In a seismic shakeup to the 2025 college basketball recruiting landscape, five-star point guard Jaylen Carter has officially decommitted from Bengal University, rejecting a jaw-dropping $7.6 million NIL offer, and announced his surprise commitment to the Kentucky Wildcats — bypassing final contenders Notre Dame and Florida State Seminoles.
Carter, the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2025 class and widely considered the most electrifying floor general in the country, had been locked in with Bengal for months and was expected to be the centerpiece of their rising national title aspirations. But in a move that has left coaches, insiders, and fans stunned, Carter cited “legacy, development, and culture” as the key reasons behind his switch.
> “I know $7.6 million sounds crazy, but money isn’t everything,” Carter said during a press event streamed live on social media. “When I visited Kentucky, I felt the energy, the history, and the plan Coach Calipari laid out for me. It wasn’t about a check — it was about greatness.”
Kentucky, already stacked with talent for the upcoming season, now adds a lightning-fast playmaker with elite court vision and scoring ability. Carter’s flip instantly vaults their 2025 recruiting class to the No. 1 spot nationally.
Sources close to Carter say Notre Dame and Florida State made “significant and serious” NIL pushes in the final days, but couldn’t match Kentucky’s basketball culture, national brand, and NBA track record.
> “Jaylen is a generational leader at the point,” said ESPN recruiting analyst Marcus Hill. “He makes everyone around him better and brings superstar confidence. Turning down that kind of money proves he’s betting on himself — and that he sees Lexington as the best launchpad to the league.”
This commitment is a massive win for Kentucky and a devastating loss for Bengal, which had pinned much of its future around Carter. Fans across the country will be watching closely as Carter takes the floor in Rupp Arena next season — not just as a Wildcat, but as the new face of college basketball’s changing era.
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