With point guard Robert Wright III and No. 1 overall recruit Tyran Stokes on a visit in Lexington today, Cats fans are celebrating movement on the recruitment front after what was an unusually quiet first week from Mark Pope and his staff. You have to trust the process, I suppose.
Even so, with those potential commitments still outstanding (despite their promise), Pope is making sure to cover his bases from all sides with more than a few names remaining in the mix. Even if these are complimentary pieces compared to the previous two, Kentucky fans know to a painful extent what it looks like to be without reliable depth. It's a season-ending flaw.
That's why Kentucky's ongoing pursuit of guard Alex Wilkins in the transfer portal shouldn't worry the BBN about either the team's current of future visits. Coach Pope has a team to build beyond his desired stars, and Wilkins fits the bill as an ideal complimentary scorer.
Wilkins is an Ideal Complimentary Scorer
According to Jacob Polacheck, the former Furman Paladin met with Mark Pope in South Carolina this past weekend, and is now eyeing a visit to Lexington "later this week." Wilkins, especially if he's paired with the likes of Wright and Stokes, could turn out to be one of this portal bunch's most underrated additions.
His latest campaign with the Paladins yielded 18 points per game on 46% shooting from the field, routinely adding five assists and a steal in the process. His three-point clip certainly leaves room for improvement (33%), but on the whole, the Furman guard is among the most well-rounded available.
As far as Kentucky's involvement with Wilkins goes, it's been nigh impossible to tell what exactly Pope's vision is with as many calls and as much contact as he's made across the board thus far. But his fit makes sense, and Cats fans should welcome any high-volume scorer with open arms at the program's current juncture.
Score By Any Means Necessary
Following a painful campaign marred by the deconstruction of Pope's formerly revered offense, Kentucky should be adding scoring such as that by any means necessary. Wilkins is a practical solution to that problem and, although he isn't the only option, him planning a follow-up trip to Lexington this week is about the best sign the BBN could ask for.
Patience is a virtue, Cats fans; just hold on a little while longer.
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