In college basketball, there’s no time to hit pause. Just ask Mark Pope. While he’s busy shaping Kentucky’s roster in hopes of a stronger season, he’s also setting the groundwork for the future. The Wildcats have officially extended a scholarship offer to Christian Collins–ranked number 3 overall and number 2 among small forwards in the 2026 class, per On3. That’s how fast the recruiting wheel spins. But it’s not all smooth sailing. There’s already a bit of skepticism surrounding Collins– not everyone is sold.

Pope and his staff weren’t wasting any time. They flew out to California to watch Christian Collins up close. While there, they also checked in on his teammate, Tajh Ariza–a fellow five-star wing who got a Kentucky offer last September. Collins himself confirmed the Wildcats’ interest with a post on X: “Blessed and thankful to receive an offer from the University of Kentucky!!!!”

It wasn’t just Kentucky making moves, though. Duke’s Jon Scheyer was also in the building the same day. He met with Collins and didn’t hesitate, extending an offer just before Pope did. Now, it’s not just those two schools in the mix. Collins is also being pursued by Alabama, Arizona, UCLA, USC, Cal, Kansas State, and Oregon. But regardless of the hype, there are things Lance Dawe of the Locked On Kentucky podcast thinks Collins has to improve if he wants to become successful.

He says, “The first big thing you have to point out is that he needs to add a lot more strength. Obviously, he’ll be able to do this over his final senior season and then through his offseason before he goes to whatever college he ends up choosing. His outside shooting, I think, could use some work. Statistically, it’s not the best. I think his form and his base could use a little bit of improvement.”

It has been a remarkable journey for Collins. He went from being a 5’8″ guy in 8th grade to 6’8″ this season. Just last year, he was a 4-star recruit ranked 40th in the nation, and now he’s in the top 3. A lot of credit for this rise goes to his coach, renowned NBA trainer Olin Simplis, who has helped shape his game.

The growth was evident during his time on the Nike EYBL circuit with Team Why Not, averaging 15.7 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 44.2% from the field and nearly 89% at the line. While there are areas in his game to improve, as Lance points out, given his career trajectory so far, you can on his development.

But for Mark Pope, this isn’t the time to rest. He still needs to finalize his roster for the upcoming season.

Mark Pope makes big moves

Last season was nothing short of a rollercoaster for the Wildcats. They wrapped up SEC play in 6th place with a 10-8 record. There were flashes of real promise, but key injuries at the wrong time held them back from going further. Still, their big dance run to the Sweet 16 was a step forward–especially when compared to the struggles of their final few years under John Calipari.

As Year 2 of the Mark Pope era gets rolling, Kentucky is quietly stacking the building blocks. Three new freshmen are on board, and three players from last season are sticking around. That total could grow, especially if leading scorer Otega Oweh decides to return after testing the NBA Draft waters—and word is, that’s looking likely. But let’s be clear: the Wildcats weren’t just sitting around. They’ve been active and aggressive in the transfer portal too.

The Wildcats have brought in five new faces. Denzel Aberdeen, Mouhamed Dioubate, Jaland Lowe, Kam Williams, and the one grabbing all the headlines–Jayden Quaintance. All five are rated as four-star transfers or better by 247Sports. Pope and his staff clearly aren’t leaving anything to chance this time around.

Mark Pope might already be eyeing the future with Christian Collins, but he knows the pressure is on right now. Last season’s Sweet 16 run won’t cut it this time. With the talent assembled, the bar has been raised. Can Pope deliver when it matters most?