Could Kentucky basketball be close to adding its final member of the 2024 class? With one remaining scholarship open, Mark Pope and his staff continue to be on the lookout for an additional body.

Pope has been adament that filling that final spot is of extreme importance but it has to be the right fit.

Well, that fit could be here.

According to KSR.com’s Jacob Polacheck, Kentucky is in contact with an international prospect who is looking to make a decision on his class in the near future. That is 7-footer Julius Halaifonua from New Zealand — currently in the 2025 class.

Halaifonua is currently playing for the NBA Global Academy and has interest from Kentucky, North Carolina, Gonzaga, Xavier, Georgetown and a few other.

Halaifonua’s name started to pop up after a terrific showing at the NBA Academy games in Atlanta earlier this month. It is an event where former international players like Josh Giddy and Johnny Furphy made a name for themsevles.

“They’re (a college) getting a big who loves to share the ball. Works hard. Is physical and just loves the game of basketball,” Halaifonua told Pro Insight last week.

Kentucky’s front court is already pretty crowded with Amari Williams, Andrew Carr and Brandon Garrison as more traditional forwards, while Carr is the only one of the three that can step out on be a threat from three.

It’s unclear if Halaifonua will reclass to 2024, but there is a path for him to do so and if we go on past experience, there is a high probability he does so.