Announcement: 4-star elite guard and key Mark Pope target makes decision to join Kentucky basketball

“Coach (Mark) Pope is a player’s coach, you can tell that. He gets to know you a lot,” said Mullins. “I spent that whole day with him, and that was the most film I have watched in a while. We looked at my statistics, my efficiency, and transition, we watched all my turnovers. He just likes to correct what is wrong, and I feel like that means a lot when trying to get better as a player.”

Mullins also told Tipton how that visit went and how Pope is recruiting the talented shooting guard.

“I like each coaching staff a lot,” Mullins told 247Sports national recruiting analyst Dushawn London. “Some of the schools I’ve been in contact with since sophomore year and some are new. I just want to see all the campuses again and see the coaches in person. I feel like that’ll help me get an idea if I like the school or not. All the coaches I picked are great guys.”

Mullins, one of the brightest prospects in the 2025 class, vaulted 68 ranks in the 247Sports 2025 player rankings, which were announced in June.

“Braylon Mullins’ rise has been a product of increased exposure this spring and summer while playing for Indiana Elite on the 3SSB Circuit,” noted Travis Branham, 247Sports’ national recruiting analyst. “They are one of the top teams in all sneaker circuits. Mullins has impressed this summer with his size, length, consistent skillset, and excellent game IQ. Mullins has notably impressed with his shot-making abilities. Synergy reports that he drilled 43.5% of his 108 attempts out of three. However, he is much more than a shooter. He can also control and pass the ball while producing for himself and others. Mullins has a very high floor and will contribute significantly to any college team’s future success.”

New Wildcats coach Mark Pope and assistant Alvin Brooks III, along with Dan Hurley (UConn), Tom Izzo (Michigan State), Matt Painter (Purdue), and Mike Woodson (Indiana), were all in attendance at the Charlie Hughes Shootout near Indianapolis in June. Mullins scored 34 points in a win over Ben Davis.

Pope then extended a formal offer to Mullins during a trip up to the Rupp Arena rafters on an unofficial visit to Lexington on June 24.

“Rupp Arena is a sacred building to me, so one of the things I’ve done with every, single recruit, is we’ll walk into Upper Street into Rupp Arena, and I’ll take the guys and sit with them in the upper deck,” Pope told the crowd. “We travel about ten rows from the top. Whew, it’s steep up there! But I’m telling you, it’s something truly remarkable to sit in the solitude of that gym and take in what it looks like from 10 rows down from the top. So we’ll spend some time looking at the jerseys on the wall and discussing the history of the players that have been through there. It’s genuinely very special. I love it. I could do it every day of my life. I adore being in that building and looking at the flags on the walls.”

Mullins plays alongside fellow Kentucky recruiting target and 4-star center Malachi Moreno for Indiana Elite, which also produced Kentucky Mr. Basketball, Sweet 16 MVP and UK signee Travis Perry, on the Adidas 3SSB travel circuit.