It's Transfer Portal eve, everyone, and that means Kentucky is gearing up for a massive overhaul of its roster once again. Players will be leaving, players will be coming, and March Madness will be alive through the month of April. But don't get it twisted, the Cats are still looking beyond 2026 to try and right the high school recruiting ship.
Kentucky basketball is making a huge push to try to secure 2027 5-star power forward Dawson Battie.
After getting his first commitment in 2026 with Mo Williams' son, Mason, Mark Pope is targeting another former player's son.
Dawson Battie is a priority target for Mark Pope
2026's recruiting cycle has been a bit of a bust for Kentucky men's basketball, at least so far. There are still some big prizes out there, like Tyran Stokes or international prospects like Miikka Muurinen or Eric Del Castillo, but the Cats have only 4-star point guard Mason Williams on board right now.
Mark Pope is busy trying to solve that, but he also understands recruiting is a multi-year effort. That is why he and the staff are staying in constant contact with Dawson Battie. Battie, who visited during Big Blue Madness last year, is a top-15 player in the country in the 2027 class.
Basketball is in Dawson Battie's blood
Long-time basketball fans will recognize that last name pretty quickly. Dawson's uncle, Tony Battie, was a top-5 NBA Draft pick, and his dad, Derrick, played for 4 years at Temple.
That connection to the game offers real mentorship through a tough process. Yes, NIL has changed the game when it comes to money. But players still have to navigate a process of college selection. People are going to promise them things that they can't follow through with, and that is where the relationship-building is key.
Kentucky's staff is going to be pretty much brand new, with primary recruiters Alvin Brooks III and Jason Hart allowed to leave after 2 years of frustrating recruiting results.
So, in a way, this will give Kentucky a chance to start fresh with the entire 2027 class. And this is a chance Kentucky can not afford to let slip through its fingers.
High school recruiting isn't the be-all end-all, but if you are investing a lot of money and time in a recruit, seeing them choose another team is kind of deflating.
Mark Pope's biggest question mark was his ability to close on high-end recruits, and he has done little to answer that question. That is why this offseason is so critical. Kentucky can't afford to be sitting on April 5th, 2027, with just 1 recruit. Maybe Battie becomes the first of many.