Kentucky Wildcats Lock Down Elite High School Prospects in 2025 Class
LEXINGTON — The Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball program, led by coach Mark Pope, has officially locked in a pair of elite high school recruits for their 2025 class: five-star guard Jasper Johnson and towering center Malachi Moreno. Together, they signal a rising tide for UK’s roster-building push amid growing national relevance.
On **November 14, 2024**, Kentucky announced its signing of two key frontcourt and backcourt pieces. **Acaden Lewis** had already joined earlier in the cycle, but the addition of **Jasper Johnson**, a 6‑foot‑4 combo guard rated as high as 13th nationally by ESPN and 247 Sports, proved especially impactful. Pope called Johnson “the most dangerous scorer in all of high school basketball,” citing his pull-up shooting, fearless mentality, and gravity‑drawing perimeter threat ([A Sea Of Blue][1], [A Sea Of Blue][2]).
That same class includes **Malachi Moreno**, a 6‑foot‑10 center from Great Crossing, Kentucky, who won state player of the year honors and posted dominant McDonald’s All‑American camp performances. Moreno averaged 21.5 points, 14.9 rebounds, 3.6 blocks per game, and shot an eye‑popping 72.1 percent from the field in high school. At McDonald’s practice, he was recognized as the No. 2 standout performer of the day ([A Sea Of Blue][3]).
These two signatures mark UK’s only high school recruits in the 2025 class. Both finished ranked inside the top‑30 nationally in 247 Sports’ final rankings released this past May: Johnson slipped slightly to No. 24, while Moreno climbed to No. 27 ([A Sea Of Blue][4]).
While Kentucky’s 2025 class remains limited in quantity, its quality is unmistakable. The Wildcats also remain active in recruiting other top targets. High‑profile prospects such as **Caleb Wilson**—a consensus top‑5 forward in the class—are still expected to make a decision around January. Early reports suggest UK holds a slight edge over North Carolina in that recruitment, though nothing is finalized ([A Sea Of Blue][5]).
On the broader horizon, UK maintains contact with several highly ranked Class of 2026 targets: **Tyran Stokes**, **Tay Kinney**, **Jason Crowe Jr.**, **Deron Rippey**, and **Jordan Smith** are all on Pope’s radar, with the program looking to build momentum into the next recruiting cycle ([kentucky.com][6]).
The Wildcats are also active in the transfer portal. Notable names like **Otega Oweh**, who moved from Oklahoma to Kentucky in 2024, emerged as a high-impact returner in the 2024–25 season. Oweh delivered clutch performances late in SEC play, including game-winners against Oklahoma and leading the team in scoring averages ([Wikipedia][7]).
### Why it matters
* **Elite upside**: Johnson brings dynamic guard play and perimeter scoring, while Moreno anchors the paint. That combo fits Pope’s vision of a flexible, modern Kentucky offense.
* **Building with intention**: Instead of piling on recruits, Kentucky prioritized two top‑tier players — a deliberate “lockdown” of elite talent for strategic roster uplift.
* **Momentum for 2026**: With handfuls of top names in the pipeline, Kentucky’s recruiting class looks poised for further star-studded additions.
In short: Kentucky isn’t trying to amass volume — it’s targeting impact. By signing Johnson and Moreno, the Wildcats have locked down two cornerstone talents for their 2025 effort, and with recruiting eyes firmly on top names in the 2026 class, groundwork is being laid for sustained success under Mark Pope.