New hire alert: plans to bring in a top 5 player and a 5 star power forward Visit Kentucky for basketball

Mark Pope, the first-year head coach, is still making waves in recruiting. Nate Ament, the No. 4 talent in the 2025 class, wants to come to Lexington. The 6-foot-8 power forward from Virginia is one of the best players in the country and a main attraction for a number of top schools.

In February, Ament plans to go to Kentucky, as well as the famous grudge game between North Carolina and Duke and the game between Arizona and Kansas State.

Paul Biancardi of ESPN says that Ament makes decisions based on trust and agreement with the coaching staff and their strategy. Ament said, “I want to play for a coach and staff I can trust.” “What matters most to me is how they see me as a player and a person.”

Getting Ament to visit Kentucky is a sign that they are making progress in their recruiting efforts. Pope already has a strong class for 2025, with Malachi Moreno, Jasper Johnson, and Acaden Lewis committing to go there. It would be a huge win to add Ament to the mix. This would make the Wildcats even more of a top choice for top talent under Pope.

Ament is the right size and range of skills for today’s game. He is 6 feet 8 inches tall and has great speed and skill, which lets him affect games on both ends of the court. Scouts love how he can stretch the floor, finish at the rim, and guard multiple positions. These are all traits that make him a perfect example of a dynamic forward in today’s college basketball, and more importantly, for Mark Pope’s system.

Pope’s early success could start a new era for Kentucky basketball, with a mix of well-known national recruits and returning stars. Pope is committed to hiring players with good character and ability. If Ament’s visit to Rupp Arena makes an effect that lasts, the Wildcats could take another big step toward becoming perennial championship contenders again. Kentucky has the chance to show why Lexington is still a great place for young athletes to go.