FEW MINUTES AGO: The Wildcats Officially Defeat the Hoosiers and Auburn to Secure the Commitment of High-Scoring Phenom Lamar Wilkerson
In a dramatic and hard-fought recruiting battle that has captured national attention over recent weeks, the Kentucky Wildcats have officially secured the commitment of one of the most electric prospects in the 2025 class — high-scoring phenom Lamar Wilkerson.
The announcement, made just minutes ago via Wilkerson’s social media platforms and confirmed by multiple sources close to the program, marks a major win for Head Coach Mark Pope and his staff, who edged out fierce competition from Big Ten powerhouse Indiana and SEC rival Auburn.
Wilkerson, a 6’5” shooting guard out of Oak Hill Academy (VA), has been nothing short of sensational on the prep circuit this past year. Averaging 27.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, the explosive scorer has quickly become a household name among scouts, with his blend of athleticism, deep shooting range, and court vision drawing comparisons to NBA All-Stars. His decision comes after a whirlwind recruiting saga that saw official visits, last-minute pitches, and relentless fan speculation.
“I want to thank every school that recruited me and believed in me,” Wilkerson said during his announcement. “But after a lot of prayer and long conversations with my family, I’ve decided to take my talents to Lexington and become a Wildcat.”
The commitment is a major statement from Kentucky, which is reloading its roster with top-tier talent following a recent push to return to championship contention. Coach Pope was spotted at nearly every one of Wilkerson’s high-profile games this season, showing an unusual level of personal involvement — a testament to how high the staff was on the guard.
Indiana and Auburn, both of which were considered strong contenders up until the final moments, had laid out compelling cases. Auburn Head Coach Bruce Pearl made a late push with a strong NIL package and a clear path to starting minutes, while Indiana sold Wilkerson on becoming the centerpiece of a storied program resurgence under Mike Woodson. But in the end, the tradition, exposure, and NBA pipeline of Kentucky proved too strong to overcome.
“We believe Lamar has the potential to be a one-and-done type player,” said Kentucky assistant coach Chin Coleman. “He brings that wow factor — the kind of scorer that can take over games and electrify a crowd. He’s a big-time player, and Big Blue Nation is going to love him.”
Wilkerson will join a loaded Kentucky recruiting class that already includes top-10 forward Darnell Briggs and four-star point guard Trey Watson, creating immediate buzz around what’s shaping up to be one of the most talented incoming freshman groups in the nation.
With Wilkerson now in the fold, Kentucky sends a clear message: the Wildcats are back — and ready to reclaim their throne at the top of college basketball.
