When Mark Pope accepted the job at Kentucky final offseason, he entered a scenario the place the Wildcats had zero returning scholarship gamers on their roster for the 2024-25 season after John Calipari took the vacant job at Arkansas. Pope set to work rapidly and constructed his roster primarily through the switch portal, which resulted in UK reaching the Candy 16 in 12 months 1 of his tenure.
12 months 2 for Pope and his workers ought to be much less chaotic than final spring, however that is nonetheless a vital offseason for him and his workers as Kentucky seems to make one other deep run within the 2026 NCAA Event.
Kentucky made one of many greatest splashes within the switch portal earlier this month by including former five-star large man Jayden Quaintance through the switch portal. Quaintance was beforehand dedicated to Kentucky, however he backed off that pledge shortly after Calipari’s exit.
Quaintance performed final season at Arizona State and is a projected top-five choose within the 2026 NBA Draft.
Jayden Quaintance commits to Kentucky: Wildcats add key piece in projected top-five 2026 NBA Draft choose
Cameron Salerno
All eyes shall be on star guard Otega Oweh in the course of the subsequent month. Oweh declared for the 2025 NBA Draft earlier this week however will keep his faculty eligibility. Oweh transferred final spring from Oklahoma to UK and was one in all Pope’s greatest gamers in the course of the 2024-25 marketing campaign.
CBS Sports activities is monitoring the standing of the Kentucky roster and recruiting class in actual time. This is the place each present Kentucky participant and commit at the moment stand.
Incoming transfers
Jayden Quaintance | F/C | Fr. (Switch from Arizona State)
GP: 24 | PPG: 9.4 | RPG: 7.9 | APG: 1.5
Quaintance initially dedicated to Kentucky to play for John Calipari however backed off that pledge after the previous UK coach took the vacant job at Arkansas final offseason. The previous No. 9 general participant within the 2024 recruiting cycle by 247Sports dedicated shortly after to Arizona State and have become the highest-ranked recruit in its program’s historical past. Quaintance is a possible top-five choose within the 2026 NBA Draft.
Mouhamed Dioubate | F | So. (Switch from Alabama)
GP: 37 | PPG: 7.2 | RPG: 5.9 | APG: 1.1
Dioubate was Alabama’s glue man this previous season. He is likely one of the most underrated returning gamers within the sport and will play a key function for Pope this upcoming season.
Jaland Lowe | G | Soph. (Switch from Pitt)
GP: 31 | PPG: 16.8 | RPG: 4.2 | APG: 5.5
The previous Pitt star will play for Kentucky this upcoming season. Lowe was the second participant to decide to Kentucky out of the portal. He’s the No. 30 ranked prospect within the 247Sports Switch Portal Rankings.
Kam Williams | G | Fr. (Switch from Tulane)
GP: 33 | PPG: 9.3 | RPG: 4.5 | APG: 1.3
Williams began 28 video games for Tulane this previous season and averaged 9.3 factors and 4.5 rebounds. Williams linked on 41.2% of his 3-point makes an attempt and will present backcourt depth.
Kentucky gamers but to announce future plans
Otega Oweh | G | Jr.
GP: 36 | PPG: 16.2 | RPG: 4.7 | APG: 1.7
Oweh is doing the good factor however coming into his identify within the NBA Draft whereas additionally holding his faculty eligibility. It will be smart for Oweh to return to Kentucky to enhance his draft inventory additional. If Oweh does return, it will be a large win for Pope and firm.
Travis Perry | G | Fr.
GP: 21 | PPG: 2.7 | RPG: 0.8 | APG: 0.6
Perry was one of many authentic members of Kentucky’s 2024 recruiting class. He elected to remain dedicated to his pledge to Kentucky regardless of Calipari leaving for the job at Arkansas. Perry averaged 2.7 factors in 9.8 minutes per sport.
Kentucky gamers not returning in 2025-26
Jaxson Robinson (Out of eligibility)
GP: 24 | PPG: 13.0 | RPG: 3.5 | APG: 1.7
Robinson performed for Pope at BYU and adopted his coach to Lexington. Robinson’s missed practically the final two months of the season after struggling a wrist damage. Robinson had season-ending surgical procedure and missed the 2025 NCAA Event.
Koby Brea (Out of eligibility)
GP: 36 | PPG: 11.6 | RPG: 3.2 | APG: 1.3
Brea completed the season as Kentucky’s prime 3-point shooter. Brea linked on 43.5% of his makes an attempt from distance and completed as UK’s third-leading scorer.
Lamont Butler (Out of eligibility)
GP: 27 | PPG: 11.4 | RPG: 2.9 | APG: 4.3
Butler was the guts and soul of this Kentucky staff. Butler handled a nagging shoulder damage all through the season however nonetheless elected to play with a brace. Butler, the previous San Diego State star, averaged 11.4 factors and 1.6 steals per sport in his last faculty season.
Andrew Carr (Out of eligibility)
GP: 35 | PPG: 10.3 | RPG: 4.7 | APG: 1.7
The previous Wake Forest ahead was a key participant for Pope. Carr began 29 video games for the Wildcats and averaged 10.3 factors and 4.7 rebounds.
Ansley Almonor (Out of eligibility)
GP: 36 | PPG: 5.3 | RPG: 1.6 | APG: 0.5
Almonor transferred to Kentucky final offseason after spending three years at Fairleigh Dickinson. Almonor began seven video games this previous season. He made 35 whole appearances for Kentucky and averaged 5.3 factors and 1.6 rebounds.
Amari Williams | C | Sr. (Out of eligibility)
GP: 36 | PPG: 10.9 | RPG: 8.5 | APG: 3.2
The three-time CAA Defensive Participant of the 12 months grew to become a useful piece for Pope in 12 months 1 of his tenure. Williams averaged a team-high 1.2 blocks per sport and began all 36 video games for the Wildcats.
Kerr Kriisa | G | Sr. (Dedicated to Cincinnati)
GP: 9 | PPG: 4.4 | RPG: 2.4 | APG: 3.8
The previous Arizona and West Virginia guard will play for his fourth staff in the course of the 2025-26 season after showing in solely 9 video games this season. Kriisa will spend the 2025-26 marketing campaign with Cincinnati.
Kentucky gamers returning in 2025-26
Brandon Garrison | F | Soph.
GP: 35 | PPG: 5.9 | RPG: 3.9 | APG: 1.9
Garrison confirmed earlier this month that he shall be returning to Kentucky subsequent season. The previous McDonald’s All-American made 35 appearances off the bench for Kentucky this previous season.
Collin Chandler | G | Fr.
GP: 30 | PPG: 2.7 | RPG: 1.0 | APG: 2.7
Chandler was technically a part of the 2022 recruiting class, however after spending two years on a Mormon mission, the Utah native performed his first yr of school basketball final season. Chandler averaged 2.7 factors off the bench in 10.4 minutes per evening. Chandler adopted Pope from BYU to Kentucky and his function ought to improve in 12 months 2. He introduced his intention to return on Thursday.
Trent Noah | F | Fr.
GP: 24 | PPG: 2.7 | RPG: 1.9 | APG: 0.4
Noah signed with Kentucky out of the 2024 recruiting cycle and averaged 11.1 minutes per sport in his first season with the Wildcats. Noah averaged 2.7 factors in 24 appearances. He introduced his intention to return on Friday.
Kentucky’s incoming recruiting class
Kentucky’s 2025 recruiting class has three gamers set to reach this fall. The headliner is four-star combo guard Jasper Johnson, the No. 20 ranked participant within the class. 4-star middle Malachi Moreno and Andrija Jelavic from Croatia are additionally within the incoming recruiting class. 4-star level guard Acaden Lewis lately decommitted from Kentucky.
No. 20 Jasper Johnson
Johnson is the highest-ranked signee in Kentucky’s 2025 recruiting class. Johnson dedicated to Kentucky over the likes of North Carolina, Illinois, Alabama and Auburn. The Atlanta native will present useful scoring.
No. 28 Malachi Moreno
The Georgetown, Kentucky native dedicated to the Wildcats over Arkansas, Indiana, North Carolina and Ohio State. The McDonald’s All-American is a talented large man who will doubtlessly compete for vital minutes.
Andrija Jelavic
Jelavic is Kentucky’s most up-to-date addition in its 2025 recruiting class. The 21-year-old is likely one of the prime European prospects within the nation. He made 52 3-pointers in 53 video games whereas taking part in for Serbian-based KK Mega Basket.
