2026 4-star SG Qayden Samuels announces offer from Kentucky

Another one of Kentucky’s 2026 recruiting class targets picked up an offer from the Wildcats this week.

On Monday night, four-star prospect Qayden Samuels announced on social media he’s received a scholarship from Kentucky. A 6-foot-5 shooting guard out of Bishop McNamara (MD), Samuels has been in contact with UK associate head coach Alvin Brooks III.

Along with the Wildcats, Samuels has been hearing recently from the likes of Maryland, Tennessee, Florida State, Texas, NC State, Georgetown, North Carolina, and more. He’s been on visits to see Georgetown, Villanova, and NC State. Samuels is tabbed No. 15 overall in the 2026 cycle by the On3 Industry Ranking.

Blessed to have received an offer from University of Kentucky! Thank you Coach Pope and staff! pic.twitter.com/1w9ROhvpMV
— Qayden Samuels (@imqaydensamuels) June 24, 2025

Back in May, Samuels was among the best players at the Nike EYBL live session in Memphis, where Kentucky head coach Mark Pope was among the many coaches in attendance. Through 11 games played for Team Takeover this spring, he averaged 21.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per outing while shooting 43.3 percent from the field, 43.1 percent from deep, and 76.7 percent from the free throw line.

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Since then, Kentucky has ramped up contact.

“They like my game,” Samuels told Jacob Polacheck of KSR+ earlier this month. “They like my play style. (Brooks) said he liked how I played, with the hustle plays and doing everything I had to do.”

Samuels then stood out even more at the NBPA Top 100 Camp just a couple of weeks ago. On3’s Jamie Shaw tabbed him as the fifth-best player in the entire event as a pure bucket-getter. Samuels went for 25 or more in four of his five games while averaging 26.4 points and 9.8 rebounds on the week. He shot 54.2 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from three on 7.0 attempts per game.

Kentucky does not yet have a commit from a 2026 prospect, but the staff is beginning to identify its preferred targets. Samuels becomes the 14th rising high school senior to announce a Kentucky offer and the second this week, joining four-star power forward Bryson Howard. UK is also currently hosting four-star point guard Tay Kinney for an official visit, which began Monday night.