It is no secret that 2025 did not go as planned for Mark Pope and Kentucky basketball. The roster was built around a left-handed point guard and a dominant big man. The two played a combined 13 games due to injuries. Now, the pressure is back on to create a new roster with a new identity.
While the Transfer Portal doesn't officially open until April 7th, over 500 players have said they would be entering the portal once it does officially open. Last week, it was all about Mark Pope and the players sitting down and seeing who would be coming back; the results of those meetings are now playing out in real time.
Who is leaving Lexington?
Jaland Lowe
Brandon Garrison
Jasper Johnson
Mo Dioubate
Denzel Aberdeen
Andrija Jelavic
Collin Chandler
The Cats had a huge portion of their roster that could actually come back; 12 of the 16 players were underclassmen. Realistically, that number was actually 11, as Jayden Quaintance was not going to come back regardless of how things went.
But still, that is a massive number of players that could play a big role in helping to build continuity in Lexington. We are still waiting to hear from just one person:
Trent Noah
His announcement should be coming rather quickly.
Who is staying with Kentucky basketball?
Braydon Hawthorne
Reece Potter
Malachi Moreno*(testing NBA but will be back in Lexington if he doesn't go pro)
Kam Williams
So far, three names have confirmed their returns to Lexington: Braydon Hawthorne, Kam Williams, and Reece Potter, both of whom completed a redshirt season last year and will remain with the Cats, unless something changes.
Moreno will come back unless he gets the feedback he wants to hear from the NBA Draft process.
Hawthorne, a rangy freshman, is seen as a key piece to the puzzle of next year's roster by the coaching staff, while Reece is a pick-and-pop-center who can provide some versatility on the perimeter offensively.
Now, the Cats have to start thinking of who they can get to come play for Mark Pope.
Who is Kentucky basketball targeting?
As names trickle into the portal, more and more guys are popping up on the Lexington radar. We will update this section as each name is contacted.
Decker is a former Central Hardin star who averaged 16 points a game on 47% from deep last season. He is someone who can quickly fill up the basket, and something Kentucky needs. But recent rumors are saying Kentucky will no longer be involved.
Riley will bring a nice, versatile defensive skillset to Kentucky. He is more of a slasher than scorer, but has good defensive instincts, leading to 8 multi-steal games last season.
Hunter is an interesting one. He thrives at Central Arkansas; he scored 21 a night last season. But the year before that, he went to Wisconsin and barely saw the floor. He is a downhill guard who knows how to finish around the rim.
This is a name that may not even be on the radar because he is also going to be testing the NBA waters. But he did a little bit of everything for Butler last year, averaging 17 points, 2 assists, and 2 rebounds a night. Turnovers are an issue, as is his 42% field goal shooting. The skillset is there; it just has to be honed.
This may be my favorite player of the bunch. The freshman is not much of a threat from deep, but is a bucket everywhere else. He averaged 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists a night, but did it on 51% from the floor. He knows how to get to his spots and then converts. This would be a big get for Mark Pope.
George is a 6'3 point guard that kind of reminds me of Jaland Lowe if I am being honest. Not a great shooter, turns it over a little too much, but played on a team where he was asked to do a lot. He has turned it over 3 times a game the last 2 years, and that is a lot for a lead guard. He only shot 40 percent from the floor last year, and I worry if that can improve. He has played 3 years of college basketball and never been above 42 percent from the floor or 34 percent from deep.
The former LSU Tiger will be nursing an injured foot well into the summer months, but that is not stopping Mark Pope from showing interest. Thomas averaged 15 points and 6 assists last season, and is a target Mark Pope tried to nab when he left UNLV last year.
The 6'10 Oregon Duck is in the portal after averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds last season. This is an interesting fit as he is not a great shot blocker, and he is not a good 3-point shooter. He is a big body, but this may just be a like-for-like replacement for Brandon Garrison.
Washington point guard Zoom Diallo is drawing heavy interest from the Cats. At 6'4, the point guard is a rim-driving demon. But his outside shot needs a lot of work. The playmaking instincts are there, and if the shooting can develop, he could become one of the best point guards in the country. Mark Pope is hoping that happens at Kentucky.
Other names interested:
- Dedan Thomas Jr.
- Rob Wright
- Isaac Celiscar
- Alex Wilkins
- Jalen Cox
- Donnie Freeman Jr.
- Neoklis Avdalas
- Anthony Robinson II
- DeSean Goode
Who has signed with Kentucky?
Mason Williams is the only recruit currently on board, and Tyran Stokes may very well be a Kansas lock. This section will get quite a few names soon.
Mason Williams-4-star freshman point guard
Stay with us all silly season long for the latest breaking news.
Add us as a preferred source on Google