As June approaches, so does a critical stretch for college basketball coaches eager to secure the next wave of top-tier talent. Among those preparing for a busy summer on the recruiting trail is Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope.
Entering his second season in Lexington, Pope is coming off a successful debut campaign that saw the Wildcats reach the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. Their postseason run ended with a loss to SEC rival Tennessee—one of 14 conference teams to earn a tournament bid.
In a recent report from On3 Sports, Jacob Polacheck spotlighted a major target on Kentucky’s radar: Bentley Lusakueno, the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2028. Lusakueno shared a notable impression of the Wildcats’ tournament performance.
“To see Kentucky playing like that was really smooth,” he said.
Bentley Lusakueno, a 6-foot-9 forward out of Atlanta, recently completed a standout freshman season at Pace Academy. The rising star averaged 14 points and nine rebounds per game, starting all 32 contests during the 2024–25 campaign.
This summer, Lusakueno is expected to stay busy with a packed schedule that includes two USA Basketball minicamps and a slate of national showcase events and recruiting circuits.
His high school coach, Sharman White, offered high praise for the young prospect’s work ethic and skill set.
“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.”
While Lusakueno’s profile continues to rise, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope is actively shaping the Wildcats’ future. According to 247Sports, Kentucky’s 2025 recruiting class currently ranks 26th in the nation, bolstered by commitments from Jasper Johnson, Malachi Moreno, and Andrija Jelavic.
Pope has also made a significant impact in the transfer portal, assembling the nation’s fourth-ranked incoming transfer class—an encouraging development for a program aiming to stay firmly in college basketball’s upper echelon.
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