After Mark Pope and his staff had an in-home visit with Georgia transfer Silas Demary Jr., there was optimism that Kentucky could land the talented guard. However, that hope has dimmed significantly. 247Sports insider Travis Branham and others have logged Crystal Ball predictions for Demary to land at UConn with Danny Hurley instead.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie, another Kentucky option, is now trending toward Tennessee, where he would serve as a replacement for Zakai Zeigler.
So where does Kentucky turn next in the portal? With some players yet to enter the portal over the next few weeks, more options could emerge. But for now, let’s focus on the best available guards currently in the transfer portal that the Cats could turn to.
Top Guard Targets Available in the Transfer Portal
Naithan George – Georgia Tech
Stats: 12.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 6.5 APG
Breakdown: A 6-foot-3 playmaking sophomore, George brings excellent passing ability and court vision to the table. His 6.5 assists per game would provide an instant boost to Kentucky’s backcourt, particularly in Pope’s up-tempo system.
Barrington Hargress – UC Riverside
Stats: 20.2 PPG, 4.0 APG, 2.3 RPG
Breakdown: The Big West Freshman of the Year and the 9th-leading scorer in the country, Hargress is an elite bucket-getter. He can create his own shot and score at all three levels, which Kentucky desperately needs.
Quimari Peterson – East Tennessee State
Stats: 19.5 PPG, 46.8% FG, 42.2% 3PT
Breakdown: A lights-out shooter who hit over 42% from three last season, Peterson brings scoring efficiency and deep-range shooting that could complement Pope’s spacing-heavy offensive approach.
Nate Calmese – Washington State
Stats: 15.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 4.4 APG
Breakdown: Calmese is a rising sophomore with a well-rounded offensive game. He provides both scoring and playmaking, making him an intriguing option in the backcourt.
Amaree Abram – Louisiana Tech
Stats (2023-24 at La. Tech): 12.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 42.2% FG, 37.3% 3PT
Breakdown: A former Ole Miss and Georgia Tech guard, Abram has high-major experience and solid three-point shooting ability.
What’s Next for Kentucky?
Kentucky has several quality options remaining in the portal, but the competition will be fierce. Mark Pope’s staff must move quickly to secure commitments before more top guards are off the board, unless they know something about someone yet to get in the portal. So it is not time to panic, but the button is probably not locked away in the safe at this moment.
While Demary Jr. and Gillespie slipping away is a setback, the Wildcats still have opportunities to find the right backcourt piece—it’s just a matter of acting fast.