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No. 1 College Basketball Recruit Sends Clear Message on Kentucky

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rodney Knuppel | Last updated May 19, 2025 2:57 PM ET

As June approaches, so do key evaluation periods for college basketball coaches hoping to land the next wave of elite talent. One coach who will be busy on the summer recruiting trail is Mark Pope of the Kentucky Wildcats.

Pope is preparing for his second season in Lexington after guiding the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky’s run ended with a loss to the Tennessee Volunteers, one of 14 SEC teams that made the tournament field.

In a recent report from On3 Sports, Jacob Polacheck highlighted a major recruiting target for Pope and his staff: Bentley Lusakueno, the top-ranked recruit in the class of 2028. Lusakueno offered a telling comment about his impression of the Wildcats during the NCAA Tournament.

"To see Kentucky playing like that was really smooth," he said.

NEW: It's early for 2028 No. 1-ranked prospect Bentley Lusakueno, but he's noticing the first-year success of Mark Pope at Kentucky.

"To see Kentucky playing like that was really smooth."

READ: https://t.co/2R0PAOorXi pic.twitter.com/IXl7f1O0Zq
— Jacob Polacheck (@PolacheckKSR) May 19, 2025

Lusakueno, a 6-foot-9 forward from Atlanta, just wrapped up his freshman season at Pace Academy. He averaged 14 points and nine rebounds per game and started all 32 contests in the 2024-25 campaign.

This summer, Lusakueno is expected to stay active. He’ll participate in two USA Basketball minicamps along with a full schedule of showcase events and recruiting circuits.

His high school coach, Sharman White, had high praise for the young star.

"Bentley's a dynamic player and person," White told ESPN. "He gives earnest effort and seeks out improvement. His greatest skill right now is his versatility."

Meanwhile, Pope continues to shape his future rosters. According to 247Sports, Kentucky’s 2025 recruiting class ranks 26th nationally. The Wildcats have signed three recruits: Jasper Johnson, Malachi Moreno and Andrija Jelavic.

Pope has also found success in the transfer portal, securing the fourth-ranked incoming transfer class, an encouraging sign for a program looking to remain among college basketball’s elite.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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