Mark Pope and Kentucky Basketball have already secured the commitments of two five-star recruits in the 2027 class, and it seems they have their eyes set on another: CJ Rosser.
The Wildcats have long been admirers of Rosser, as Pope and assistant Mo Williams flew down to Florida to conduct an in-home visit with the five-star recruit earlier this year. Things, however, have really started to heat up in Rosser’s recruitment as the Early Signing Period approaches, and Kentucky has jumped to the forefront.
Rosser is a North Carolina native, and the Tar Heels have long been viewed as the favorites to land the six-foot-ten power forward. That seems to have changed in recent days. David Sisk of 247Sports reported yesterday that he is hearing “lots of buzz surrounding Kentucky” when it comes to Rosser’s recruitment. The Wildcats seem prepared to enter a bidding war if necessary.
Pope and his staff have been playing the long game with this recruitment. Sisk speculated that Kentucky drove up the price of North Carolina commit Demarcus Henry by $1 million in the final week, with Rosser’s recruitment in mind. Mike Malone and the Tar Heels could now have difficulty financing a deal for Rosser, as they have already committed to a massive contract with Henry.
Additionally, John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks are unlikely to enter a bidding war for the Southeastern Prep product. Pope seems to have closed off every path that doesn’t lead to Lexington.
Kentucky Basketball Zeroing In On CJ Rosser
From Kentucky’s perspective, the coaching staff is making no secret of the fact that CJ Rosser is viewed as the final piece of its 2027 recruiting class.
After driving up the price of Demarcus Henry almost entirely for show, the Wildcats have withdrawn from the running for five-star Adan Diggs and canceled fellow five-star AJ Williams’ official visit. Kentucky has also conceded the recruitment of players such as Nasir Anderson, Reese Alston, Beckham Black, and Cayden Daughtry in recent weeks. The staff’s sole focus is now on Rosser.
After landing both Ryan Hampton and Cherif Millogo, it is difficult to blame Pope for singling out CJ Rosser as the crowning jewel of his high school recruiting class. With a significant portion of the current roster expected to return next season, Kentucky will have fewer roster needs than most programs.
Should the Wildcats suffer any unexpected departures, they have also shown a willingness to use the transfer portal as aggressively as anyone.
Kentucky Basketball: When Will CJ Rosser Announce His College Decision?
While Kentucky may have jumped to the forefront of Rosser’s recruitment, the Wildcats are still by no means a lock to land him. Several programs remain in the race for the five-star prospect, including North Carolina, Louisville, USC, Miami, NC State, and others.
Rosser had initially planned to announce his commitment in either December or January, but those close to him have pushed for an earlier decision during the Early Signing Period. It runs from November 11 through November 18.
End Of My Kentucky Basketball Rant
Kentucky seems to be gaining momentum with its final major target in the 2027 class. With Millogo and Hampton bound for Lexington next fall, along with a significant number of expected returners, Rosser could be the last domino to fall for Pope.
The 17-year-old is a perfect fit for Pope’s ideal frontcourt archetype, thriving in a fast-paced, fluid offense that combines length with elite athleticism. There is a reason he is the No. 2 overall recruit in the class: he is a potential game-changer. Should the Wildcats land him, their three-headed monster of Millogo, Hampton, and Rosser would be among the best high school recruiting classes in the country.
The race for his commitment is still ongoing, but the Wildcats seem to have put themselves in a good position. Time will tell whether it is good enough.
