Mark Pope may be doing everything he can to convince five-star center Lewis Uvwo that Kentucky is the place to be, but it appears the Kentucky head coach has some unexpected help from inside his own family.
As Uvwo continues to receive attention during his recruitment, a small social-media interaction has suddenly caught the attention of Kentucky fans. It was not another recruiting pitch from a coach, a player or a recruiting analyst. Instead, it came from someone very close to the Kentucky program — Pope’s daughter, Avery.
And her message to Uvwo was impossible for Big Blue Nation to miss.
“Let’s go catsssss”
That simple comment appeared underneath Uvwo’s post showing his Kentucky visit, and although it was only a few words, Kentucky fans immediately understood why it was so entertaining.
Pope isn’t the only one recruiting Uvwo anymore.
Apparently, the entire Pope family might be getting involved.
The five-star center’s visit to Lexington has already created plenty of excitement around Kentucky basketball. Uvwo is one of the most highly regarded prospects in the 2026 recruiting class, and the idea of a player with his size and potential eventually wearing the Kentucky uniform is naturally going to generate significant attention from Big Blue Nation.
But Avery Pope’s comment added an entirely different layer to the story.
Rather than delivering a long recruiting pitch, she kept it simple.
“Let’s go catsssss”
Sometimes, that is all that is needed.
The comment quickly became one of those fun recruiting moments that Kentucky fans can enjoy because it showed just how much excitement surrounds Uvwo’s recruitment inside the Kentucky basketball community.
And perhaps the funniest part is that Avery did not appear to be trying to make a major recruiting statement. She simply jumped into the comments and showed her support.
But Kentucky fans certainly noticed.
And once you put the pieces together, the moment becomes even more entertaining.
Mark Pope is trying to build something at Kentucky, and recruiting elite talent is obviously a major part of that process. Five-star prospects are exactly the type of players Kentucky fans want to see connected to the program, especially when they possess the size and potential to become major pieces of the Wildcats’ future.
Uvwo fits that description.
The talented big man has emerged as one of the most intriguing prospects in the class, and Kentucky has made its interest clear. His visit to Lexington gave the Wildcats another opportunity to show him what the program can offer, from the history and tradition of Kentucky basketball to the atmosphere surrounding the program under Pope.
Now, after seeing Avery’s comment, it looks like the recruiting pitch may have expanded beyond the coaching staff.
And Big Blue Nation is having fun with it.
Imagine being a five-star recruit and opening your comments after visiting Kentucky, only to see the head coach’s daughter telling you, “Let’s go catsssss.”
That is certainly one way to make someone feel welcome.
Of course, one Instagram comment does not determine where a recruit will ultimately play. Uvwo still has his own recruitment to navigate, and there will be plenty of factors involved in his eventual decision.
But that does not mean Kentucky fans cannot enjoy the moment.
In fact, these are exactly the kinds of small recruiting moments that can turn into huge conversations among a fan base.
Uvwo’s Kentucky visit already had people watching closely. Then came Avery Pope’s comment, and suddenly the recruiting storyline became even more fun.
It also says something about the excitement surrounding Kentucky basketball right now.
When a five-star prospect visits Lexington, everyone connected to the program knows how significant it can be. Coaches are watching. Players are watching. Fans are watching.
And apparently, Pope’s daughter is watching too.
That makes the “recruiting assistant” jokes almost write themselves.
Mark Pope has spent considerable time trying to build relationships with elite prospects, and recruiting is often about much more than simply explaining basketball. Players and their families want to understand what life inside a program will be like. They want to feel comfortable with the people around them.
That is why moments like this can be so entertaining.
Avery’s comment was not an official recruiting announcement. It was not confirmation that Uvwo is choosing Kentucky. It was simply a passionate message showing support for the Wildcats.
But for Kentucky fans, it was enough to create another wave of excitement.
And now there is an amusing question floating around Big Blue Nation:
What if Mark Pope really has recruited the entire family into helping him land Lewis Uvwo?
The Kentucky head coach already has the coaching staff working on the recruitment. The players can sell the experience of playing in Lexington. The fans can create the famous Kentucky atmosphere.
And now Avery Pope has apparently entered the chat.
“Let’s go catsssss.”
That might be one of the shortest recruiting pitches ever.
But it certainly got people talking.
For Kentucky, the bigger picture is what matters. Uvwo is a highly sought-after prospect, and every interaction during his recruitment can be meaningful as the Wildcats continue trying to establish themselves with elite talent.
There is still a long way to go before any final decision is made.
But for now, Kentucky fans have another reason to smile.
Mark Pope might be leading the recruiting effort, but if Avery Pope has anything to say about it, the five-star center is going to hear plenty of reasons to become a Cat.
And if Uvwo eventually chooses Kentucky, Kentucky fans may look back at this tiny Instagram comment and laugh about how the Pope family started recruiting him long before he ever put on the blue and white.
For now, though, it is simply one hilarious and perfectly timed moment in what could become one of Kentucky’s most closely watched recruitments.
The message was short.
The excitement behind it was anything but.
“Let’s go catsssss”
Big Blue Nation heard you, Avery.
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