2027 recruits CJ Rosser, Beckham Black looking to visit Kentucky after basketball season

Southeastern Prep (FL) is loaded with some of the top high school basketball talents in the country. Kentucky is in the mix with a few of them.

In particular, the Wildcats are keeping a close eye on a trio of Southeastern Prep stars, all of them ranked among the top 20 prospects from the class of 2027: 6-foot-9 PF CJ Rosser (No. 1 overall), 7-foot C Obinna Ekezie Jr. (No. 2), and 6-foot-2 PG Beckham Black (No. 18). Southeastern Prep made its way to the Bluegrass State earlier this week for a Grind Session event in Owensboro.

Rosser and Black both played, but Ekezie stayed at home while he recovers from a minor shoulder injury. Southeastern Prep came up short against another Florida-based powerhouse, Prolific Prep, in a 75-64 loss. Prolific Prep also rosters three major Kentucky recruiting targets: 6-foot-5 SG Caleb Holt (No. 2 overall, 2026), 6-foot-7 SF Bruce Branch III (No. 5, 2026), and 6-foot-2 PG Nasir Anderson (No. 6, 2027).

Rosser went for 12 points and eight rebounds while Black added 14 points, nine rebounds, and 11 assists to his stat line. They both spoke with KSR afterward to provide an update on their recruitment with the Wildcats.

CJ Rosser

Kentucky has been recruiting Rosser since watching him play at the Nike EYBL live period session in Memphis back in May. He was offered by head coach Mark Pope the same month. Since then, UK assistant coach Mikhail McLean has been in the most contact with Rosser. McLean also traveled to Mexico in June to see Rosser play for Team USA.

“Coach McLean just reaching out daily, staying in touch right before basically every game,” Rosser said of his communication with Kentucky. “Letting us know good luck, letting me know who they play that night, stuff like that.”

Rosser did not list off the teams he’s currently hearing from the most when asked, but he holds offers from plenty of high-major schools. In a recent interview with On3, he mentioned that the likes of Kentucky, North Carolina, Florida State, and Miami (FL) as the programs he’s hearing from the most right now.

When asked about upcoming visits, Rosser said he’s not thinking about that right now with the basketball season just having started. But he did say that Kentucky would be among the schools he will likely set up a visit with once we get closer to the summer. Those talks will take place “more down the road”.

What is he looking for in a college?

“Good coaching,” Rosser said. “Really just make me better so when I get to the league, I’m already prepared, know everything that’s going on so I won’t be slow getting ready to know everything.”

Beckham Black

Like Rosser, Beckham Black also hears regularly from McLean on the Kentucky staff. Pope extended the offer in September, and conversations have continued from there.

“He reaches out a good amount,” Black said of McLean. “Pretty much before every game. I’d say we’re building a pretty good relationship.”

Black also intends to take an official visit to Kentucky, likely sometime in the summer. He has not publicly announced any trips at this time as he works through his junior season. The younger brother of current Orlando Magic player Anthony Black, Beckham is hearing the most from the likes of UK, Miami (FL), Arkansas, Duke, Tennessee, and Utah.

A self-described pure point guard, Black is looking to play for a staff that will coach him hard. His head coach at Southeastern Prep is his step-dad, David Peavy, who coached Texas power Duncanville starting in 2018 until taking the Southeastern Prep job earlier this year.

“I’d say a coach that is hard on things,” Black said of what he’s looking for in a school. “I feel like how I’ve been coached my whole life is being hard. I don’t want somebody to just come in and just say everything’s good when it’s not. I just want them to be able to get me to the league as soon as possible.”

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