Kentucky offers 5-star recruit Christian Collins

Collins has become a national sensation and is now a top recruiting target for Mark Pope and the Wildcats.

Christian Collins is a 6-foot-8, 5-star forward from St. John Bosco (Bellflower, CA) and is now ranked the No. 3 overall and No. 2 among small forwards in the 2026 class, according to On3.

With his explosive athleticism, length, and high-level two-way potential, he’s become one of the most coveted prospects in the country.

This week, Kentucky joined the race to land Collins, with head coach Mark Pope extending a scholarship offer during a West Coast recruiting swing. The 5-star prospect announced the news himself on social media.

“Blessed and thankful to receive an offer from the University of Kentucky!!!!” posting on X.

Pope and his staff traveled to California to see Collins in person, also checking in on his highly regarded teammate, Tajh Ariza — another five-star wing who received a Kentucky offer back in September. Duke’s Jon Scheyer also met with Collins on the same day and extended an offer shortly before Kentucky did.

The Wildcats now join a growing list of powerhouse programs pursuing Collins, including Alabama, Arizona, UCLA, USC, Cal, Kansas State, and Oregon.

Collins has shined on the Nike EYBL circuit with Team Why Not, averaging 15.7 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 44.2% from the field and nearly 89% at the line.

Kentucky has now offered nearly every top-10 player in the 2026 class — and Collins might just be the biggest name of them all by the end of the cycle.