Kentucky’s Mark Pope Makes Big Move on 7-foot-3 College Basketball Recruit

Kentucky’s Mark Pope Makes Big Move on 7-foot-3 College Basketball Recruit originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Mark Pope, a former member of the UK’s 1996 national championship team, took over as head coach of Kentucky’s men’s basketball program on April 12, 2024. 

In his first season, Pope led the Wildcats to a 24-12 overall mark and a 10-8 SEC record, culminating in a Sweet 16 appearance, Kentucky’s first since 2019. 

Under Pope, UK’s offense ranked seventh in scoring nationally, set a school record with 341 three-pointers and secured eight wins over AP Top 15 opponents, including signature victories over Duke, Florida Gonzaga and Tennessee. 

On Monday, Pope’s Wildcats received yet another boost.

On3’s Joe Tipton revealed that 7-foot-3 Italian center Luigi Suigo has emerged as one of the nation’s most intriguing long-term prospects, drawing recruiting interest from Illinois, Purdue, BYU, Louisville, Texas A&M, and, notably, Kentucky. 

An Italian 7’3” center is being recruited by the likes of Illinois, Purdue, BYU, Kentucky, Louisville, and Texas A&M. Read (On3+): https://t.co/TZGAx1lHzlpic.twitter.com/OFY6SvHFCE

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) June 9, 2025

Suigo, who turned 18 this January, stands 7-foot-3 with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and a 20-inch standing vertical, making him one of the most physically imposing prospects in the 2026 class. 

He hails from Olimpia Milano’s youth system and has seen action in Italian Serie A with AX Armani Exchange Milan and at the Adidas Next Generation Tournament. 

He was also one of 60 invitees to Basketball Without Borders Europe, underlining his rising international profile. 

According to Rivals, Suigo holds five offers from Duke, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky and UCLA. 

Suigo’s summer will be a whirlwind of official and unofficial visits. 

Illinois hosted him in February, Purdue is locked in for an official visit and Kentucky is plotting its own pitch to the 7-footer. 

Pope’s up-tempo style, combined with a reputation for player development and an expanding international recruiting footprint, makes Kentucky a natural landing spot for a talent like Suigo. 

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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.

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