The Donnie Freeman recruitment saga has quickly begun to overshadow the rest of Kentucky's offseason pursuits. Following Mark Pope landing Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins to round out Kentucky's backcourt, all eyes turned to the frontcourt where, according to all signs, Freeman looked to be the obvious answer to Kentucky's opening at the four-spot.
Perhaps the only other obvious options was Sebastian Rancik, who committed to Florida State as an apparent result of Pope and his staff waiting too long to make a move in his direction. Now, having waited for Freeman, the days dragging on without his pledge certainly don't bode well for that ultimate result.
Yet, even if Freeman leaves Lexington for another high-paying program, Kentucky isn't completely out of options at the power forward position. They become much thinner, sure, but a recent March Madness hero at that very same spot is still waiting without a destination.
Kentucky Could Pursue Alvaro Folgueiras
Alvaro Folgueiras, most recently an Iowa Hawkeye, was actually in heavy contact with Kentucky in last year's transfer portal cycle. The stretch big ultimately took his talents out west, as Pope bet on Andrija Jelavic and Mo Dioubate, but this potential union is now at the door once more.
In spite of coming off of the bench for Iowa, Folgueiras came up right when the Hawkeyes needed him in their immediately legendary run to the Elite Eight. Against the one-seeded Florida Gators, in the Round of 32, Folgueiras nailed a corner triple that ended up putting Todd Golden's Gators away in historic fashion.
Folgueiras scored in double-digits in three of his four contests in the NCAA Tournament this year. He's a stout competitor and, if thrust into a starting role, may have the basic tools that Pope's system needs at a still-empty position.
Few Remaining Answers For Pope
One way or another, if Freeman goes elsewhere, Kentucky won't have much choice but to jump on someone, and fast, at power forward. Folgueiras isn't a knockout prospect, but he has consistently performed well at the collegiate level for three seasons now. Most recently, he did it in the Big Ten.
If Kentucky must pivot, there may be few options with as much experience and general promise remaining on the market. Folgueiras' 50% clip from the field, as well as his sneaky defensive prowess, should bode well enough for the Wildcats if a move like this one has to be made.
It helps that he played a major part in helping Iowa upset a Florida team that Kentucky lost to three times. Maybe he has the key there, too.
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