Salon Vilpas got themselves a steal with Ansley
Ansley Almonor is taking his talents overseas, signing his first professional basketball contract with Salon Vilpas in Finland’s top league, the Korisliiga.
The Finnish club, known as the Vilpas Vikings, is based in the basketball-rich city of Salo and has built a reputation for developing talent and contending for league titles. It’s a fitting next step for a player who became a fan favorite in Lexington for everything that didn’t show up on the stat sheet.
Almonor, a 6-foot-7 forward from New Jersey, made the leap to Kentucky last season after a breakout year at Fairleigh Dickinson, where he averaged 16.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and shot 39% from deep. He played a starring role in FDU’s historic 2023 NCAA Tournament upset over No. 1 seed Purdue, one of the greatest shocks in March Madness history.
But at Kentucky, Almonor wasn’t asked to be a star. He was asked to sacrifice.
In Mark Pope’s first year as head coach, Almonor accepted a diminished role — logging just 5.3 points per game in limited minutes — yet remained a constant source of energy, leadership, and positivity. Whether it was taking charges, diving for loose balls, or lighting up the bench with emotion, he embraced the dirty work. And fans noticed.
His unselfishness helped set the tone for a culture Pope is still trying to build. Even when his number wasn’t called, Almonor was fully engaged, often the first off the bench to celebrate a teammate’s success.
After the season, he joined La Familia in The Basketball Tournament (TBT), where he helped the all-Kentucky alumni team reach the Sweet 16. Though his role was again modest, he continued to showcase what made him valuable: high IQ, floor spacing, and a team-first mentality.
Now, Almonor will look to make a bigger impact in Finland — and there’s plenty of reason to believe he will. Korisliiga teams often rely on American imports to fill scoring roles, and Almonor’s skill set fits perfectly. He can stretch the floor, post up smaller wings, and defend multiple positions.
For a player who bet on himself by transferring up to Kentucky — and never complained when the spotlight dimmed — this move is well-earned. It’s also just the beginning.
BBN may be watching from afar now, but they’ll still be rooting. Because Ansley Almonor gave everything he had to the Cats, and now, he’s ready to give that same heart and hustle to the pros.