4-star 2027 PG Martay Barnes looking forward to growing relationship with Kentucky

When the contact period for rising high school juniors opened at midnight on June 15, Martay Barnes received plenty of phone calls and text messages from college coaches across the country — but the first number to hit his line was from an assistant in the Bluegrass State.

“June 15, that was my first call, Kentucky, Alvin Brooks,” Barnes told KSR last week at the adidas 3SSB Championships in Rock Hill, SC. “He really likes my game. He came to watch me play at the DMV Live and just really enjoys my game. He wants to get the other coaches out to see how it is.”

Brooks wasn’t among the UK assistants who did some scouting last week on the adidas and Nike circuits, but other Kentucky coaches still had eyes on Barnes, who played up a year for Austin Rivers Southeast 17U. Across five games played, the 6-foot-2 point guard averaged 16.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, three assists, and 1.2 steals per outing. He scored in double figures every time while also posting games with six and seven assists.

Huge weekend in Rock Hill Sc ‼️ pic.twitter.com/1JiYOe4pnr

— Martay barnes (@ROCKOUTMARTAY) July 14, 2025

Barnes’ relationship with Brooks and Kentucky is still fresh, but Barnes says he’s close with VJ Edgecombe, who was recruited to Baylor when Brooks was an assistant on the Bears’ staff. Edgecombe went on to the be the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and has played well so far in Summer League for the Philadelphia 76ers. Barnes and Edgecombe both played high school basketball in Florida for a stretch.

But now Brooks is on Mark Pope‘s staff at Kentucky, and a bond with Barnes has been forming ever since the clock hit midnight a little over a month ago.

“We talk a lot, most definitely,” he said of his communication with Brooks, adding that he’s attracted to Pope’s style of coaching. “I like that (Pope) lets his guards rock out. He let his guards play.”

Kentucky has yet to extend a scholarship to Barnes, but their relationship is trending in the right direction. He’s also hearing regularly from the likes of Kansas, Indiana, Providence, and South Carolina, among others. Miami (FL) offered him on Sunday shortly after the adidas 3SSB Championships wrapped up. Barnes is hoping to get to Lexington for an unofficial visit during the football season.

“Blue Blood, it’s crazy, man,” Barnes said. “You hear Kentucky, you’re like ‘wow’. It’s insane, man… Especially when it’s the first call, I was like, ‘woah, Kentucky?’ It was big, man. Right at midnight, first person who called.”

Barnes is considered a consensus top 40 prospect from the 2027 class. The Rivals Industry Ranking tabs him at 36th overall and a top 10 point guard prospect. Of note, his older brother, Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, played football at South Carolina last season and is now on the Los Angeles Chargers.

“A lot of people know I can score the ball at any time,” Barnes said of his game. “But I’m trying to learn how to be more of a playmaker, create more shots for my teammates, be better on defense, be more active.”

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