One of the top big men in the 2026 recruiting class is moving up his Kentucky basketball visit after hosting Mark Pope this week.
Arafan Diane is viewed as one of the top center prospects in the country in the 2026 recruiting class. The 7-footer from Iowa United Prep was originally expected to visit Arkansas next weekend, but now, he will visit Kentucky instead. Diane was expected to visit Kentucky toward the end of September. According to KSR, Diane is expected to reschedule the Arkansas visit.
Diane
caught the eye of the Kentucky staff over the summer on the Adidas 3SSB circuit, putting up a strong showing on both ends of the floor, averaging around 21 points, 13 rebounds, and nearly 2 blocked shots per game.
Diane drew quite a bit of attention for his size, coming in at 7’0 or 7’1 and 280-290 pounds. 247’s Adam Finkelstein said he is “arguably the most physically dominant big man in the national class.” For a prospect of his size, scouts also were enamored with Diane’s ability to shoot from deep, decision-making in the post, and footwork.
Diane has received interest from schools across the country, including Louisville, Oregon, Indiana, UCONN, Kansas, BYU, and Michigan, along with Arkansas and Houston.
It’s likely a good sign that Diane is moving up his visit with Kentucky, but it also means Kentucky will need to make a good impression on that visit, with visits to Arkansas and Houston coming up afterward.
Diane is a really intriguing prospect and could be a big piece at Kentucky if Mark Pope and the Kentucky coaching staff can seal the deal. This will be one to keep an eye on.
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