Latest Kentucky basketball recruiting intel for 2025 class

John Calipari has traditionally loaded up on high school talent. If you combine the class of 2023 and 2024, Kentucky has brought in a total of 13 freshmen. Of course, most players are off to the NBA after a single season in Lexington, but it’s important to know that coach Cal does not shy away from taking large high school classes.

With Kentucky’s season now over, one of their priorites is to attack the 2025 recruiting class with full force.

Let’s break down where they stand with their targets in the high school ranks. Who are the Wildcats in good position with? Who are they prioritizing more than others?

Five-Star Plus+ SG Darryn Peterson

Darryn Peterson is likely the Wildcats’ top guard target. The 6-foot-5 junior out of Hungtington Prep (WV) is currently ranked as the No. 3 overall player in the class and No. 1 at the shooting guard position.

Kentucky received the Five-Star Plus+ prospect’s first official visit earlier this month and by all accounts, the visit went well.

It should be noted that Peterson signed an NIL deal with adidas last season (UK is Nike), but in speaking to people close to the Kentucky program, that does not bother the Wildcats one bit.

In speaking with sources, Kentucky is in good position with Peterson . I believe their biggest threat is Kansas.

Five-Star Plus+ SF AJ Dybantsa

If there is one player that Kentucky should go all-in for, it’s AJ Dybantsa , the consensus No. 1 player in the 2025 class. Don’t be surprised if you see the 6-foot-8 small forward out of Prolific Prep on campus in Lexington at some point this summer.

Auburn and USC have a head start here, as both programs have already hosted him for official visits, but it’s not difficult for a school like Kentucky to ‘make up ground.’

It’s still early, but I like Kentucky’s chances as they always have success with highly-touted recruits. North Carolina is another school I would watch.

With the G-League Ignite dissolving over this season, this only helps colleges chances in landing him, including UK.

5-star PG Darius Acuff

It’s difficult to not notice how well Calipari’s guards do in the NBA ( De’Aaron Fox , Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , Tyresey Maxey , etc) and I’m sure that is part of the recruiting pitch to five-star Darius Acuff of IMG Academy (FL).

Kentucky has already hosted the 6-foot-1 point guard, who is originally from Detroit, on an official visit, along with the in-state Michigan Wolverines.

I believe Kentucky has positioned themselves well in this recruitment early, but there is still a ways to go before a decision comes from Acuff.

Five-Star Plus+ PF Cameron Boozer & 4-star PG Cayden Boozer

Twin brothers Cameron (Ranked No. 2 in 2025) and Cayden Boozer (No. 16) have each become priority recruits for John Calipari. The two took an official visit to Kentucky in September and the Wildcats continue to remain towards the top of their list.

The brothers have said they will make their decisions separately, but they’ve gone on all their visits together and hold offers from the same, exact schools.

While Kentucky is definitely in the thick of it with the Boozers, I believe the hometown Miami Hurricanes are currently their biggest competition. Florida is another school I would also continue to monitor.

Cameron and Cayden are the sons of former Duke champion Carlos Boozer. The Blue Devils have offered and hosted the two for a visit, but I don’t love Duke’s chances here at this exact moment.

4-star SG Jasper Johnson

Jasper Johnson is one of the few no-brainers to land at Kentucky on this list. The Lexington native grew up around the school and has multiple ties to the program. Frankly, this one is the Wildcats’ to lose.

Should they fumble it and not make him a priority, I could see a school like Auburn, Baylor, or even North Carolina coming in and scooping the elite prospect out of Link Academy (MO).

Johnson, the No. 11 overall prospect in the 2025, is very talented. If John Calipari recruits him hard enough, I just don’t see him saying ‘no’ at the end of the day.

4-star C Malachi Moreno

Yet another Kentucky native on this list is Malachi Moreno out of Great Crossing High School in Georgetown, Kentucky, located less than 15 miles from Rupp Arena.

The 7-footer has visited UK several times and in speaking with him, he does really like the Wildcats.

I do think Kentucky would be near the top of his list, but I believe Indiana will be UK’s biggest competition.

Rounding out the list

Kentucky is recruiting several more prospects in this 2025 class, including Five-Star Plus+ PF Caleb Wilson (No. 4), Five-Star Plus PF Koa Peat (No. 5), and Five-Star Plus+ SG Meleek Thomas (No. 6).

Caleb Wilson is considering Kentucky, along with several others like Auburn, UNC, Alabama, Tennessee, and others. He doesn’t appear to be in too big of a rush either. You also have to think how it affects his Kentucky recruitment if a couple of bigs like Cameron Boozer and Malachi Moreno were to commit first. It’s still too early to pick a favorite here.

Koa Peat has Kentucky on his top 10 list, but he has not yet made the trip to Lexington yet. The Wildcats are recruiting several players at the forward position, and its not clear who is more of a priority than others. North Carolina, Michigan, and Texas have each hosted Peat for official visits, and a school like Arizona would love to keep him in-state. It’ll be interesting to see where this one goes.

Meleek Thomas is another guard target for Kentucky. Coach Cal made the trip to his high school in Pittsburgh to see him play earlier this season and the Wildcats have also hosted him on campus for a visit, along with schools like Auburn and Pitt. In my opinion, this is too close of a race to call at the moment.

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