While Arafan Diane was on his official visit, Kentucky coach Mark Pope decided to do carry-out recruiting differently. To back up his claim that Kentucky turns big men into better players than other schools, Pope brought out detailed charts and graphs, thereby going head-to-head with the other programs that want the top center.
Arafan Diane Sees Kentucky’s Aggressive Recruiting Pitch
ON3 reporter Jacob Polacheck revealed that Pope didn’t hold back during Diane’s September 12-14 visit to Lexington. Pope showed multiple graphs comparing how Kentucky used its ‘bigs’ last season versus Diane’s other final schools.
NEW: Mark Pope didn’t shy away from recruiting against other schools during Arafan Diane’s official visit to Kentucky.
Pope showed multiple graphs illustrating how Kentucky used its bigs last season compared to Diane’s other finalists.
READ (+): https://t.co/h1Ox6FnHOr pic.twitter.com/D21CrxSteD
— Jacob Polacheck (@PolacheckKSR) September 17, 2025
The 7-foot center from Iowa United Prep is down to five schools: Kentucky, Arkansas, Virginia, Indiana, and Houston. Pope’s presentation included data from VCU and West Virginia because Virginia hired former VCU coach Ryan Odom and Indiana brought in former West Virginia coach Darian DeVries.
Alex Victor, Diane’s guardian, was impressed by Kentucky’s approach. He told KSR+ that Pope’s focus on playing through big men stood out. Victor explained that Diane’s special skill is his passing ability, not just scoring in the post.
Pope centered his pitch around Amari Williams, Kentucky’s former center, who became a 46th overall NBA draft pick with the Orlando Magic. Williams went from being unranked on draft boards to getting selected after one season at Kentucky.
Victor said Pope specifically showed Diane’s draft projection during the visit. The coach demonstrated how Kentucky’s system helped Williams reach the NBA. Pope even included his success with big men during his time at BYU.
Williams made history at Kentucky by recording the school’s fourth-ever triple-double and leading the team with 115 assists, the most ever by a 7-footer in program history.
Pope told Diane directly that he wants him to play like Williams. The coach said Diane has the same physical tools and unselfish mentality as the former Kentucky star.
This aggressive recruiting style fits Pope’s overall philosophy of targeting winners. He told The Field of 68 that Kentucky recruits players who prioritize winning above everything else.
Diane ranks as the No. 1 center and No. 19 overall player in the 2026 class. He averaged 18.6 points and 10.8 rebounds while shooting 74.4% from the field this summer.
He will visit Arkansas from September 19-21, followed by Virginia, Indiana, and Houston. He plans to commit on his birthday, November 19.
Victor stated that Diane is very interested in participating in a program that is likely to win the national championship. The key factor that led to his choice was the winning aspect. Using statistics and NBA success tales, Pope’s no-nonsense approach sends the message that the University of Kentucky is determined to attract the top recruits in 2026.
