Mark Pope is hoping to bring in a potential superstar.
The recruitment world never stops as Mark Pope’s staff stays hard at work looking for future Kentucky Wildcats.
As the 2025 season approaches, the classes of 2026 and 2027 are in full focus in the recruitment circle.
One name has skyrocketed in the class of 2027, and that is Bruce Branch III, after moving up to become the top prospect in his class.
Branch most recently shone last week, Rivals’ Jamie Shaw now believes that Branch is the best rising high school basketball player. The recruiting service lists him No. 1 overall in 2027.
“Someone who has plus size with good length and a frame that projects well as he continues to grow. He is a good athlete and has natural anticipation on both ends of the floor,” Shaw wrote of Branch.
Branch played on the 17U circuit for Compton Magic recently, averaging 15.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.
Head coach Mark Pope, along with assistant coaches Cody Fueger and Jason Hart, were there in person watching Branch, and it is clearly making a good impression.
“My boy Fueger, one of my guys right now, he’s texting me almost every day. We be FaceTiming, talking. I saw him in the stands right now, that’s one of my guys,” Branch told Kentucky Sports Radio’s Zack Geoghegan.
“Last time he called me, we talked about the tournament, talked about family, my mom, my brother. The thing about Fueger is he always asks how my day is,” Branch told KSR. “That’s one thing about me, I love conversation, I love relationships, and building a relationship really helps.”
It’s clear there is a growing relationship between Branch and the Kentucky basketball staff.
Time will tell, but this is shaping up to be a huge recruitment for Pope and Co.
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