Mark Pope Says This One Thing Will Cause Him to “Not Touch” a Recruit…

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In the high-stakes world of college basketball recruiting, coaches are constantly seeking the perfect blend of talent, character, and work ethic. For new Kentucky head coach Mark Pope, one factor stands above the rest when deciding whether to pursue a prospective player — and it’s a dealbreaker.

During a recent interview, Pope opened up about his recruiting philosophy and shared a candid insight: **entitlement** is the one thing that will immediately turn him away from a recruit.

> “If a kid walks into the gym and thinks he’s already made it, I’m not touching him,” Pope stated emphatically. “Talent is everywhere. But character? That’s rare — and that’s what I’m building this program on.”

Pope, a former Wildcat himself and national champion in 1996, has returned to Lexington with a deep appreciation for the legacy of Kentucky basketball. But he’s also setting a clear tone: no shortcuts, no egos, and no room for players who believe success is guaranteed just by putting on a UK jersey.

He elaborated on his point by saying that entitlement in a recruit is often a sign of deeper issues — an unwillingness to work, a resistance to coaching, and a lack of humility. For Pope, those traits can quickly erode a team’s chemistry and culture, no matter how talented the player may be.

> “We’re going to outwork people. We’re going to fight every possession. I don’t care if a kid’s a five-star or a walk-on — if he’s not hungry, he won’t make it here.”

Pope’s approach may feel like a departure from the star-studded recruiting style of his predecessors, but it reflects a growing trend in college basketball: building cohesive teams over collecting elite individuals. Programs that focus on chemistry and development — rather than just raw star power — have found increasing success in recent NCAA tournaments.

As the new era of Kentucky basketball begins, Pope is making one thing crystal clear: **talent may open the door, but humility and hard work will keep you in the room.**

And if a recruit thinks he’s too good for that?

“We’ll move on. There are plenty of hungry kids out there who are dying for the opportunity to compete — those are the ones I want.”