Mark Pope and Kentucky coaches visit 3 high school recruits

Visits to see Tay Kinney, Caleb Holt, and Austin Goosby highlight a busy recruiting week for Mark Pope and Co.

Mark Pope and his Kentucky Wildcats coaching staff continue to hit the recruiting trail hard, making key in-home and school visits this week as they evaluate and build relationships with top talent in the 2026 class.

First up was 4-star point guard Tay Kinney, a standout from Newport, Kentucky, currently playing for Overtime Elite (OTE) in Atlanta. Kinney is also the high school teammate of Kentucky signee Jasper Johnson. Pope, alongside assistants Cody Fueger and Jason Hart, spent time with Kinney in his home, watching highlights and breaking down film with the young guard and his family.

“Thank you (Mark Pope, Jason Hart and Cody Fueger) for the in home visit!!” Kinney shared on social media.

After wrapping up their visit in Atlanta, the trio made their way to Loganville, Georgia to meet with five-star shooting guard Caleb Holt, one of the Wildcats’ top 2026 targets. Standing at 6-foot-5, Holt is ranked No. 4 overall in the class and No. 1 at his position. Kentucky first extended an offer to Holt in July 2024, with multiple follow-ups confirming their strong interest.

“Appreciate yall for coming through,” Holt posted after the visit.

Meanwhile, Associate Head Coach Alvin Brooks III was on his own mission, heading to Texas to visit four-star wing Austin Goosby at Melissa High School. Goosby, the No. 27 overall prospect in 2026, hasn’t received a UK offer yet but has been closely monitored by Brooks.

With AAU season ramping up — including Nike EYBL and adidas 3SSB — and live periods approaching in May and July, Kentucky is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to build a powerhouse future.