The Kentucky Wildcats have received some bad news on the recruiting trail this offseason.

After an overall successful offseason by Mark Pope and his new coaching staff, they had a chance to reel in their first big high school recruiting win of the new era, but unfortunately, it will be a miss.

On Sunday, 5-star wing Will Riley committed to the Illinois Fighting Illini. Riley chose the Illini over Kentucky, Alabama, Arizona, and the New Zealand Breakers (NBL).

Riley, a 6-foot-8 and 180-pound small forward from Malvern (PA), recently visited three of his finalists in UK, Alabama, and Illinois. It appears the Cats made a great impression on the talented wing, but with a reclass to 2024 also happening, the path to playing time and a plethora of shots is clearer in Champaign.

Now, the new UK coaching staff will turn its attention to other options to fill out the roster for the 2024-25 season. They will also look to land their first major high school recruit in the 2025 class.

Who will it be? We will just have to wait it out.