Alexander Brown
Even with the Kentucky Derby in the rearview mirror and the PGA Championship taking place in Louisville next week, Kentucky Wildcats basketball is still the main driver of conversation in the Bluegrass State. The Kentucky Wildcats roster has changed from longtime head coach John Calipari to alumnus Mark Pope, with the latter leaving his position at BYU. Although Pope won a national championship at UK as a player in 1996, he never won an NCAA Tournament game in nine years as a head coach. He hopes to stock the Kentucky basketball team with Kentucky basketball’s best recruits and transfers to help it get its first win and more.
It’s not just a hope for Pope, it’s a mandate, as thanks to eligibility expirations, NBA Draft declarations and the college basketball transfer portal, Pope inherited a Kentucky basketball roster without any scholarship players. He has fully embraced the transfer portal, but there is still a lot of work to do to replace an entire Kentucky basketball roster. If you love the Wildcats or just want the latest roster updates and news from the college basketball transfer portal, be sure to See what the proven team of experts is saying at CatsPause, the 247Sports affiliate covering Kentucky.
The team of insiders at CatsPause. with are providing up-to-date information on the latest information regarding the Kentucky basketball coaching transition and roster changes. CatsPause has built a solid reputation over its 20-plus years covering the Wildcats and has deeply rooted sources in and around the Kentucky athletic department. And now, CatsPause is offering 50% off your first year of annual subscription*, so now is the time to sign up.
The CatsPause team has complete coverage on who’s making and who’s making the Kentucky basketball roster. Head to CatsPause now for all the insider info.
Kentucky Basketball Roster Matches
Kentucky’s 2024-25 basketball roster is quickly starting to take shape, with Pope signing another key player earlier this week. San Diego State transfer Lamont Butler, last season’s Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, committed to Kentucky as one of the top players in the college basketball transfer portal. He averaged 9.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 27.6 minutes per game and played in 11 career NCAA Tournament games.
Kentucky’s defense already looks like a strong point, as three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year Amari Williams also committed earlier this month. He averaged 12.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 blocks per game for Drexel last season. Pope also has two recruits signed, Travis Perry and Collin Chandler, and will welcome several visitors in the coming days. Join CatsPause for the latest on all of Kentucky’s roster changes.
Kentucky Basketball News, Roster
Calipari wasn’t the only one to leave Lexington for Fayetteville, as five of his former Wildcats did the same. The most recent was Adou Thiero, a former 5-star prospect who entered the college basketball portal in late March but still had the possibility of returning to Kentucky. While UK didn’t sign him, it did land the well-traveled Kerr Kriisa, who began his career at Arizona before playing last year at West Virginia. Kriisa led the Pac-12 in both assists per game and made 3-pointers his senior year at Arizona before averaging 11 points and 4.7 assists at WVU.
Kriisa will be complemented in the backcourt by two freshmen, Travis Perry, who is the No. 6 point guard in the 247Sports Class of 2024 rankings, and Collin Chandler, who is actually in the Class of 2022 but served two years. mission after originally committing to Pope at BYU. One guard Big Blue Nation can all but rule out returning to Lexington is former Top 10 national recruit DJ Wagner. After becoming SEC All-Freshman at UK last year, Wagner put his name on the college basketball transfer plate shortly after Calipari left for Arkansas. After nearly a month there, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reports that Wagner will visit Calipari and Arkansas this weekend as it appears returning to Kentucky is no longer an option. Join CatsPause for the latest on all of Kentucky’s roster additions.
How to Get Insider Kentucky Basketball Roster Updates
Pope could also bring at least one big BYU player with him, so be sure to join CatsPause to see who it is and get the rest of the insider news.
Who are the top names Kentucky basketball is pursuing under coach Mark Pope, and which former BYU player could land in Lexington? Go to CatsPause to Get your inside scoop, all from a team of reporters with years of experience covering the Wildcats, and find out. And remember: CatsPause is offering 50% off the first year of an annual VIP membership*, so sign up now before it’s too late.
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