‘It’s pretty crazy.’ UK basketball playing major role in recruitment of five-star forward.

The reported visitor list for the Kentucky men’s basketball program this fall is strong.

A plethora of five-star recruits in the classes of 2024 and 2025 are set to descend on Lexington over the next few months, ready to get an up-close look at head coach John Calipari’s program.

Of this select group, few players possess as distinct a skill set as class of 2025 power forward Caleb Wilson, who is set to visit the Wildcats on Oct. 14.

A 6-foot-10, 200-pound recruit out of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School in Atlanta, Wilson has quickly become a five-star prospect among the current crop of high school juniors.

According to the 247Sports Composite, Wilson is ranked as the No. 4 overall recruit in the 2025 class.

“I describe myself as a playmaker. ... I’m a good passer, a good facilitator, and I get guys open,” Wilson told the Herald-Leader in early August during the Under Armour Next Elite 24 showcase event in Atlanta.

One of the main reasons that Wilson has quickly become desired by most high-major college basketball programs?

His unique blend of size and skill.

Despite being 6-foot-10, Wilson possesses a deft passing touch that was on display during practice and scrimmage settings at the aforementioned Under Armour event.

“I’m just getting used to my body. I’ve still got to work on getting stronger, things like that. I’ve started to work on those things and it’s helped me take my game to another level,” Wilson said.

“I feel like (my passing) is what separates me from most people because everybody can score ... especially for my height, I can see over a lot of people.”

Wilson’s height is also expected to increase: He said he could grow to be 7-foot-2.

“I know I’m continuing to grow, so I know it’s going to be harder, the taller I get,” Wilson said of his passing ability. “So I’m just working on my core, things like that.”

The speed at which Wilson’s recruitment by UK has moved has been quick: Kentucky offered Wilson a scholarship in late June following his performance at the National Basketball Players Association Top 100 camp in Orlando.

Wildcats assistant coach Chin Coleman was Wilson’s main point of contact before Calipari extended a scholarship offer to him.

Less than four months later, Wilson will be taking a visit to Lexington.

“I like Rupp Arena, (it’s) a big stage,” Wilson said, adding that while he never had a “dream school,” he’s always been a fan of Kentucky.

Wilson also has ties to the 2023-24 UK team, having played before with freshmen Rob Dillingham and Justin Edwards.

“Most people see Rob as a scorer, but he can really pass the floor, too,” Wilson said of Dillingham. “Seeing those players, and then seeing myself, is something that keeps me going.”

But UK is far from the only school that has been pursuing Wilson since June 15, the first day college coaches could make unlimited calls and send unlimited text messages to class of 2025 recruits like Wilson.

September visits to Alabama and Tennessee have already been scheduled for Wilson in addition to his trip to Lexington. Wilson has also already taken an unofficial visit to hometown Georgia Tech.

Wilson told the Herald-Leader he’s particularly excited by the blue blood schools that are recruiting him. He added that Tennessee is a school that’s been calling him “almost every day,” and he also cited the physical nature of college basketball in the SEC as something Wilson thinks will aid him on his pathway to a pro career.

Other brand-name scholarship offers that have been extended to Wilson include Duke, Indiana, North Carolina and Southern California.

“It’s pretty crazy, but it keeps me motivated,” Wilson said of the attention from college coaches. “Because I know college is a goal, but NBA is my real goal. It’s good because I know (college) is my next step, but I feel like I’ve got to get better, and keep working, keep grinding.”

With two years of high school still ahead of Wilson, he already has a clear vision for what he wants to improve on.

“I want to become the best shooter in the country,” Wilson said, adding that an improved ability to shoot will help him get past defenders more easily, especially when paired with his physically imposing size. “That’s something I’ve been working on this offseason: I’m shooting the ball every day at least 1,000 times.”

October often brings plenty of top-level recruits to Lexington for showcase UK men’s basketball recruiting events like Big Blue Madness and the Blue-White Game, and this year is no different.

Along with Wilson, two other five-star, class of 2025 recruits — point guard Darius Acuff Jr. and shooting guard Darryn Peterson — are scheduled to visit Lexington on Oct. 14.

Class of 2024 in-state point guard Travis Perry — the all-time leading scorer in Kentucky high school boys’ basketball history — has also said he plans to be at Big Blue Madness.

Acuff’s visit with be an official visit, while Peterson’s will be unofficial.

Big Blue Madness is expected to be held on Oct. 13 inside Rupp Arena.

Jayden Quaintance, a five-star center who recently moved from the class of 2025 to the class of 2024, is expected to take an official visit to Kentucky on Oct. 20, which would line up with UK’s Blue-White preseason scrimmage.

But those closely following UK men’s basketball recruiting already know that two important visits are just weeks away.

A pair of highly coveted class of 2024 players — combo guard Boogie Fland and shooting guard Billy Richmond — will be taking official visits to Kentucky in September.

More five-star recruits set visits to Kentucky basketball, and other UK recruiting news.

UK basketball has become the top school for Overtime Elite players. Is Bryson Tiller next?

What’s the latest with Aaron Bradshaw? Star recruit shows up at Oscar Tshiebwe’s camp.

Oscar Tshiebwe happy to be ‘home’ in Lexington as he looks forward to an NBA career