For some reason, BYU and Kentucky just can't seem to stay out of each other's way during recruiting season. In the latest edition of their one-on-one saga, the two parties have been in connection with Marcio Santos, a center from Brazil who is currently playing pro ball with Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel, and the hunt is only heating up.
Robby McCombs of Vanquish the foe shared that Santos is one of BYU's big man targets on his radar via his account on X.
One of the BYU big man targets I've been monitoring https://t.co/0iiE8rW7wK
— Robby McCombs (@rtmccombs) April 29, 2026
It wasn't enough for Mark Pope to take a home-run swing at the Cougars' foundational 5-star point guard, Rob Wright III. The Wildcats are also in pursuit of BYU transfer Kennard Davis Jr (assuming he doesn't go through with his NBA Draft experiment). It wasn't enough to bump elbows for prospects like Eric Reibe, who wound up picking USC, or Sebastian Rancik, before he became an FSU Seminole. Seemingly, every major recruiting target on Kevin Young's list has the interlocked "UK" on their offer sheet. At a certain point, you just have to chalk it up to similar recruiting goals, shake your head, and move on.
It's not as if Mark Pope has been a particularly formidable recruiting adversary.
All the same, Kentucky's name is a massive draw for international players who may be less familiar with the college basketball landscape, but have familiarized themselves with the sport's history -- of which Kentucky has a tremendous vault of memories. Kevin Young has the present day as his advocate, in contrast, and can point to direct systems in place for developing young stars to one day play in the NBA.
But Mark Pope is the one who took a flight overseas to meet with Marcio, and is currently in advanced talks with an offer already on the table.
Mark Pope is currently in Israel to visit 23 yo Brazilian prospect, Marcio Santos, first by @givati_tomer
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) April 29, 2026
Kentucky is in "advanced talks" and has made an offer to Santos.
A physical big that can shoot & pass, playing for top EuroLeague club, Maccabi.
🔗 https://t.co/k4mvT8eR3w pic.twitter.com/JqmZVRbQcB
Santos is undersized, at 6'9", but more than makes up for his size with playmaking and scoring, though those abilities have been a bit muted this season in the highly competitive EuroLeague. Crafty finishing, spidery footwork, and a mesmerizing touch at the rim, Santos has the strength to muscle down low against taller defenders, and the maturity at 23 to deliver as a day-one producer anywhere in college basketball.
The important question for a program like BYU, that desperately needs competitive size at the starting center position, is how would Santos fit into the current scheme? Does he shine in a secondary role at the center position, or would he be the starter if he committed to Kevin Young's program?
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