Kentucky offers No. 3 recruit Christian Collins following in-home visit

Christian Collins was an unknown and unranked recruit playing JV basketball just a few short years ago. Today, he’s the No. 3 prospect in the country and No. 2 among small forwards — the fastest-rising player in the rising senior class. Standing 6-foot-8 out of St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA), he’s a ridiculous athlete with length and all of the tools to be a two-way star at the next level and beyond.

As a result, everyone in the country wants him — including the Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats, who offered him a scholarship this week.

Collins announced the offer on social media in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

“Blessed and thankful to receive an offer from the University of Kentucky!!!!” he wrote.

Blessed and thankful to receive an offer from the University of Kentucky!!!! pic.twitter.com/5YPKo5iFlP

— Christian Collins (@_ChristianC11_) April 30, 2025

The scholarship offer comes following Kentucky’s trip out to California to see the five-star wing, also checking in with fellow five-star wing and teammate Tajh Ariza — he earned his full-ride from Pope back in September.

“Jason Hart is there, and that is my guy. I talk to him a good bit,” Collins told Jamie Shaw of On3. “Coach (Mark) Pope is hilarious; he’s really funny. I like how they play their playstyle. They have a lot of long, versatile players on the wing, and they like to play through them.”

Collins received an offer from Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils following an in-person visit earlier in the day. Kentucky and Duke are joined by the likes of Alabama, Arizona, Cal, Kansas State, Oregon, UCLA and USC to meet with the five-star for in-home visits in this spring recruiting cycle.

Suiting up for Team Why Not on the EYBL circuit, the 6-8 wing finished his first weekend averaging 15.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest while leading his team to a 3-0 record. He shot 44.2 percent from the field, 25.0 percent from three and 88.9 percent from the line across three games in the debut session.

Collins joins Brandon McCoy — also a St. John Bosco teammate — Jason Crowe Jr., Taylen Kinney, Jordan Smith, Ikenna Alozie, Ariza, Caleb Holt, Anthony Thompson, Tyran Stokes and Miikka Muurinen among players with Kentucky offers in the class of 2026. That group includes every player in the top eight of the ’26 On3 Industry Rankings and nine of the top 10.

You wanted Pope to go reel in a big fish in the high school ranks? He’s cast his net with the best of the best pushing to land several — and Collins just might be a contender for No. 1 overall when it’s all said and done.

3-0 this past weekend!!! pic.twitter.com/EghJqsLbCl

— Christian Collins (@_ChristianC11_) April 29, 2025

Could Kentucky land him? He says he’s looking for a home away from home, playing in a player-friendly system for his position.

“I’m looking for somewhere I can really develop as fast as possible, get me ready for the next level,” he told On3. “I want to go somewhere that is like a family, a home away from home. Really, I want to go somewhere I am comfortable. I’m looking for a program where they play through their wings, I feel like that is my position for college and the NBA, if that is what God has planned for me.”

Sounds like a Cat to me.