Kentucky Wildcats News: Rick Pitino beats Mark Pope for Donnie Freeman

April 21, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

Current Kentucky head coach Mark Pope sets up former UK coach Rick Pitino for a brief speech to the Rupp Arena crowd during Big Blue Madness on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Lexington, Kentucky. (Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Good morning, BBN!

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This weekend was a wild one on the recruiting trail as the Kentucky Wildcats failed to lock up two of their primary options at power forward. Sebastian Rancik chose to head to Tallahassee to play for Florida State, while Mark Pope and the staff waited out Donnie Freeman, who is now committed to play for Rick Pitino and the St. John’s Red Storm.

Momentum started to gain for St. John’s on Sunday night and continued throughout Monday, culminating in the commitment on Monday night.

Yes, you read that correctly: Pitino stole Freeman right out from under his former player and team captain.

We all started to accept Pitino back into the BBN, but this might leave a bad taste. Unfortunately, there is no loyalty to one another through all of this, and rightfully so. This is big-boy recruiting, and the UK staff has to learn how to seal the deal.

Now, who do the Cats turn to? That is a great question.

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— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 20, 2026