Kentucky Visits St. John Bosco to See Tajh Ariza and Christian Collins

Kentucky continues to check in on its top targets in the 2026 class. UK was in for a pair of top 20 recruits out of St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA) on Thursday.

Kentucky head coach Mark Pope and assistant coach Jason Hart were at St. John Bosco on Thursday to see Tajh Ariza and Christian Collins, a source tells KSR+.

Ariza, a 6-foot-8, 180-pound small forward, is ranked by the Rivals Industry Ranking as the No. 7 small forward and the No. 17 overall prospect in the 2026 class. He took his first official visit to USC in August, alongside Collins.

Collins, a 6-foot-8, 200-pound power forward, is ranked by the Rivals Industry Ranking as the No. 3 small forward and the No. 8 overall prospect in the 2026 class. He is set to take an official visit to Kentucky from October 3-5. He took an official visit to USC with Ariza on August 30 and is visiting Oregon on Sept. 6.

Checking in on Top Targets

Kentucky has already checked in on several of its top targets. The staff visited 2026 guards Tay Kinney and Deron Rippey Jr. at midnight on Wednesday.

Kentucky also visited with Baba Oladotun, Jordan Smith Jr., and Arafan Diane on Wednesday. No. 1-ranked prospect Tyran Stokes received a visit from the staff on Thursday morning.

KSR+ is keeping track of Kentucky’s full list of targets in 2026. Click here for the 2026 Big Board.

Kentucky’s Fall Official Visit Schedule

Kentucky is set to start hosting official visits this weekend. Here’s the full list of Kentucky’s fall official visitors:

Sayon Keita: July 30
Maximo Adams: Sept. 5-7
Caleb Holt: Sept. 5-7
Arafan Diane: Sept. 12-14
Cole Cloer: Sept. 17-18
Anthony Thompson: Sept. 24
Cam Williams: Sept. 26-28
Deron Rippey Jr.: Oct. 3-5
Christian Collins: Oct. 3-5
Bryson Howard: Oct. 4-6
Ethan Taylor: Oct. 10-12 (Big Blue Madness)
Josh Irving: Oct. 10-12 (Big Blue Madness)
Jordan Smith Jr.: Oct. 10-12 (Big Blue Madness)