Mark Pope and Kentucky Coaches Hit the Recruiting Trail Hard, Visit Three High School Recruits

LEXINGTON, Ky. — In his first full offseason at the helm, Kentucky men’s basketball head coach Mark Pope is proving he’s not waiting for top talent to come to him. Pope and members of his Wildcats coaching staff have been busy on the road, recently making in-person visits with three rising high school recruits as part of a renewed, aggressive recruiting strategy under the new regime.

The trio of standout prospects includes 2026 five-star shooting guard **Caleb Holt**, four-star point guard **Tay Kinney**, and rising big man **Austin Goosby**, all of whom have drawn considerable national attention. Pope’s hands-on approach shows his commitment to rebuilding Kentucky’s recruiting footprint — with eyes firmly on long-term success and a modern roster-building vision.

### Spotlight on the Visits

One of the major highlights of the trip was a stop in Alabama to visit Caleb Holt, currently ranked No. 7 in the nation in the 2026 class by On3. Holt, a physical 6-foot-5 guard with explosive athleticism and high-level scoring ability, has been on Kentucky’s radar for months. He recently rescheduled his official visit to Lexington for September 12–14, a sign that both parties remain deeply interested in exploring the fit further.

Pope previously coached Holt during a USA Basketball training camp session — a connection Holt and his family have cited as meaningful. The Wildcats have remained in steady communication, and this latest visit reaffirmed Kentucky’s strong position in the race for his signature.

### Emerging Talent: Kinney and Goosby

Pope also traveled to meet with Tay Kinney, a dynamic point guard from the class of 2026. Known for his speed, court vision, and perimeter defense, Kinney has started to see his recruitment heat up, with programs across the Southeast and Midwest expressing interest. The visit from Kentucky may signal that the Wildcats view him as a potential leader at the point in future classes, especially given Pope’s emphasis on up-tempo, guard-driven play.

Another important stop included a visit to Austin Goosby, a rapidly developing post prospect with size, rim protection, and rebounding prowess. While still early in his recruitment, Goosby’s name is climbing up recruiting boards, and Kentucky’s early interest could position them as frontrunners as his profile continues to grow.

### Pope’s Strategy: Connection and Consistency

Since taking over for John Calipari, Mark Pope has made it clear he values sustained relationships and consistent engagement. These in-person visits — especially early in the recruiting cycle — demonstrate that Kentucky is no longer relying solely on blueblood status to land elite talent. Instead, Pope is showing a willingness to put in the miles, forge relationships, and evaluate talent firsthand.

> “It’s not about just waiting until a player blows up nationally,” a staff source told **A Sea of Blue**. “It’s about building trust early.”

### Looking Ahead

With multiple key visits scheduled and several 2025 and 2026 recruits still narrowing their lists, Kentucky’s approach is yielding results. The visits to Holt, Kinney, and Goosby show that Pope is not only identifying key targets early — he’s building meaningful momentum.

The message is clear: under Mark Pope, Kentucky basketball is back in the recruiting trenches, and the Wildcats are hunting for the next generation of stars.

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Sources: Kentuckywildcatsnational.com