Kentucky wants top recruit Cayden Daughtry: After his historic Peach Jam, who are the early leaders?

Cayden Daughtry may have solidified himself as the hottest prospect in the class of 2027 following a remarkable run at the 2026 Nike EYBL Peach Jam.

The 6-foot, 155-pound 5-star point guard led the Florida Rebels to the Peach Jam championship, putting together one of the most dominant stretches of the summer. Over his final eight games, Daughtry averaged an incredible 32.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.9 steals per game while shooting 59 percent from the field, 49 percent from three-point range, and 91 percent from the free-throw line.

He capped off the championship run with another sensational performance, finishing with 33 points, nine rebounds, six assists, one block, and just one turnover in the title game.

Following his dominant summer, Daughtry now ranks No. 3 overall nationally and the No. 2 point guard, according to the 247 Sports rankings.

247 Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein has been especially high on Daughtry, calling him “the most skilled player in high school basketball.” Finkelstein praised Daughtry’s elite ball-handling, deep shooting range, advanced finishing package, pick-and-roll decision-making, low turnover rate, and willingness to move without the basketball despite being a high-volume creator.

While questions remain about his slender 6-foot frame translating to higher levels of basketball, Daughtry continues to answer them with production, competitiveness, and elite feel for the game.

Kentucky has been involved in his recruitment for months. Mark Pope and the Wildcats officially extended an offer on May 18, 2026, and multiple Kentucky staff members have watched Daughtry throughout the spring and summer evaluation periods.

The recruiting battle is still in its early stages. Daughtry currently has just one official visit scheduled, with Iowa set to host him on Sept. 26. His offer list also includes Louisville, Florida, Illinois, UConn, and several other high-major programs.

However, 247 Sports’ Kyle Tucker thinks that Iowa and Miami are the early teams standing out. Former UK assistant Jai Lucas has been a recruiting machine for the Hurricanes, so it’s no real surprise to hear he may have his program in position to land an elite high school recruit.

Kentucky currently holds one commitment in its 2027 class with 5-star forward Ryan Hampton, but landing a dynamic playmaker like Daughtry would immediately elevate the Wildcats’ recruiting class.

After a disappointing recruiting cycle a year ago, Pope and his staff appear determined to make the 2027 class one of the nation’s best, and Daughtry is clearly one of their highest-priority targets. But after his Peach Jam performance, Kentucky will be going against just about every major program in America for his services.

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