It’s never too early to look ahead, especially when it comes to potential future pieces of the Kentucky men’s basketball program.
With basketball season inching closer and closer, our friends over at Rivals unveiled their debut player rankings for the 2028 high school class (current sophomores). This marks the first of what will be several updates to the 2028 cycle, which features a Top 75 for the initial release, over the next couple of years. Considering it’s still so early in the recruiting process for most of these young players, we only know of a handful that are actively being recruited by the Kentucky coaching staff.
But the ones that are in contact with the ‘Cats look to be promising prospects. Headlining the group is 6-foot-7 power forward Shalen Sheppard out of California, who checks in at No. 6 overall. He competed at the 2025 FIBA U16 Men’s AmeriCup from June 2-8 in Juárez, Mexico, averaging 5.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in six games off the bench. UK is keeping close tabs on him. Jacob Polacheck of KSR+ sat down with Sheppard in July for an interview.
Sheppard isn’t the only long-term recruit the Big Blue Nation should pay attention to, though.
6-foot-5 point guard Kam Mercer is hearing plenty from the Kentucky coaches. He debuted at No. 14 in the 2028 player rankings and will take an unofficial visit to Lexington this Saturday for the Wildcats’ home football game against Ole Miss. Mercer is originally from Cincinnati, but has since transferred to play at Overtime Elite in Atlanta.
Then we have a pair of highly talented in-state recruits, both playing out of Louisville. 6-foot-1 point guard Josh Lindsay is a name we’ve heard about for over a year now as a member of St. Xavier. Kentucky is involved, as are the hometown Cardinals. Lindsay checks in at No. 16 overall in the rankings and is the top-ranked player from the Bluegrass. Not far down the list from Lindsay is 6-foot-7 wing Boogie Cook out of Christian Academy-Louisville, who holds down the No. 33 spot in the rankings. Indiana and Kansas State have already offered Cook a scholarship.
As the 2028 class continues to develop and the best prospects rise to the top, Kentucky will only get more and more involved with its favorites.
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