Cherif Millogo, a 7-foot-5 center rated as the No. 8 recruit in the 2027 class by ESPN, committed to Kentucky on Wednesday, choosing the Wildcats over North Carolina, Texas, and other programs. The decision gives Kentucky coach Mark Pope his highest-ranked recruit since taking over the program.
He is a five-star prospect whom 247Sports ranks as the No. 6 center nationally in its composite rankings and No. 44 overall, with a composite ranking of No. 36. He plays for St. Francis High School in California, where he averaged 24.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and 5.1 blocks per game last season.
The Main Development
Millogo’s commitment to Kentucky caps a recruitment that included an official visit to the Wildcats on Oct. 9 and a second visit to BYU on Oct. 30, according to Sports Illustrated. He picked Kentucky over a group of suitors that also included North Carolina and Texas, per Bleacher Report.
Jack Pilgrim of On3.com described him as “the most physically imposing big man in the country, agile for his size and capable of knocking down jump shots, but also an impossible load to handle in the frontcourt.” Pilgrim added that Millogo, who has a 7-foot-9 wingspan, is “a vicious rim protector with tremendous upside as he improves his strength and conditioning and continues stacking game reps.”
What It Means For Kentucky’s 2027 Class
Millogo now headlines a 2027 recruiting class for Kentucky that also includes Ryan Hampton, a five-star small forward rated the No. 7 player at his position in the 247Sports composite. Landing the country’s top-ranked center available in this cycle gives Pope a frontcourt building block more than a year before Millogo would arrive on campus.
Kentucky’s pursuit of Millogo was helped by the hiring of Alfred Aboya, a former NBA Academy Africa coach who had previously worked with the big man. That relationship likely factored into Kentucky separating itself from BYU, North Carolina, and Texas in the final stretch of the recruiting process.
Background And Path To The United States
Millogo is originally from Burkina Faso in West Africa and moved to the United States roughly three years ago. His guardian is Luc Mbah a Moute, the former UCLA standout who played in the NBA. Mbah a Moute’s own basketball background and ties to African talent development have shaped Millogo’s path through the recruiting process.
What’s Next
Millogo is not eligible to sign a national letter of intent until closer to his expected enrollment as part of the 2027 class. Kentucky will continue building out that recruiting cycle around its two current five-star commitments in Millogo and Hampton as the Wildcats look to add more pieces before signing day arrives.
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