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KSR's top storylines ahead of USA U19 Training Camp with Pope, Johnson and Moreno

Jack PIlgrimby: Jack Pilgrim06/15/25

In an offseason of big opportunities, this one might be the biggest for Kentucky freshmen Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno. It’s a pretty massive one for their next head coach, too, as Mark Pope will join the in-state additions in Colorado Springs for the 2025 USA Basketball Men’s U19 Training Camp.

Johnson played in the Nike Hoop Summit, Jordan Brand Classic and Iverson Classic while Moreno was a McDonald’s All-American and participated in the Nike Hoop Summit, as well — checking all of the all-star boxes before move-in as Wildcats in June. Now, they’re two of 32 players invited to compete for the 12-member Team USA roster in the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup, scheduled for June 28-July 6 in Switzerland. 

Pope will serve as an on-court coach, making his Team USA debut in an official capacity. Moreno is making his second training camp appearance while Johnson earned a gold medal representing the United States at the 2024 FIBA U19 AmeriCup. Elsewhere, a number of former Kentucky targets and a greater number of future recruits are set to take the floor, as well.

Training camp, held at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, runs from June 14 through June 22. Roster finalists will be announced on June 16 before the 12-member Team USA roster is finalized by June 21. From there, participants will pack their bags and head to Switzerland looking to bring back a gold medal.

What does it all mean, especially for the Kentucky guys? KSR breaks it down with boots on the ground in Colorado Springs.

Pope among seven college coaches in attendance

Pope talks about his players understanding the importance of wearing Kentucky across their chests, but now, he gets to experience something beyond his own program wearing USA Basketball across his. It’s his USAB debut, working with six other DI head coaches — including two confirmed as opponents for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd will serve as USA U19 head coach while Texas Tech’s Grant McCasland and Notre Dame’s Micah Shrewsberry are lead assistants. From there, Pope is one of four supporting as court coaches, joined by North Carolina’s Hubert Davis, Alabama’s Nate Oats and Georgia Tech’s Damon Stoudamire.

Kentucky will take on North Carolina in the ACC/SEC Challenge, scheduled for Dec. 2 inside Rupp Arena. The Wildcats will also see Alabama during league play with the complete SEC schedule released in the near future.

Johnson and Moreno headline incoming freshmen

The NCAA allows up to four hours of skill instruction per week — eight hours total including weight training and conditioning — for eight weeks while student-athletes are enrolled in summer school. With Johnson and Moreno joining Pope in Colorado Springs, the Kentucky head coach can get some extended hands-on work in with his incoming freshmen beyond their time together in Lexington.

They’ll be competing against the biggest names in the 2025 recruiting cycle, including several with past ties to the Wildcats.

UK Athletics

Pope flirted with No. 1 overall prospect AJ Dybantsa before BYU ultimately won that bidding war — he’s the headliner. Elsewhere, Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. and Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr. both took official visits to Lexington and listed Kentucky as a finalist before signing elsewhere. The Wildcats will take on the former in the in-state rivalry battle scheduled for November 11 at the KFC Yum! Center.

Washington’s JJ Mandaquit, who attended Utah Prep (UT), was also quite familiar with Pope and Cody Fueger at BYU and the staff kicked the tires when they got to Lexington. They did the same with Arizona’s Koa Peat, who was a major Kentucky target under John Calipari.

Nine 2026 participants hold Kentucky offers

The time with Johnson and Moreno is nice, but Pope will get plenty of that over the next several months and into the 2025-26 season. The real value of coaching out in Colorado Springs comes in the form of nine different attendees from the 2026 class holding offers from Kentucky — several seen as massive targets for the Wildcats.

No. 1 recruit Tyran Stokes is coming off an official visit to Lexington, and now, he’ll get to see what it’s like to be coached by Pope at U19 Training Camp.

From there, No. 2 overall Brandon McCoy, No. 3 overall Christian Collins, No. 6 overall Jordan Smith Jr., No. 7 overall Caleb Holt, No. 8 overall Tajh Ariza, No. 13 overall Jason Crowe Jr., No. 17 overall Deron Rippey Jr. and No. 23 overall Tay Kinney will also be in attendance among Kentucky targets, making up nine of 12 total offers for the Wildcats in 2026.

It’s not only a chance for the best of the best to see Pope in action as a basketball mind, but also an opportunity for the Kentucky head coach to see what it’s like to work with his top targets in the rising senior class. Do they embrace instruction and are they hungry to get better or are they difficult, putting individual goals before team goals? It’s pretty easy to find those things out when you’re competing for a gold medal.

Pope will use this time to evaluate coachable talent as much as the talent is evaluating him as a coach.

Morez Johnson, Tyrone Riley IV among returning collegiate talent

Remember Morez Johnson? He was a freshman at Illinois this past season, going for five points, seven rebounds and one steal in 17 minutes against Kentucky in the Round of 32 — an 84-75 win for the Wildcats to advance to the Sweet 16. He’s in attendance, one of seven players already in college and returning from the 2024-25 season.

Johnson transferred to Michigan this offseason, joining a potential Final Four contender in Ann Arbor. Fellow Wolverine L.J. Cason will also be in Colorado Springs.

How about Tyrone Riley IV? The San Francisco standout explored his transfer options with Kentucky seen as a top contender to land his commitment before he pulled his name out of the portal. He’ll be there, too.

Purdue’s 7-4 center Daniel Jacobsen, WCC All-Freshman Tony Duckett (San Diego to Saint Mary’s), Marquette’s Royce Parham and Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner are also returning with prior DI experience.

Johnson and Moreno will compete against the best of the best every day in Lexington, but it doesn’t hurt to add some extra head-to-head battles with players who have been there and done that at this level — some being familiar faces and names — before the serious stuff ramps up in Lexington.

Four players are homegrown Kentucky boys

Speaking of Pope wearing USA across his chest, how about four local talents representing Kentucky on the world stage? Jasper Johnson (Lexington), Malachi Moreno (Georgetown), Tay Kinney (Newport) and Tyran Stokes (Louisville) were all born in the Bluegrass state and are competing in Colorado Springs.

Two are current Wildcats and are KY Til I Die through and through. Will the other two join them next recruiting cycle? Pope certainly hopes so — and this week will go a long way in deciding that, a chance to gain serious traction with two top-25 prospects in 2026.

Check out the full roster and coaching staff below as KSR gets rolling in Colorado Springs. Prepare for all of the sights, sounds and recruiting updates you can handle over the next several days from the 2025 USA Basketball Men’s U19 Training Camp.

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2025-11-27