Visitors to Mark Pope's Big Blue Madness

LEXINGTON – Kentucky Basketball will have a dynamic duo on its side Friday night during the annual Big Blue Madness event.

Acaden Lewis, a four-star guard in the 2025 class according to the 247Sports Composite, will be in town this weekend for an official visit. Also taking part in the event will be Anthony Thompson, a five-star small forward in the 2026 cycle in the 247Sports Composite Rating.

It's a far smaller group than the Wildcats have had in previous years in Big Blue Madness. In 2023, the UK had a dozen highly touted prospects for the event. In 2022, 11 recruits participated.

One difference between this year and last: UK and coach Mark Pope already have two commitments in the 2025 class: five-star center Malachi Moreno and five-star guard Jasper Johnson. Last October, the Wildcats (and former coach John Calipari) had just one 2024 commitment: four-star center Somto Cyril, who later signed with Georgia.

And the list of Big Blue Madness attendees on Friday was larger at times. Several players either canceled their visits (2025 prospects Niko Bundalo and Tounde Yessoufou) or had scheduling conflicts that prevented them from coming to Lexington this week (Moreno along with 2026 prospects Taylen Kinney and Jayden Johnson).

Big Blue Madness begins Friday at 7 p.m. at Rupp Arena.

Here you will find relevant background information on recruiting target Acaden Lewis from Kentucky:

High school: Sidwell Friends (Washington)

Position: Combo protection

247National Sports Composite Ranking: 36

247Sports Composite Position Ranking: 5

What you should know: Lewis, a four-star combo guard from the nation's capital, accepted an offer from the Wildcats in June. A month later, Pope's program was part of Lewis' eight finalists, a group that also included Auburn, Duke, Michigan, North Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee and UConn. Last week, Lewis narrowed his group of finalists down to three: Kentucky, Duke and UConn. Lewis praised Pope earlier this year. “(Pope) just said I’m someone who can play from day one,” Lewis told KSR+. “He trusts me with his program and believes I could be very special there.” After completing the official visit this weekend, Lewis is expected to make a decision before the early signing period begins next month.

The Wildcats have numerous offers through 2025. Only two have committed elsewhere (Yessoufou to Baylor and point guard Darius Acuff Jr. to Arkansas), while others (AJ Dybantsa, Braylon Mullins, Koa Peat, Darryn Peterson, Eric Reibe and Meleek Thomas) Not having Great Britain as a finalist.

Bundalo had planned to make an appearance at Big Blue Madness this weekend as part of an official visit. But just one day after the announcement, he canceled the trip. According to 247Sports national recruiting analyst Travis Branham, Bundalo will not delay OV.

Pope and his staff have begun focusing on a handful of 2025 recruits in addition to Lewis.

One of those is five-star power forward Caleb Wilson, who was in Lexington on an official visit last month. The Wildcats staff then visited Wilson at his school, Holy Innocents' Episcopal in Atlanta. Pope also stopped by Wilson for a home visit on Tuesday, according to national college basketball reporter Adam Zagoria.

Wilson was vocal about his hopes of working with Lewis in college.

Other 2025 recruits Kentucky still has in the running include:

Here you will find relevant background information about Anthony Thompson:

High school: Western Reserve Academy (Hudson, Ohio)

Position: Small striker

247National Sports Composite Ranking: 17

247Sports Composite Position Ranking: 6

What you should know: Thompson, a five-star small forward from neighboring Ohio, does not yet have an offer from UK. But he has offers from numerous other prestigious schools, including Louisville, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State and UCLA, among others. According to On3, Thompson averaged nearly 15 points, eight rebounds and two blocks per game last season for Lebanon High in Lebanon, Ohio. “I would say my game is very versatile. I feel like I can do whatever is asked of me on the court,” Thompson told On3. “My best attributes are probably my shooting ability and my rebounding. I've always been a great KD (Kevin Durant) guy and always watched every movie of his that I could. I've seen a lot of that lately.” Jayson Tatum has tried to use his opportunities to create space on his plays and add that to my game. Thompson's father played college basketball at Wheeling University, a Division II school in Wheeling, West Virginia. Although a college decision isn't on the horizon any time soon, Thompson revealed to On3 the key factors he'll be considering. “I want to go to a school that will allow me to develop into a great player so I can play professionally,” he said. “And a place where I can feel comfortable being around the coaching staff and players. I would say I feel most comfortable playing fast and in transition, but also just being a controlled offense that is able to take advantage of whatever the defense throws at me.”

In addition to Kinney, the Wildcats have extended their scholarship offers to eight other prospects in the 2026 cycle.

This group includes:

Reach Kentucky men's basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

Visitors to Mark Pope's Big Blue Madness

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