Mark Pope is sporting a beard this summer and things are heating up.

Since the lumberjack look popped out, Milan Momcilovic has transferred out of Iowa State and into Lexington. We are talking about the nation’s top 3-point shooter.

Then Pope landed the first top-10 recruit of his career.

Ryan Hampton, a five-star prospect out of Florida, is averaging 22.5 points per game on the EYBL AAU circuit. Originally thought to be a possible reclass candidate, Hampton will play his senior season and join the Cats in Lexington next fall.

Hampton is also a first cousin of Marcus Spears Jr.

Why is that important, you ask?

Spears is a 6-foot-9, 210-pound power forward and is considered the No. 1 player in the 2027 class by some rankings.

This would be a huge get for UK. But I would not expect to hear anything soon on this commitment.

The new Cats have now arrived on campus, and if you have not watched some of the highlights, you should.

I do not want to speak too soon. Hopes have been high before and we have had some letdowns. But this team could be really, really good.

What kind of dance do we need to do to ward off the injury bug this season?

Cats fans were shaking in their boots a few weeks ago, and now Kentucky appears to be loaded.

It goes to show how fast things move in the sports world.

College players are transferring left and right. It’s the wild, wild west out there, and that movement has made its way into the high school ranks.

Martin County has seen its own share of movement this offseason, with several high-profile players transferring into the program. As expected, it has created plenty of conversation.

And honestly, that is understandable.

Fans want to win. Players want opportunities. Parents want what is best for their kids. Coaches are trying to build the best teams they can. There are a lot of emotions involved because people care.

That is what makes sports in small towns so special and so complicated at the same time.

We have seen an entire shift in the sports world since COVID-19 hit. The transfer portal, player movement and year-round exposure have changed the way people look at rosters at every level.

For now, all anyone can do is let the kids compete, let the coaches coach and see how it all plays out.

As Ice T once said, “Don’t hate the playa, hate the game.”

As for Pope, keep the beard.

Go Cats.

Brittni McCoy is the sports editor at the Mountain Citizen.