Who is the Kentucky coaching staff watching on day two of the live period?
Day one has come and gone to open the first live period of the recruiting period, coaches traveling all across the country to watch their top targets compete at various brand events — namely Nike EYBL, adidas 3SSB and Puma NXTPRO. The Kentucky staff divided and conquered on Friday with Mark (and Shay) Pope joined by Cody Fueger and Jason Hart in Memphis for EYBL while Mikhail McLean was in Council Bluffs for 3SSB.
KSR has boots on the ground at EYBL Session 2 and saw with our own eyes the UK coaches using their eyes to watch the likes of Tyran Stokes, Christian Collins, Jordan Smith Jr., Jason Crowe Jr., Tajh Ariza and Ikenna Alozie, among others, to open the event. What does Saturday have in store? We’re back at it for day two, following along with more updates from Memphis — plus anything else we hear and see Kentucky-related from the other events.
Follow along with KSR’s live blog below.
New names to watch at 3SSB
05/17/2025 06:17:42 PMIt’s not just the obvious suspects at 3SSB — Anthony Thompson, Caleb Holt and Tay Kinney. Sources tell KSR that 2026 four-star forward Cameron Williams and 2027 top-10 small forward Bruce Branch are among the names on Kentucky’s radar after playing well in front of Coach Pope and Fueger.
That’s what the live period is all about.
Mark (and Shay) Pope return from 3SSB
05/17/2025 06:12:57 PMAfter spending the morning and early afternoon in Council Bluffs for 3SSB, the Popes have returned to Memphis for more EYBL action — convenient timing considering a massive block of time carved out for 17U games between lunch and the evening slate.
Mark and Shay Pope are here with Jason Hart and Alvin Brooks III, starting with 2027 five-star Ryan Hampton of Drive Nation. Brooks recruited the rising junior’s older brother, RJ, when he was a former five-star recruit in his own right in 2019.
A new name to monitor: Kohl Rosario (2026)
05/17/2025 02:52:17 PMThere isn’t a person in the gym not talking about Kohl Rosario of Team CP3, who went for 18 points (6-9 FG, 4-6 3PT) with three rebounds, two assists, two blocks, one steal and zero turnovers in front of Alvin Brooks III on Saturday.
That came after he dropped 28 points on 11-15 overall and 6-8 from deep Friday night, adding four rebounds and two steals in back-to-back wins — they haven’t lost through five EYBL games.
He’s the biggest stock-riser of the weekend thus far, and now, Kentucky is checking in.
Lunchtime stat updates for Kentucky targets
05/17/2025 02:24:32 PMIt’s been a good day for most of Kentucky’s top guys in the first half with a long break splitting things up until later this evening. Here’s what we have to start with:
- Jordan Smith Jr. (Team Takeover) – 18 points (6-12 FG), five steals, four rebounds, four assists, one block and three turnovers
- Christian Gibson (Houston Hoops) – 28 points (12-20 FG, 2-6 3PT), five rebounds, three steals, one block, three turnovers
- Tajh Ariza (Team Why Not) – 4 points (2-7 FG), three rebounds, two assists, one steal, four turnovers
- Christian Collins (Team Why Not) – 17 points (4-6 FG, 8-10 FT), seven rebounds, two steals, one block, two turnovers
- Anthony Felesi (Vegas Elite) – 16 points (5-12 FG), six rebounds, two assists, two turnovers
- Ikenna Alozie (Utah Prospects) – 20 points (8-13 FG), eight rebounds, one assist, one steal, four turnovers
- Dean Rueckert (Utah Prospects) – 11 points (4-13 FG, 2-9 3PT), six rebounds, two blocks, six turnovers
- Tyran Stokes (Oakland Soldiers) – 14 points (5-9 FG), 11 rebounds, six assists, one steal, one block
- Jason Crowe Jr. (Oakland Soldiers) – 27 points (10-21 FG, 1-8 3PT), five rebounds, two assists, one block, two turnovers
- DaKari Spear (Drive Nation) – 15 points (6-13 FG, 1-5 3PT), five rebounds, three assists, two turnovers
- Austin Goosby (Drive Nation) – 13 points (6-9 FG), nine assists, five rebounds, one steal, one block, two turnovers
Alvin Brooks III digs deeper with DaKari Spear
05/17/2025 01:03:28 PMIt’s not just Austin Goosby the Wildcats are pushing for among standouts from Texas — keep an eye on DaKari Spear, who singled out Kentucky as a top priority in his recruitment in a postgame conversation with KSR.
Brooks III was there watching both, just as he’s been keeping in touch and checking in during regular Texas stops.
Jason Hart keeps chipping away at Jason Crowe Jr.
05/17/2025 12:59:38 PMA lifelong friend of Jason Crowe Sr., Jason Hart has been relentless in his pursuit of his five-star son, suiting up for Team Why Not as Tyran Stokes’ teammate — a top-10 pairing.
Hart was courtside, just as he was on Friday. Brooks III came over later in the game after taking in another court of his own top targets.
More time with the Utah Prospects
05/17/2025 10:45:20 AMYesterday, it was Pope and Fueger tag-teaming two kids near their old stomping grounds in Utah. Today, it’s Brooks III taking over — including an appearance from one of the top bigs in the 2027 class.
Alozie holds an offer while Kentucky is monitoring Rueckert’s progress in the coming weeks to decide whether to make a move.
More eyes never hurt anybody.
Splitting time to open day two
05/17/2025 10:35:49 AMFueger is out while Brooks III is in, joining Hart in Memphis. They’re starting the day watching Tajh Ariza and Christian Collins on one court and Jordan Smith Jr. on another.
All three prospects hold offers from the Wildcats.
Kentucky Target Day 1 Standouts
05/17/2025 08:59:09 AM- Anthony Thompson (3SSB) – 26 PTS, 4 REB, 3 STL
- Tay Kinney (3SSB) – 21 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST
- Tyran Stokes (EYBL) – 15 PTS, 12 REB, 3 AST, 4 STL
- Jason Crowe Jr. (EYBL) – 18 PTS, 3 REB
- Tajh Ariza (EYBL) – 14 PTS, 9 REB, 3 BLK
- Austin Goosby (EYBL) – 17 PTS, 7 REB, 3 STL, 2 AST
- Ikenna Alozie (EYBL) – 10 PTS, 8 REB
- Baba Oladotun (’27) (EYBL) – 18 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL
- Deron Rippey Jr. (3SSB) – 17 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST
- Jordan Smith Jr. (EYBL) – 14 PTS, 9 REB, 2 AST
- Paul Osaruyi (’27) (EYBL) – 17 PTS, 12 REB, 3 STL
Alvin Brooks III to EYBL, Cody Fueger to 3SSB
05/17/2025 08:51:00 AMWe already have movement for the Wildcats to start day two, Alvin Brooks III hitting the road after letting Mikhail McLean take his spot on Friday. He’ll get things rolling at EYBL while Cody Fueger, who started in Memphis, is now in Council Bluffs for 3SSB.
Other 3SSB targets include Caleb Holt, Anthony Thompson, Tay Kinney, Deron Rippey Jr. and Billy White
This post will be updated throughout the day.
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