In a stunning turn of events that has shaken the college basketball recruiting world, Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope has pulled off one of the most jaw-dropping moves of the offseason — flipping five-star point guard Jaylen Richmond from longtime Duke commitment to Big Blue Nation.
Richmond, widely regarded as the No. 1 point guard in the 2025 class, announced his decision on social media late Sunday night, just days after an unannounced visit to Lexington. The 6-foot-4 floor general had been committed to Duke for nearly a year and was expected to be the centerpiece of their incoming class.
“I prayed on it, talked with my family, and just felt like Coach Pope’s vision for me was something I couldn’t pass up,” Richmond said. “Kentucky feels like home, and I want to help bring another banner to Rupp.”
Sources close to the situation suggest that Pope’s relentless recruiting efforts — combined with Kentucky’s revamped offense and a clearer NIL path — ultimately swayed Richmond to switch allegiances. The flip is being called one of the boldest recruiting coups in recent NCAA history.
“This is a program-changing addition,” one scout told ESPN. “Jaylen is a leader, a playmaker, and a competitor. Pope just landed a future NBA lottery pick.”
Duke fans, meanwhile, have been left in shock, flooding social media with reactions and speculation about what went wrong.
For Mark Pope, this lands as a powerful statement — Kentucky basketball is not just back, it’s aggressively reclaiming its dominance on the recruiting trail.
Stay tuned for more details as this blockbuster story continues to unfold.
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