Liam Mitakaro ‘honored’ to pick up ‘dream offer’ from Kentucky: ‘I like everything about them’

He was a standout at the U17 FIBA World Cup suiting up for Canada, then continued to thrive with UPlay Canada on the Nike EYBL U16 circuit, averaging 15.4 points, 4.9 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.2 steals per contest. When he got to Peach Jam, he helped lead his team to a semifinal finish before running out of gas in the final four, scoring 11 points eight eight turnovers — but shooting just 4-18 overall and 1-7 from three with seven turnovers. 2028 four-star guard Liam Mitakaro has earned some time off before the school year after such a busy and productive summer, one that saw his stock boom as the No. 23 overall prospect and No. 3 point guard in his class. “I can really be a point guard — distribute the ball, as well as score for myself. Just show that I can really finish at the rim, as well,” Mitakaro told KSR of his explosion. “Playing at my own pace and really distributing as well as getting to my spots (are my biggest strengths). I think my biggest weakness is that I need to get stronger and be able to defend one through four, one through five.” The 6-foot-3 point guard plays on a talented Bella Vista College Preparatory School that also features five-star forward Paul Osaruyi and four-star wing Ahmed Nur — both top-25 talents in 2027. He’s right there in the mix among producers, giving him the confidence that he belongs atop the rankings in his own 2028 class. “Just playing with my teammates at Bella Vista with all of the top-ranked guys, I always knew I should be at the top of my class,” he continued. “Just playing with them and getting better every day, the work is always gonna show at some point.” All of it has led to an influx of scholarship offers, including from the likes of Arkansas, Texas and Ohio State — “All great, amazing schools that hopefully I can get a visit to sometime,” he said. “It’s been heating up, for sure.” One new one, however, stands out, having grown up with a soft spot in his heart for the blue and white: Kentucky. The Wildcats pulled the trigger on an offer in early July, one of very few in the ’28 class — a sign they’re serious about his talent. Mark Pope was sitting courtside for his game on Saturday, his last stop in North Augusta before making the move to Rock Hill for the adidas 3SSB Palmetto Road Championships. “Surreal,” he told KSR of the Wildcats extending a scholarship. “Kentucky’s one of my dream offers, of course. It’s an amazing, amazing school. It was truly a blessing, truly honored to receive an offer from Kentucky.” What makes it a ‘dream offer’ for the rising talent? “I always watched Kentucky growing up, I like the colors,” he continued. “I like everything about them. Getting that offer, it was one that I really, really wanted to get.” Cody Fueger made the call, with Mitakaro adding that their relationship is “growing” and that “he’s a great guy, great coach.” Kentucky joins California, Syracuse and Arkansas among schools he feels are prioritizing him early, though he admits the process is just beginning with a long way to go before taking things seriously with a final decision. In fact, he said the plan is to “wait till later’ and ‘see how rosters shake out’ before picking a school, meaning we could still be a year and nine months or so away from the late signing period in 2028. He knows what he’ll be looking for when the time comes, however. “Definitely somewhere I can grow a relationship with the coaches on and off the court, coaches that really vouch for me to the public and somewhere I’m going to play early on,” he said. Mitakaro says he models his game after former Wildcat and current MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, along with new world champion Jalen Brunson, “people that play at their own pace and can play off two, get to their bumps and mid-ranges.” His long-term goal is to follow in their footsteps, in terms of major individual and team accolades at the next level. “Definitely an All-Star who wins championships in the NBA, contribute to winning as much as I can through high school, college and the NBA,” he told KSR. Anyone know where SGA went to school? He used the Kentucky platform as a fellow Canadian to reach his goals and dreams in the NBA. Could Mitakaro be next?