Kentucky Wildcats have secured commitments from Franck Kepnang, a center from Washington, and Iveon Lewis, a wide receiver from Virginia. Kepnang, a notable shot-blocker, and Lewis, a top prospect from Virginia, enhance Kentucky's roster for the upcoming seasons.
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The 6-foot-11, 250-pound center announced his commitment on Instagram, with Kentucky making it official shortly after. The Cameroon native spent last season at Washington after starting his career at Oregon, and he was one of the Big Ten’s premier shot-blockers when healthy. He appeared in 27 games this past season, starting 25, and ranked third in the Big Ten in blocks per game at 2.07, while averaging 6.1 points and 6.3 rebounds. The wrinkle: Kepnang will need a waiver for a seventh year. Knee injuries limited him to just eight, 10, and 14 games across three earlier seasons, and most observers feel that medical history makes the waiver likely to clear.
If this doesn’t get you excited about Washington transfer Franck Kepnang, then I don’t know what will. 👀 pic.twitter.com/ifyPT6NfAs
— Cats Coverage (@Cats\_Coverage) May 9, 2026 Franck Kepnang Deep Dive:
– Offensive rebounding percentage was ranked in the 95th percentile last season. – Defensive rebounding percentage was ranked in the 88th percentile last season. – His block percentage was in the 98th percentile – Adjusted DRTG was 95.04, which is in… pic.twitter.com/Jj8JE0bNVi
— Casey (@BleedBlueCasey) May 9, 2026 Franck Kepnang might be the Van Wilder of college basketball if he's eligible next season.
Franck Kepnang is a 6-foot-11 center who averaged 6.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.07 blocks per game last season at Washington.
Iveon Lewis, a 6-foot-2 wide receiver, is expected to significantly enhance the Wildcats' offense after recording over 1,000 yards in his last two high school seasons.
Kepnang will need to apply for a waiver for a seventh year of eligibility due to past knee injuries that limited his playing time.
Iveon Lewis had offers from several schools including Georgia, Indiana, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Notre Dame before committing to Kentucky.

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— Jason Marcum (@marcum89) May 9, 2026 Kentucky just added this guy to their roster for next year. 👀
Welcome Franck Kepnang. pic.twitter.com/WDfmJDB6VJ
— Mario A Maitland (@MarioMaitland\_3) May 9, 2026 6’4” Zoom Diallo 6’4” Jerone Morton 6’5” Alex Wilkins 6’7” Justin McBride 6’8” Kam Williams 6’9” Braydon Hawthorne 6’11” Ousmane N’Diaye 6’11” Franck Kepnang 7’0” Malachi Moreno
Positional height >>>
— Matt Sak BBN (@MattSakR2NG) May 9, 2026 Franck Kepnang is an interesting shot blocker. When you see 6'11 and those block numbers you think one thing. Then you watch his highlights and a TON of those blocks are him trailing the play and coming from help side or behind in transition.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) May 9, 2026 Franck Kepnang has committed to Kentucky.
Amazing pickup by Mark Pope.
Was a top 100 draft prospect at times for me this season.
Should be a really solid backup center to Malachi Moreno, assuming he comes back to school.
— JPR (@Scouting\_Col) May 9, 2026 Franck “the tank” Kepnang @RuppToNoGood@Keegs32@bigbluekodakkpic.twitter.com/z3d8DwZxri
— William Hoffman (@Hoffman\_222) May 9, 2026 Zoom Diallo to Franck Kepnang at Washington. 👀
These two are now Kentucky Wildcats. pic.twitter.com/S6m1AKmG8U
— Tres Terrell (@TerrellTres) May 9, 2026
Over on the football side, Will Stein just keeps stacking 4-stars, the latest being Iveon Lewis, a 6-foot-2 wide receiver out of Huguenot High School in Richmond, Virginia. He picked Kentucky while holding offers from Georgia, Indiana, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, and Notre Dame, among many others. Lewis is the No. 5 overall prospect in Virginia and ranked inside the top 250 nationally for the 2027 class at Rivals, with the production to match. He went for over 1,000 yards in each of his last two high school seasons, earning First Team All-State honors as a junior, and averages nearly 25 yards a catch. He pairs perfectly with high 4-star QB Jake Nawrot, already in the 2027 class. Stein has his quarterback and now his X receiver, and he won this one in Virginia Tech’s backyard.
BREAKING: Four-Star WR Iveon Lewis has Committed to Kentucky, he tells me for @Rivals
The 6’2 200 WR chose the Wildcats over Georgia and South Carolina⁰⁰“BBN, LET’S DO IT!!!!!”pic.twitter.com/GdyYV8Bw7t
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 9, 2026 #BBNpic.twitter.com/kdWNtnFj8y
— Will Stein (@CoachWillStein) May 9, 2026 WR1
— Jake Nawrot (@JakeNawrot) May 9, 2026 LFG!! #BBNpic.twitter.com/neJGZ6W1yP
— Joe Price III (@CoachJP3) May 9, 2026 Here is the video of Class of 2027, 4-star WR Iveon Lewis committing to Kentucky over Georgia, Maryland, Virginia Tech, and South Carolina. 😼 #BBNpic.twitter.com/PjC2VOVHfs
— Chris Beasmore (@CBeasmoreSports) May 9, 2026 Kentucky is now at 14 commits following the addition of Iveon Lewis. Only Oklahoma and UCLA have more verbals. UK's current average star rating (88.22) would've finished No. 21 overall last year.
The Cats are easily on a top-25 class pace.
— Adam Luckett (@AdamLuckettKSR) May 9, 2026 A positive quote from 247 Football Scout @Andy\_Ivo on recent 4⭐️ Kentucky commit Iveon Lewis:
"Powerful big-play receiver that can stress defenses vertically and horizontally. Aces the eye-test with a sturdy 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. Rolls out the gate and can overwhelm…
— Casey (@BleedBlueCasey) May 9, 2026 Have a Saturday!!
Big day for the football staff and basketball staff landing Iveon Lewis and Franck Kepnang! 🔵⚪️🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/5ke11RYevI
— Beezy (@Burke\Franklin\) May 9, 2026 Going to be a fun month 😼 #BBN
— Will Stein (@CoachWillStein) May 9, 2026 Two sports. One Saturday. A veteran rim protector for Mark Pope, and a 4-star big-play receiver for Will Stein. BBN got fed today, and based on the Twitter reactions, they’re still hungry for more good news this month.