Kentucky Basketball Battling West Virginia For 4-Star Center

Mark Pope and Kentucky Basketball are gaining traction with elite big man Paul Osaruyi. They face stiff competition, though, from the West Virginia Mountaineers. Osaruyi, the 18-year-old from Bella Vista Prep, was in Lexington for his first official college visit at the end of September, and he spoke very positively about the program.

Speaking with KSR, Osaruyi described being in Lexington and feeling the energy and hype of the fanbase around Kentucky Basketball as “super cool.” He also spoke glowingly about the possibility of playing in Rupp Arena, saying the whole experience of playing in that historic venue with a packed crowd “would be crazy.”

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The Ontario native quickly quieted rumors of a potential quick commitment. Osaruyi wasn’t sure about that possibility and was still talking with those close to him about his recruitment plan. He still anticipates visiting other programs.

Kentucky Basketball’s Main Competition For Paul Osaruyi

One school with a lot of buzz around Osaruyi is West Virginia, who has been recruiting him since his freshman year of high school. Head coach Ross Hodge has shown a willingness to play with the big boys when it comes to recruiting since he took over in early 2025, and the 6’10” big man could become his latest gem. Assistant coach Yusuf Ali shares Canadian ties with Osaruyi, and the two apparently have a very close relationship.

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Additionally, Osaruyi’s current school, Bella Vista Prep, has become somewhat of a feeder for West Virginia. Five members of the Mountaineers’ current roster attended Bella Vista, including freshman guard Miles Sadler, who shares a close relationship with Osaruyi. That sense of familiarity is often huge in the recruiting process, evidenced by West Virginia landing a Crystal Ball prediction for Osaruyi back in August from On3’s Joe Tipton.

There is still hope for the Wildcats, however. Becoming the youngster’s first-ever official college visit is a huge win for Mark Pope and the staff, and they…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/kentucky-basketball-battling-west-virginia-222344281.html

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Publish date : 2026-10-05 22:23:00

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