If you’ve been following along, 2027 Kentucky commit Ryan Hampton scheduled a news drop regarding his future plans on Sunday. Most believed the announcement would reveal a change of high schools for his senior season, and those rumors proved accurate.
Hampton confirmed on live television that he will, in fact, be leaving DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he played last season. The Kentucky commit will now head back to his hometown and suit up for Rockwall-Heath High School in Texas.
“I came
to Rockwall-Heath my first time, my freshman year, had a great experience, and after that, I left,” said Hampton. “I went to Dynamic Prep. Played prep school, just had all the experience to play against the Montverdes, the Prolific Preps.
“Now, just being here, I just want to be my ultimate self again. I had a lot of roles in the past in high school, but just being at Rockwall-Heath and trying to just do everything, what it takes to win. I love Texas. I love being at home. So a whole year of being at home before I go to college is going to be great.”
Currently ranked as a composite 5-star prospect by 247 Sports, Hampton is poised to bring back some of the freshman lethal-scoring excitement that has escaped the Big Blue Nation in recent recruiting classes. Banking on his size and play-making ability, Mark Pope will at least have one solid piece to build around when 2027 transfer portal madness begins to unfold.
Hampton also put to bed any discussion around the idea of reclassifying into 2026, noting that he’s motivated to win a state title with his friends in his hometown. But his forward-thinking isn’t cemented to his final high school campaign. He’s also got his sights set on being prepared when he arrives in Lexington.
It’s hard not to love that competitive spirit before the future Cat is even on campus.
