Just five days ago, Kentucky made a move for one of the top prospects in the 2026 class, 5-star guard Alijah Arenas, the son of former NBA star Gilbert Arenas and ex-Arizona Wildcat. However, Gilbert announced today that Alijah is working to reclassify to the 2025 class, which would make him eligible for college basketball next year. While his high school has not finalized the decision, it seems the process is just beginning and could move quickly.
How will this affect Kentucky’s pursuit of Arenas?
There are two ways to look at this development. On one hand, it’s tempting to think that Kentucky’s recent offer may have motivated Arenas to reclassify, but that’s likely an optimistic view. More realistically, it seems unlikely that Kentucky plans to recruit a class of more than five players in 2025, especially considering their current commitments. With four players already on board, including high-profile recruits, adding a sixth may be too much, especially with a packed roster and competition for playing time.
Kentucky already has two top-tier guards in the class: Jasper Johnson and Acaden Lewis. While adding Arenas could still be a possibility, Kentucky may reassess their strategy in light of his reclassification.
It’s important to note that Kentucky is now late to the recruitment race for Arenas, who has received over 15 offers from major programs. It’s believed that Arizona and Louisville are his frontrunners, with family connections to both schools—his father played at Arizona, and his sister is currently at Louisville. Although Kentucky remains a contender, it faces an uphill battle in securing his commitment.
