Kentucky basketball lands 5-star SG, highest-rated prospect of Pope era
By David Wasson
Published:
The Kentucky Wildcats landed a huge commitment for the 2027 basketball class, securing a commitment Sunday morning from 5-star shooting guard Ryan Hampton.
The highest-rated prospect in Wildcats coach Mark Pope’s tenure, Hampton committed to Kentucky over offers from NC State, Nebraska, Auburn and others. Hampton is a 5-star prospect according to 247 Sports Composite, currently the 10th-best player in the 2027 class and the second-best shooting guard in the nation.
A 6-foot-6 combo force who can also play small forward, Hampton plays for DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Fla. He is a budding wing who has continued to blossom as a volume scorer. Having turned 18 in May, Hampton helped DME Academy to a 25-10 record in 2025-26.
Hampton is Kentucky’s first commitment in the 2027 class, though his national ranking already puts Kentucky at No. 2 in the country.
The Wildcats struggled at times in 2025-26 en route to a 22-14 overall record and 10-8 SEC mark. Kentucky downed LSU and Missouri in the SEC Tournament before falling to Florida in the quarterfinals.
Pope’s Wildcats earned a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament and downed 10th-seeded Santa Clara 89-84 in overtime in the first round before losing to second-seeded Iowa State 82-63 in the second round.
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An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
