KSR Today: Stoops Steps Up, Peach Jam Heats Up, and La Familia Battles the Cats Behind Closed Doors

KSR Today: Stoops Steps Up, Peach Jam Heats Up, and La Familia Battles the Cats Behind Closed Doors

Good morning, Big Blue Nation  and buckle up, because this Thursday in mid-July is packed with more Kentucky sports drama than anyone expected. Whether you’re tuned into the buzz of SEC Media Days, the chaos of Peach Jam recruiting, or the behind-the-scenes brawls at Memorial Coliseum, it’s a big day for the Wildcats.

 Mark Stoops Takes Center Stage at SEC Media Days

Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops will be in the SEC spotlight today at Media Days in Atlanta, speaking to a crowd of national and local reporters at 10:50 a.m. ET. He’ll be joined by linebacker Alex Afari Jr., defensive back Jordan Lovett, and tight end Josh Kattus as the Wildcats discuss their offseason changes and outlook.

There will be plenty to address  including Vince Marrow’s shocking jump to Louisville, the addition of former Auburn and Texas A&M quarterback Zach Calzada, and what to expect from the Wildcats’ deep dive into the transfer portal. KSR’s Nick Roush, Adam Luckett, and Steven Peake are on-site bringing full coverage and will be updating fans with live reactions all day.

Want to prep yourself? The latest episode of “11 Personnel” dives into everything Stoops-related ahead of today’s media blitz.

 KSR Hits Peach Jam: Pope on the Recruiting Trail

As football dominates the headlines in Atlanta, Kentucky basketball’s recruiting efforts are in full swing at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam in North Augusta, SC. KSR’s Jack Pilgrim and Jacob Polacheck arrived yesterday to track UK’s top hoops targets as the July live period rolls on.

Among the blue-chip talent on Kentucky’s radar:

• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Tyran Stokes
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Baba Oladotun
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Ikenna Alozie
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jordan Smith Jr.
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Bryson Howard
• ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Christian Collins

Mark Pope and his staff are expected to be in the gym early and often, looking to build off the momentum from recent offers to Arafan Diane and Cam Williams  the latter of whom is already locked in for an official visit to Lexington in late September.

Could more offers be on the horizon this week? Stay close to KSR for the live scoop as Pope sets his sights on the future of Kentucky basketball.

 Kentucky vs. La Familia: Alumni vs. Wildcats Scrimmage

Before La Familia returns to action in The Basketball Tournament (TBT) this weekend, the team of Kentucky alums sharpened their edge in a secretive scrimmage against the current Wildcats roster. After practicing together Tuesday, the two squads squared off in a competitive 5-on-5 on Wednesday inside Memorial Coliseum.

Coach Mark Pope gave a post-scrimmage update to Cameron Mills, shedding light on what he saw:

“Positive for us was we battled through some discomfort and some frustration, and some leadership emerged,” Pope said. “Some guys walked into new circumstances, shook off the nerves — I like both of those.”

The takeaway? The current Cats showed growth in intensity and leadership, and La Familia got the reps they needed to prepare for their million-dollar quest. You can catch snippets of the scrimmage and Pope’s full interview via KSR.

Also worth noting: International big man Andrija Jelavić has made his long-anticipated arrival to campus  another piece to watch in Pope’s evolving puzzle.

Final Thoughts

From Stoops making waves in Atlanta, to Pope making moves on the trail, and La Familia pushing Kentucky’s roster in practice, this July Thursday feels more like March. Big decisions, big storylines, and even bigger opportunities are unfolding across UK Athletics  and KSR is on the frontlines.

Stay tuned. This is just the beginning.