What Kentucky hoops is getting in 5-star center prospect Cherif Millogo

Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope talks with guard Mason Williams (4). IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

What Kentucky hoops is getting in 5-star center prospect Cherif Millogo

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Nov 4, 2026 8:43 PM ET

The Kentucky Wildcats have picked up an extremely intriguing 5-star center prospect named Cherif Millogo.

Millogo, originally from West Africa, is a 7-foot-5 center from La Cañada Flintridge, California. According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, he's a 5-star prospect and ranked as the No. 6 center recruit in the class of 2027 as well as a Top 30 recruit nationally.

He committed to Mark Pope and the Wildcats over the USC Trojans and BYU Cougars, though he also had offers from Texas, Creighton, Arkansas and others.

Millogo took official visits to USC, BYU and Kentucky, but the Wildcats may have had an "in" with the big man because of ties to assistant coach Alfred Aboya, who was previously the head coach for NBA Academy Africa. Aboya also played college hoops at UCLA with Luc Mbah a Moute, who is Millogo's legal guardian here in the States.

NEWS: 7-foot-5 center Cherif Millogo has committed to Kentucky, source told @Rivals.

The fast-rising big man is ranked No. 11 overall in the 2027 class, according to Rivals. https://t.co/2MLqCvp6S9 pic.twitter.com/kKZEuIv8ma
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) November 4, 2026

So what is Kentucky in Millogo?

Kentucky getting a do-it-all, modern center in Cherif Millogo

The size is one thing, of course. You just can't coach 7-foot-5, and Millogo knows how to use his height and wingspan to his advantage.

Last season for his high school, Millogo averaged 26 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks per game.

He's more than just a tall tree for Kentucky to plant down low, though.

Millogo has a modern game for a big man. He has an above-average handle, a soft shooting touch and can be more than just a rim-runner.

He possesses arguably the most potential in the 2027 class and could be its best NBA prospect, due to his size and expanding skill set," writes ESPN. "He can knock down 3-pointers and midrange shots while also protecting the rim with his large frame, a 7-foot-9 wingspan and massive standing reach."

Those are the types of skill sets that made Victor Wembanyama the No. 1 overall pick in 2023, so it's going to be interesting to see how Millogo can develop in his (presumably) one season at Kentucky.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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