Kentucky Wildcat Basketball Recruiting

[jbcarol]

Jerry Jones -- yes, that Jerry Jones -- recruiting Kentucky commits to Arkansas

by: Jack Pilgrim

Jones, a co-captain of Arkansas' 1964 national championship football team and a native of North Little Rock, is reportedly funding the Razorbacks' NIL efforts in a major way. Coach Cal wants to bring his second-ranked recruiting class with him to Fayetteville, and according to college basketball insider Trilly Donovan, Jones is offering double what they were set to make at Kentucky.

"Jerry Jones is reportedly offering DOUBLE whatever the Kentucky commits were making to come to Arkansas, per @trillydonovan," College Basketball Report wrote on Twitter. "Jerry Jones is an Arkansas booster and reportedly helped them hire John Calipari last week."

Five of Kentucky's six commitments in the 2024 recruiting class have backed out since Coach Cal's departure with Travis Perry remaining as the lone signee for the Wildcats. Karter Knox was first, followed by Jayden Quaintance, Somto Cyril, Boogie Fland and Billy Richmond III.

None of the five have flipped their pledges to Arkansas with Zvonimir Ivisic being the lone Wildcat to follow Calipari to Fayetteville officially, transferring to join the Razorbacks earlier this week.

That class was ranked No. 2 overall.

Will Jerry Jones be the one to re-assemble them in Fayetteville

[jbcarol]

Joe Tipton@TiptonEdits

NEWS: BYU transfer Aly Khalifa has committed to Louisville, his agent @DanielPoneman tells @On3sports. He will be redshirting this upcoming season.

The 6-11 big man chose the 'Cards over Kentucky and his former head coach Mark Pope. He also considered a return to BYU.

https://on3.com/college/louisville-cardinals/news/byu-transfer-center-aly-khalifa-commits-to-louisville

[jbcarol]

Report: Kentucky to meet with Utah State transfer Great Osobor on Friday

by: Grant Grubbs
•

[Salty spork]

Joe Tipton@TiptonEdits

NEWS: BYU transfer Aly Khalifa has committed to Louisville, his agent @DanielPoneman tells @On3sports. He will be redshirting this upcoming season.

The 6-11 big man chose the 'Cards over Kentucky and his former head coach Mark Pope. He also considered a return to BYU.

https://on3.com/college/louisville-cardinals/news/byu-transfer-center-aly-khalifa-commits-to-louisville

Bit of a slap in the face to the pope

[jbcarol]

Tennessee Transfer Jonas Aidoo Hears From Kentucky's New Staff

by: Jacob Polacheck
•

Tennessee transfer Jonas Aidoo told KSR+ on Friday that he has heard from Kentucky's new staff since entering the transfer portal. Aidoo is rated as the No. 5 overall transfer

6-foot-11, 241-pound center declared for the NBA Draft while entering the transfer portal on April 11. He is set to take an official visit to Baylor from April 19-21.

[jbcarol]

Mark Pope battles Cal, et al. for Sean Stewart

by: Jack Pilgrim

Kentucky and Arkansas are among the first schools to reach out to Duke freshman Sean Stewart, who announced he'd be transferring on Friday.

The 6-9 freshman out of Windermere, Florida has heard from the following programs since going portaling:

Kansas State
Indiana
Kentucky
Arkansas
USC
Florida State
Cincinnati
Georgetown
Arizona State
Miami
Michigan
Ohio State
Baylor
Texas A&M
Tennessee
Vanderbilt
Cal
Stanford
South Carolina
Washington
Howard
UCSB
Harvard

Stewart's a former five-star recruit.

[jbcarol]

Kentucky Basketball Roster:

And then there were none

by: Jack Pilgrim
•

Mark Pope has a completely clean slate entering his debut season at Kentucky. Antonio Reeves and Tre Mitchell were already certainties, followed by Rob Dillingham, Reed Sheppard and Ugonna Onyenso all entering the draft while Adou Thiero, Aaron Bradshaw, Joey Hart, Zvonimir Ivisic and DJ Wagner all hit the transfer portal.

That left just one player from the 2023-24 roster under John Calipari: Jordan Burks.

The former three-star recruit then made what we all expected official on Friday, entering the portal and exploring his transfer options, bringing that leftover total down to zero.

To take it a step further, Jayden Quaintance, Boogie Fland, Karter Knox, Billy Richmond and Somto Cyril are all free agents again after backing away from their Kentucky commitments

The one guarantee? 2022 four-star guard Collin Chandler, who announced his commitment to Kentucky on April 16. The former top-40 prospect is coming off a two-year

Now it's time for Pope to fill out the rest of the roster his way, bringing in his own talent from the transfer portal.

The rest of Calipari's pool is looking elsewhere.



IMPORTANT DATES
April 27: NBA Early Entry Eligibility Deadline (11:59 p.m. ET)
May 1: Transfer Portal Closes
May 12: NBA Draft Lottery
May 13-19: NBA Combine
May 29: NCAA early entrant withdrawal deadline (11:59 pm ET)
June 16: NBA Draft Early Entry Entrant Withdrawal Deadline (5 p.m. ET)
June 26: NBA Draft 2024 First Round
June 27: NBA Draft 2024 Second Round

[jbcarol]

Update on Amari Williams and Jason Hart
It's no longer a Pope - Pitino battle for Williams.

By Jason Marcum

Drexel transfer Amari Williams has arrived for his visit with Kentucky. During the trip, Jeff Goodman reported that Williams had cut his list to Kentucky and Mississippi State.

This was viewed as a Kentucky vs. St. John's battle.

Here is Mark Pope strolling with Williams on the grounds at Keeneland Race Track


Matt Jones
@KySportsRadio

Mark Pope and Amari Williams at Keeneland

[jbcarol]

@TiptonEdits
BREAKING: Duke transfer guard Jeremy Roach has committed to Baylor, he tells @On3sports.

https://on3.com/transfer-portal/news/duke-transfer-guard-jeremy-roach-commits-to-baylor

[jbcarol]

@TiptonEdits

BREAKING: Drexel transfer Amari Williams (@amxriwillixms) has committed to Mark Pope and Kentucky, his agent @georgelangberg of GSL Sports Group tells @On3Sports.

The 6-10 F/C is a three-time CAA Defensive POY and boasts a 7-foot-5 wingspan.

https://on3.com/college/kentucky-wildcats/news/kentucky-lands-commitment-from-drexel-transfer-amari-williams

[jbcarol]

BYU transfer Richie Saunders visiting Kentucky

by: Sam Gillenwater
•

Pope made his first portal addition at Kentucky on Sunday with the transfer of Drexel's Amari Williams. Now, he could soon potentially earn a second, including his first from his former program back in Provo.

Per Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio, Richie Saunders, a reserve guard the past two seasons for BYU, is currently on a visit in Lexington. He came into the bluegrass to end the weekend and will check out campus through Monday.

Saunders played in 68 games for the Cougars under Pope the last two years. In that time at 18 minutes a game, he averaged 7.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and an assist. He did so while shooting 49.6% from the field and 35% from three.

[jbcarol]

Calipari, Arkanas land commitment from 5-star wing formerly pledged to Kentucky
Andrew Olson 

Calipari has flipped a 5-star prospect from his former team.

Karter Knox committed to Kentucky back on March 9. With Calipari leaving Kentucky to become the head coach at Arkansas, Knox has decided to play college ball in Fayetteville.

Knox, rated 5-stars and the No. 22 prospect overall for 2024, took to social media to announce his pledge to the Razorbacks. Knox also mentioned Kenny Payne, who has joined Cal's Arkansas staff as an assistant, in his decision to commit to the Hogs.

[jbcarol]

@JamieShaw5
BYU junior Atiki Ally Atiki has officially entered the Transfer Portal @On3sports has learned

The 6-10 center averaged 4.0 points in 11.0 minutes last season.

https://on3.com/db/atiki-ally-atiki-7995

[jbcarol]

BYU transfer Richie Saunders visiting Kentucky

by: Sam Gillenwater
•

@JonRothstein
Richie Saunders announced that he is withdrawing from the transfer portal and will return to BYU next season.

One of the top Glue Guys in college basketball.
9:07 AM · Apr 26, 2024

[Hog Hog]

@JamieShaw5
BYU junior Atiki Ally Atiki has officially entered the Transfer Portal @On3sports has learned

The 6-10 center averaged 4.0 points in 11.0 minutes last season.

https://on3.com/db/atiki-ally-atiki-7995

Now, this is a grown man that the UK folks can get behind!  No more of these talented freshmen!

[Hog Hog]

@JonRothstein
Richie Saunders announced that he is withdrawing from the transfer portal and will return to BYU next season.

One of the top Glue Guys in college basketball.
9:07 AM · Apr 26, 2024

This guy is too young and talented according to UK fans.  Had to send him back to BYU.

[jbcarol]

@JonRothstein
Former Kentucky commit Billy Richmond has announced a commitment to Arkansas.

John Calipari's first roster in Fayetteville is starting to take shape.
11:01 AM · Apr 26, 2024
·

[jbcarol]

Matt Jones
@KySportsRadio
Saunders going back to BYU a bit of a surprise to me. With the Portal it seems it's never done until it's done
10:37 PM · Apr 25, 2024
·

[jbcarol]

Former Kentucky pledge Billy Richmond commits to Arkansas

by: Jack Pilgrim

Ready for the most obvious news of the week? Billy Richmond will be following John Calipari to Arkansas.

The four-star wing's father played for Coach Cal at Memphis, setting up a clear path to follow in his footsteps no matter the end destination. It started at Kentucky, committing back in December over the likes of Memphis, Alabama and LSU. Now following Calipari's move to Fayetteville, he announced Friday he'll be a Razorback.



Richmond is the No. 24 overall prospect and No. 9 SF in the 2024 cycle.

He becomes the third former Kentucky pledge to follow Calipari to Fayetteville, joining Boogie Fland and Karter Knox among high school prospects. Zvonimir Ivisic is the lone transfer confirmed from the Wildcats, the first official addition for Coach Cal and the Razorbacks this cycle.

Jayden Quaintance confirmed he will not be signing with Arkansas after backing out from his National Letter of Intent to Kentucky. He's considering Louisville, Memphis and Arizona State after parting ways with the Wildcats and Razorbacks.

As for Somto Cyril, he visited Georgia Tech and Georgia as he looks for his next stop.

The sixth? He's staying in Lexington, Travis Perry confirming he'll be playing for Mark Pope.

[jbcarol]

@JonRothstein
Dallin Hall is returning to BYU and withdrawing his name from the transfer portal, per his IG page.

Significant Big 12 News.
12:22 PM · Apr 26, 2024
·

[jbcarol]

@On3sports
BREAKING: San Diego State guard Lamont Butler has committed to Kentucky, per @KySportsRadio.

He was a star in the 2023 NCAA Tournament👀

https://on3.com/college/kentucky-wildcats/news/san-diego-state-pg-lamont-butler-commits-to-kentucky-as-transfer

[Hog Hog]

@On3sports
BREAKING: San Diego State guard Lamont Butler has committed to Kentucky, per @KySportsRadio.

He was a star in the 2023 NCAA Tournament👀

https://on3.com/college/kentucky-wildcats/news/san-diego-state-pg-lamont-butler-commits-to-kentucky-as-transfer

Meh.  9 points a game, 28% from 3, 3 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.5 TOs per game in nearly 29 minutes a game.  He's not terrible.

[jbcarol]

Kentucky Basketball Roster Tracker: SDSU's Lamont Butler is on Board

by: Zack Geoghegan
•

Mark Pope has landed transfer number two. San Diego State's Lamont Butler committed to Kentucky on Friday after Pope and a couple of assistants made a trip to Las Vegas to meet Butler in person. By the end of the day, Butler was a 'Cat.

Like former Drexel forward Amari Williams — Pope's first transfer portal commit — Butler is a defensive-minded

[jbcarol]

Otega Oweh signs with Kentucky, Mark Pope raves about his 'contagious tenacity'

by: Jack Pilgrim

Oklahoma transfer Otega Oweh arrived on Thursday for his visit to Lexington, then publicly committed early Saturday afternoon. Just minutes later, Kentucky officially announced his signing, the second of the day following SDSU transfer Lamont Butler's public addition.

Oweh, who averaged 11.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game as a sophomore for the Sooners, will be bringing a 'special physicality and intensity' with him to Lexington, Mark Pope said.

"Otega shot 37 percent from the 3-point line last year," Pope said.

[jbcarol]

@TiptonEdits
Wake Forest transfer Andrew Carr has committed to Kentucky, per his Instagram.

https://on3.com/db/andrew-carr-154952


8:44 PM · Apr 28, 2024
 from Huntsville, AL·

[jbcarol]

@TiptonEdits
Five-Star Plus+ C Jayden Quaintance has committed and signed with Arizona State, source confirms to @On3Recruits.

The former Kentucky signee is off to Tempe to play for Bobby Hurley. Was also considering Louisville and Memphis. First by @wojespn.

https://on3.com/college/arizona-state-sun-devils/news/five-star-plus-center-jayden-quaintance-signs-with-arizona-state

[jbcarol]

Pope excited to complete 'puzzle pieces' of Kentucky roster

by: Grant Grubbs
•

Kentucky's roster is a puzzle, and Mark Pope is gradually putting together the pieces. During an appearance on Kentucky Sports Radio on Monday, the new Kentucky head coach finally pulled back the curtain on the team's roster construction.

"I'm really excited about where we are today," Pope said. "It's very artistic. It's puzzle pieces. Every new piece kind of changes the picture, where you have to readjust and see what you're looking for in the next piece.

"There's so many things you don't have control over," Pope continued. "On our big board right now we're actually working with 29 guys that we've really, really zeroed in on. Every time somebody bends a little bit in our direction or maybe fades a little bit out of our direction, we do more research and more reconnaissance and hear more information about guys and how they're built. It doesn't just change the picture for that guy but for all 30 guys."

Kentucky currently has six players cemented on next year's roster.

Pope prepared for more hard work ahead

[jbcarol]

@TiptonEdits
NEWS: Saint Mary's transfer guard Aidan Mahaney has committed to UConn, he tells
@On3sports. Also considered Kentucky, Creighton, and Virginia.

The 6-3 All-WCC 1st team sophomore averaged 13.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game this season.

https://on3.com/college/connecticut-huskies/news/st-marys-transfer-guard-aidan-mahaney-commits-to-uconn

[jbcarol]

@AdamZagoria
Indiana officially signs Arizona transfer Oumar Ballo.
https://zagsblog.com/2024/04/16/indiana-lands-arizona-transfer-oumar-ballo

@IndianaMBB

[jbcarol]

@TiptonEdits
NEWS: 2024 Top-50 recruit Somto Cyril, a former Kentucky signee, has committed to Georgia, a source tells @On3Recruits.

The 6-10 center is one of the top big men in the country.

https://on3.com/college/georgia-bulldogs/news/top-50-c-somto-cyril-former-kentucky-signee-commits-to-georgia

[jbcarol]

@JamieShaw5
An SEC program is trending for FAU transfer guard Johnell Davis, On3's No. 1 player in the Transfer Portal:

[jbcarol]

@AdamZagoria
Dayton transfer Koby Brea visits Kentucky after UConn finalizes backcourt.
https://zagsblog.com/2024/04/30/dayton-transfer-koby-brea-visits-kentucky-after-uconn-finalizes-backcourt

@KentuckyMBB

[jbcarol]

@KySportsRadio
Brandon Garrison was down to Kentucky and Arkansas and picked the Cats
10:34 AM · Apr 30, 2024
·

[jbcarol]

@TiptonEdits
5⭐️ Caleb Wilson is one of the top prospects in the 2025 class.

[jbcarol]

@TiptonEdits
BREAKING: Minnesota transfer guard Elijah Hawkins has committed to Texas Tech, he tells @On3sports. Was also looking at Kentucky.

The 5-11 junior averaged 9.5 points and 7.5 assists per game this season. 

https://on3.com/college/texas-tech-red-raiders/news/minnesota-transfer-point-guard-elijah-hawkins-commits-to-texas-tech

[jbcarol]

@AdamZagoria
Miami transfer Wooga Poplar will 'probably visit' Kentucky.
https://zagsblog.com/2024/04/30/miami-transfer-wooga-poplar-will-probably-visit-kentucky

@KentuckyMBB

[jbcarol]

[jbcarol]

Adam Zagoria: Kentucky is out for the Great Osobor

[jbcarol]

Matt Jones
@KySportsRadio
Big day coming on the Basketball side
12:28 PM · May 1, 2024
·

[jbcarol]

@KySportsRadio
Koby Brea picks KENTUCKY



1:52 PM · May 1, 2024
·

[MountieDawg]

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/west-virginia-guard-transfer-kerr-kriisa-commits-to-kentucky/

Dude gets Triple Doubles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVcuYgEn7jA

[jbcarol]

@JonRothstein
Four of Kentucky's incoming transfers --- Kerr Kriisa, Koby Brea, Otega Oweh, and Andrew Carr --- shot 37% or better from three-point range.

Two of those players --- Kriisa and Brea --- made in excess of 60 three-point shots.
3:45 PM · May 1, 2024
·

[jbcarol]

@JamieShaw5
Kentucky, Michigan State, Maryland, Florida State, and others are recruiting 4⭐️ wing Jordan Scott.

The 6-6 junior

[jbcarol]

@KySportsRadio
Kentucky is done for the day and maybe for the short term (unless someone new enters portal tonight)

I think they are waiting on Draft decisions now from Robinson and possibly one more

Then they will likely fill in the final spots after those decisions
5:46 PM · May 1, 2024
·

[jbcarol]

@AdamZagoria
Kentucky locks up Drexel transfer Amari Williams after late-night meeting.

[jbcarol]

@KySportsRadio
I will have more in a post later tonight but I get the sense Kentucky staff is very happy with how this run of Portal guys went. One player didn't work out transcript wise and one ended up picking another school. But otherwise they hit their targets or got their (1a) choice

[Hog Hog]

@KySportsRadio
I will have more in a post later tonight but I get the sense Kentucky staff is very happy with how this run of Portal guys went. One player didn't work out transcript wise and one ended up picking another school. But otherwise they hit their targets or got their (1a) choice

Of course they did. 

[jbcarol]

Brandon Garrison surprised his HS coach by picking Kentucky, excited for 'fresh start'

by: Jack Pilgrim
•

If you were surprised by Oklahoma State transfer Brandon Garrison's abrupt commitment to Kentucky, you're not the only one. In fact, his high school coach, Lenny Hatchett of Del City (OK) had no idea things were trending in the Wildcats' direction until the very end beyond surface-level phone calls and Zoom meetings.

Up to that point, most of the conversations had been centered around the likes of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and even a potential return back to Stillwater under new head coach Steve Lutz —

His hunch was Oklahoma, who was "really, really, really recruiting him hard."

"I thought they did a great job, they had a great relationship with the family," Hatchett said.

Texas and Arkansas also got visits and made their own positive impressions, Garrison leaving having "found the pros and cons" from both.

Kentucky enters the picture
"I did hear about Kentucky being involved and I think it was probably more Zoom calls and phone calls with him and his family than anything because I know he didn't go on that visit," he told KSR. "He told me after Texas that he was gonna go visit Kentucky and Arkansas and then he told me that the Kentucky trip never made, but he was still gonna go to Arkansas. ... I never heard from Kentucky so it was kind of one of those deals that it surprised me."

Garrison was looking for a "fresh start" to "see what was out there" following Mike Boynton's departure at Oklahoma State, fired back on March 14. The 6-11 center found success in his lone season in Stillwater, averaging 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game in 29 starts of 32 total appearances. It was a unique situation where he produced at a high level in limited time out on the floor with just 22.6 minutes per contest, but also displayed flashes of so much more. It's fair to say he was mislabeled as a project big —

If his floor is rim-running and shot-blocking, what's his ceiling?

That's for Pope to find out —