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Mark Pope hasn’t finalized his 2025–26 roster yet, but that hasn’t stopped the Kentucky Wildcats’ head coach from turning his attention toward the future—and one of the most coveted prospects in high school basketball. Tyran Stokes, the top-ranked player in the 2026 class and a five-star wing, is scheduled to visit Lexington from May 15 to 17. Securing a commitment from him would send a powerful message to both Big Blue Nation and the national recruiting landscape.

After returning to Kentucky, Pope quickly ended the program’s Sweet 16 drought under John Calipari and brought new energy to a fan base hungry for success. Still, some Kentucky fans and national observers have questioned whether Pope can attract the same elite talent Calipari regularly brought in during his tenure.

Pope has already shown he’s a top-tier in-game coach. His dynamic five-out motion offense is impressive when executed properly. Despite coaching an entirely new group last season, he managed to hold his own in the tough SEC and even logged a key early-season win over Duke and Cooper Flagg. While his coaching credentials on game day are solid—and even considered an upgrade over Calipari’s later years—Pope hasn’t yet proven himself among the elite recruiters.

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If he manages to beat out powerhouse programs like Kansas, Louisville, Oregon, Gonzaga, and John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks for Stokes, it would silence any remaining doubts about his recruiting chops and further solidify Kentucky’s status as a national title contender.

At BYU, Pope’s teams thrived with sharp passing, off-ball movement, and smart shot choices. Last season, he demonstrated that his system can excel even more with SEC-level athletes like Otega Oweh and experienced leadership from a floor general like Lamont Butler.

Adding a high-impact talent like Stokes would raise the program’s ceiling even further. And Big Blue Nation would certainly be eager to see what that could look like.

Kentucky’s 2025 recruiting class is already ranked fourth nationally, showing Pope is off to a strong start. Still, the team will rely heavily on veteran transfers while gradually integrating four-star prospects Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno. But a one-and-done talent like Stokes, paired with Pope’s experienced roster and efficient offensive system, could mark a turning point for the Wildcats and take the program to new heights.