Two KY prospects debut in 247Sports' initial 2025 basketball player rankings
The Bluegrass State continues to produce some big-time talent.
On Thursday afternoon, the folks over at 247Sports released its debut basketball player rankings for the class of 2025. There are plenty of targets on the list who have already caught the eye of the Kentucky men’s basketball staff, along with a pair of in-state prospects. 6-foot-2 Woodford County PG Jasper Johnson debuted at No. 33 overall while 6-foot-11 Great Crossing C Malachi Moreno came in at No. 45 overall. Both are considered four-star recruits.
The top ’25 target for UK head coach John Calipari, 6-foot-5 SG Darryn Peterson, debuted as a five-star at No. 6 overall. Peterson is considered to be the first-ever high school sophomore to receive a legitimate offer from the ‘Cats.
247Sports’ top 5 players in the class consist of (in order) PF Cameron Boozer, PF Cooper Flagg, SF Koa Peat, PF Bryson Tiller, and SF Isiah Harwell. Kentucky has expressed interest in both Flagg and Peat.
The state of Kentucky has produced plenty of Division I players over the last few years with more on the way. From the likes of Justin Powell (Washington State) and Dayvion McKnight (WKU) to current Kentucky commit Reed Sheppard to nationally ranked high school junior Travis Perry, talent is extending all across the state. Johnson and Moreno are the latest up-and-comers.
Johnson is already a consensus four-star recruit, landing at No. 34 overall in the ’25 class, per the On3 Consensus. He holds offers from the likes of Alabama, Ohio, and EKU. But despite being ranked lower, Moreno might be the more sought-after prospect right now. The near 7-footer has already pulled in scholarships from the likes of Iowa, Ohio State, Cincinnati, Purdue, and Missouri, all since the month of June. Indiana is also involved.
247Sports’ 2025 5-star prospects
- Cameron Boozer (PF) 6-8, 210 | Christopher Columbus (Miami, FL)
- Cooper Flagg (SF) 6-7, 195 | Montverde Academy (Newport, ME)
- Koa Peat (SF) 6-7, 200 | Perry (Gilbert, AZ)
- Bryson Tiller (PF) 6-8, 195 | Overtime Elite Academy (Atlanta, GA)
- Isiah Harwell (SG) 6-6, 190 | Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, UT)
- Darryn Peterson (SG) 6-5, 175 | Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (Cuyahoga Falls, OH)
- Meleek Thomas (SG) 6-3, 165 | North Hills (Pittsburgh, PA)
- Mikel Brown Jr. (PG) 5-10, 150 | Sunrise Christian Academy (Wichita, KS)
- Caleb Wilson (PF) 6-7, 175 | Holy Innocents Episcopal School (Atlanta, GA)
- Jalen Haralson (SG) 6-7, 205 | Fishers (Anderson, IN)
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