A Recruiting Win, No Matter the Class

While I personally thought Hampton would've fit well with the current squad (just as Momcilovic would), Kentucky's pursuit of both of these big names seemed to make their chances of securing Hampton in a reclass scenario less likely.

With him hanging back and allowing his recruitment to play out in full, Kentucky will have the chance to run the entire process and, with a visit scheduled, try and come into an early lead.

Hampton may not have the immediate brand that someone like Tyran Stokes does, but he's absolutely the sort of player you can build a team around. He's a spry, 6-foot-6 wing that shoots well off the dribble and can create his own shot like few others.

Pope's Full-Court Press

The (potentially undersized) forward moves well and exhibits all the qualities of the sort of prospect that a high-scoring offense could be built around. Hampton certainly fit's Pope's bill when it comes to movement and shot-creating on that side of the ball.

On that view especially, it's no surprise that the Cats' coach has put on the full-court press in an effort to land him. Though, as these things usually go, Kentucky isn't pushing alone.

Both LSU and SMU, among other suitors, have also begun intense campaings to bring Hampton to what they consider to be "home" for the five-star recruit. While the watch for Momcilovic remains at the forefront of BBN's minds, don't let this potentially huge visit slip past your radar.

Coach Pope, with one or both of these players, could be on the cusp of turning a corner on the recruiting front.

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