Kentucky extended its second scholarship offer in the 2026 class on Monday to Miikka Muurinen, a 4-star power forward from Chandler (Ariz.) Compass Prep, following his impressive performance at Peach Jam over the weekend, as reported by 247Sports national recruiting analyst Travis Branham.
Muurinen, who is expected to rise significantly in the next 247Sports player rankings for 2026, scored a game-high 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range, leading Brad Beal Elite to a 72-67 victory over CP3 to win the Nike EYBL 16U Championship on Sunday.
Throughout the event, Muurinen averaged 21.4 points on 61.8% shooting, making 14 of 28 shots from beyond the arc, guiding Brad Beal Elite to the title. “Miikka Muurinen was outstanding on Saturday afternoon. Muurinen already ranks as the No. 44 overall recruit in the country but has coaches buzzing about him, and after my first personal viewing, I now see why,” wrote Branham.
“He stands 6-foot-10 with long arms and a thin, immature frame, paired with a very polished and clean stroke from three. The jumper is smooth, but he struggled to connect from deep, shooting 0-of-3. However, it was his flashes of defense and competitiveness that shone on Saturday.
“The Finnish native really got going in the second half, attempting to tear the rim off at every opportunity, making key buckets late in the game and playing a significant role in shifting momentum and leading his team to a comeback.
“Despite falling short, Muurinen impressed everyone with his 16 points, three rebounds, one block, and one steal performance, shooting 6-of-10 from the field.”
Kentucky’s early offer sheet also includes Alabama, BYU, Cincinnati, Duke, Illinois, Michigan, Texas Tech, and UCLA.
Originally from Finland, Muurinen attended Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kansas, before transferring to Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona.
The Wildcats’ other offer in the 2026 class is held by Sherman Oaks (Calif.) Notre Dame 5-star, No. 1 overall prospect, and Louisville, Kentucky native Tyran Stokes.