2028 PF Benji Berrouet is hearing regularly from Mo Williams: ‘He’s like a father figure to me.’

Kentucky coaches are still working to finish off the 2027 recruiting class, but there are a handful of 2028 prospects in their sights. A name the Big Blue Nation should get to know is power forward Benjamin “Benji” Berrouet. Berrouet is a versatile 6-foot-8 big man who moves well, runs the floor, inhales rebounds, and enjoys making plays for his teammates. On paper, he fits the mold of a Mark Pope forward. The eye test matches that, as well. Heading into Friday’s Peach Jam game for AB Elite, he was averaging 18 points and 14 rebounds on 49 percent shooting. Then, with Pope and assistant coach Mo Williams sitting courtside, Berrouet went out and dropped 20 points and 14 rebounds on 8-12 shooting (3-4 3PT) on Friday afternoon. It came in a 67-61 loss to Team Final, but the Texas product continued to prove he’s one of the top rising juniors in the country. The Rivals Industry Ranking has him at 14th nationally in the class of 2028. Williams and fellow assistant coach Cody Fueger were both in to see him play on Thursday, too. The relationship with UK’s staff is still relatively new, but it’s picking up quickly from both sides. Kentucky offered him earlier this month. Assistant coach Mikhail McLean sparked the connection with Berrouet in June before Williams took control soon after. “I mainly talk to Mo. We talk a lot,” Berrouet told KSR on Thursday. “He’s really real with you. He’s like a father figure to me. He talks like a dad and he treats you nice, explains what you did wrong during the game so you can do better next game.” Berrouet is one of just three 2028 recruits to publicly announce an offer from the Wildcats. And judging by the number of UK coaches that have watched him in the last couple of days, he appears to be a high-priority target. As a self-described point forward who’s been putting up big numbers lately, it’s not surprising. “They’re well-coached and they know how to get guys developed,” he said of Kentucky, adding that the staff regularly talks about putting the ball in his hands at the college level. “They have all the right things you need to get to the league.” Kentucky is a school that Berrouet wants to visit sometime soon. He also said the same about Southern California, Texas, Baylor, and Houston, although no trips have been put on his schedule just yet. Ole Miss is another school he mentioned as one he’s hearing from right now. This is just the beginning for Berrouet.