The college basketball season concluded in early April with an exciting Final Four. Houston narrowly defeated Duke, while Florida topped Auburn. Ultimately, Todd Golden led the Florida Gators to a national championship win
It was a proud moment for the SEC, which had an impressive 14 teams earn NCAA Tournament berths. Looking ahead to the 2025–26 season, one team expected to be a strong contender is Kentucky. Under new head coach Mark Pope, the Wildcats have been busy on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal.
On3 Sports’ Jacob Polacheck reported Saturday that Pope is pursuing top-tier 2027 prospect Baba Oladotun.
Oladotun, a 6-foot-8 forward from James Hubert Blake High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, currently holds the No. 1 spot in ESPN’s 2027 rankings. Although several schools are vying for his attention, Kentucky and Coach Pope seem to be making the most significant impression.
Oladotun’s father, Ibrahim, was deeply moved by Kentucky’s recruiting approach. “Everything happening with him is historic,” he said after the two attended a Nike EYBL event in Memphis.
“I was overwhelmed,” Ibrahim shared. “It almost brought me to tears. What’s happening for him is special. Kentucky basketball and everything it stands for — that’s a dream come true.”
At the event, Baba Oladotun played for Team Durant, finishing with 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting, along with four rebounds and four assists. Despite a narrow 74-71 loss, his play stood out with Coach Pope watching from the sidelines.
Ibrahim continued to express admiration for the Kentucky program. “It’s one of the best out there,” he said. “Pairing that with Coach Pope is fantastic. He brings great energy and NBA experience. It doesn’t get better — they’re a blue blood.”
While coaches will be allowed to directly contact 2027 recruits starting June 15, the Oladotun family plans to keep things simple and grounded.
“I’ll handle the communication,” Ibrahim said. “He’s still just 16. Some of these guys are already 18. I want him to stay focused on being a kid and keep working hard. We’ll listen to everyone and let them know what we’re looking for, then go from there.”
Kentucky is coming off a 24-12 season, including a 10-8 record in SEC play, and saw its NCAA Tournament run end with a 78-65 loss to Tennessee in the Sweet 16.
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