By SAM LANCE
INDIANAPOLIS — Kentucky head coach Mark Pope was court side to see top-five class of 2025 prospect Caleb Wilson on Friday.
Per Wilson — the 6-foot-9, 205-pound forward of the Nightrydas Elite Nike EYBL program and Holy Innocents Episcopal School (GA) — this was the first time Kentucky has watched him in person.
“I think this is their first time getting eyes on me,” Wilson told ZAGSBLOG.com. “I really haven’t heard from them at all, but like I said, good program. Definitely high caliber, so I like it.”
Wilson said lately he has been hearing the most from Georgia Tech, Duke, Auburn, Arkansas and Tennessee. But he “would like to hear from” Kentucky as well.
“It’s an SEC school,” Wilson said. “It’s a very good conference. I feel likes it’s somewhere I can play and have games close to home. So I really like it.”
The forward has been learning a lot more about Kentucky since Pope became head coach. Specifically, he’s been watching film.
“I watched BYU film and I watched them play a good amount last year because although they weren’t talented, like five-star prospects, very athletic guys, they won,” Wilson said. “And they won in a tough conference.”
Wilson continued:
“Something that influenced me to come to the Nightrydas is how much catch and shoot and wide open looks they get. Playing off the catch. That’s something I really wanted to work on, and I feel like I’ve had time to develop my own ball skills and I enjoy doing that. But I feel like I want to work on all aspects of my game and there’s no better way to do that than actually do that in the game.”
No visits are currently planned for Wilson and he said he’s in no rush to get them done. Still, he’d like to set some after the live period in two to three weeks.
Here is a breakdown from Wilson on some of the schools recruiting him hardest:
Georgia Tech: “It’s the hometown school. Coach [Damon] Stoudamire and I have built a great relationship and I just really like the school. They have good academics which is something I take pride in.”
Duke: “Very good at developing forwards at a high level. And it’s Duke of course. One of the best basketball schools in history. That’s what stands out to me.”
Auburn: “They have a really good Georgia pipeline, so I definitely respect them. I’ve wanted to come to a Nike school my whole life. Coach Bruce Pearl is a good coach, coaches with intensity. I feel like I’ll learn there.”
Arkansas: “They’ve just been telling me it’s like [John] Calipari is moving homes. He still has the same traditions, still has the same regulations and still expects the same level of winning. So just moving on. Arkansas is his new home. He said they have nice facilities, all that stuff. And a great fanbase.”
Tennessee: “Gregg Polinsky and Rick Barnes, really two cool guys. I talk to them almost every day to be honest with you. GP is really cool. I got coach Barnes, coach GP saying they see similarities and stuff like that which is something I like. Just good coaching. Great offense and they take pride in defense which is something I’m really starting to do.”
Wilson is the No. 4 player in the 2025 class per 247Sports. In his first EYBL game of the Indianapolis session on Friday vs. Team Final, Wilson posted 16 points with three blocks and two steals. He had an emphatic block in the final minute of the game to pave the way to victory. Nightrydas eventually won 79-70 over Team Final.
Wilson describes himself as someone who attacks everything with intensity, on and off the court.
“My mom always tells me the way you do one thing is the way you do everything,” Wilson said. “So I compete on the court just like I compete everywhere else in life.”
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