Kentucky has tabbed BYU coach Mark Pope to succeed John Calipari, the varsity introduced Friday. Pope, the previous Kentucky star who performed below Rick Pitino at Kentucky from 1994-96, is returning to Lexington after spending the final 5 seasons at BYU. Pope will exchange Calipari, who spent the final 15 seasons with the Wildcats earlier than taking the vacant job at Arkansas earlier this week.
Calipari formally parted methods with Kentucky earlier this week in a video posted to social media. Lower than 24 hours later, he formally turned the subsequent coach at Arkansas. He replaces Eric Musselman, who departed for the vacant job at USC.
Calipari’s departure will affect Kentucky’s roster and incoming recruiting class. The Wildcats have the No. 2 class within the 2024 cycle by 247Sports, but it surely’s already taken successful. 4-star ahead Karter Knox introduced his decommitment on Monday, and five-star middle Jayden Quaintance and four-star middle Somto Cyril requested a launch from their Nationwide Letter of Intent days later.
Pope can have vital work to do upon his official arrival. Star freshmen Justin Edwards and Rob Dillingham declared for the NBA Draft, and key reserves Aaron Bradshaw and Adou Thiero entered the switch portal. Underneath Calipari, Kentucky had the No. 2 recruiting class within the 2024 cycle. 4-star ahead Billy Richmond, four-star guard Boogie Fland and four-star guard Travis Perry have but to make their resolution identified.
CBS Sports activities is monitoring the standing of the Kentucky roster and recruiting class in actual time. Here is the place each present UK participant and commit at the moment stand.Â
Kentucky underclassmen
Reed Sheppard
GP: 33 | GS: 5 | PPG: 12.5 | RPG: 4.1
Sheppard was named CBS Sports activities Freshman of the Yr after placing up some of the environment friendly stat traces within the nation. Sheppard made solely 5 begins in 33 video games however had an affect each time he stepped onto the courtroom. Sheppard completed the season capturing 53.6% from the ground, 51.1% on 3-pointers (on 4.4 makes an attempt), and 83.1% from the charity stripe. Sheppard completed 5 steals shy (82) of breaking the single-season file set by Rajon Rondo throughout the 2004-05 season. He initiatives as a lottery choose within the 2024 NBA Draft.
D.J. Wagner
GP: 29 | GS: 28 | PPG: 9.9 | RPG: 1.9
Wagner ranked because the No. 6 participant popping out of highschool and was one of many prized recruits from his class. The Wagner household has deep ties to Calipari, as D.J.’s dad, Dajuan Wagner, performed for Calipari when he was the coach at Memphis.
Zvonimir Ivišić
GP: 15 | GS: 0 | PPG: 5.5 | RPG: 3.3
Whereas Ivišić did not play a ton throughout his freshman season, he undoubtedly made an affect when he performed. Hours after he was dominated eligible by the NCAA on Jan. 20, Ivišić recorded 13 factors, 5 rebounds, and a pair of assists in his collegiate debut.
Ugonna Onyenso
GP: 24 | GS: 14 | PPG: 3.6 | RPG: 4.8
The highest shot-blocker on final season’s Kentucky workforce averaged 18.6 minutes per evening. Onyenso made 14 begins after enjoying lower than seven minutes as a freshman the yr earlier than.
Jordan Burks
GP: 20 | GS: 0 | PPG: 1.9 | RPG: 1.6
Burks is a former three-star recruit from the 2023 recruiting cycle. He appeared in 20 video games this season and scored a career-high 13 factors in a win over Vanderbilt.
Brennan Canada
GP: 5 | GS: 0 | PPG: 0 | RPG: 0.4
Canada appeared in 25 whole video games over his five-year profession with Kentucky. He made 5 appearances this season.
Kareem Watkins
GP: 6 | GS: 1 | PPG: 0 | RPG: 0.2
Watkins has appeared in 20 video games during the last 4 seasons with Kentucky. He made six appearances this season.
Walker Horn
GP: 4 | GS: 0 | PPG: 0 | RPG: 0
Horn has made eight appearances during the last two seasons for Kentucky.
Grant Darbyshire
GP: 4 | GS: 0 | PPG: 0 | RPG: 0
Darbyshire made 4 appearances for Kentucky this season.
Kentucky gamers not anticipated to return
Rob Dillingham (Declared for NBA Draft)
GP:Â 32 |Â GS:Â 1 |Â PPG:Â 15.2 |Â RPG:Â 2.9Â
The highest-ranked participant in CBS Sports activities’ NBA Draft prospect rankings is popping professional, he introduced on Tuesday. Dillingham was named SEC sixth Man of the Yr after placing up huge numbers in his first season at Kentucky. The 6-foot-3 guard made solely a single begin however was one among Kentucky’s finest gamers the complete season. Dillingham is a artful guard with a fast burst that may get to the rim each time he pleases. Dillingham has acquired buzz over the previous couple of months as a possible No. 1 general choose.Â
Aaron Bradshaw (In switch portal)
GP: 26 | GS: 10 | PPG: 4.9 | RPG: 3.3
Bradshaw was the primary participant from Kentucky’s top-ranked 2023 recruiting class to enter his identify within the switch portal. Bradshaw missed the beginning of the season as a consequence of harm and appeared for the primary time on Dec. 2 in opposition to UNC Wilmington. Bradshaw was the No. 5 recruit popping out of highschool. He ought to have loads of suitors for his companies within the switch portal.
Adou Thiero (In switch portal)
GP: 25 | GS: 19 | PPG: 7.2 | RPG: 5
Thiero entered his identify into the switch portal final month and is the No. 53 participant obtainable in David Cobb’s switch portal rankings. Thiero noticed a bigger function throughout his second season in Lexington, making 19 begins and 25 appearances whereas averaging career-highs in virtually each statistical class.
Joey Hart (In switch portal)
GP: 7 | GS: 0 | PPG: 0.4 | RPG: 0
Hart will enter the switch portal after enjoying sparingly as a freshman. The previous three-star recruit dedicated to Kentucky out of highschool over UCF, Ball State, Drake and Northwestern amongst others.
Justin Edwards (Declared for NBA Draft)
GP: 32 | GS: 30 | PPG: 8.8 | RPG: 3.4
Edwards was the primary Kentucky participant to declare for the draft and determined to show professional days earlier than Calipari left this system. The previous highly-touted prospect confirmed flashes of his five-star billing all through the season. Edwards initiatives as somebody who will both get drafted late within the first spherical or early within the second spherical of this summer season’s draft. Edwards is an ideal swing for the fences prospect.
Antonio Reeves (Out of eligibility)
GP: 33 | GS: 33 | PPG: 20.2 | RPG: 4.2
The main scorer on Kentucky final season is out of eligibility. Reeves transferred to Kentucky in 2022 after spending the primary three seasons at Illinois State. Reeves by no means entered his identify into the switch portal final summer season however reportedly took summer season lessons at Illinois State, the place he started his profession. He completed his school profession with a career-high in factors and rebounds.
Tre Mitchell (Out of eligibility)
GP: 27 | GS: 24 | PPG: 10.7 | RPG: 7.2
Like Reeves, Mitchell is out of eligibility. Mitchell transferred to Kentucky for his closing school season after stops at UMass, Texas, and West Virginia. Mitchell offered a precious veteran presence for a younger roster and began 24 out of the 27 video games he appeared in.
Kentucky’s 2024 recruiting class
The brand new Kentucky coach will assume the duty of holding the No. 2 recruiting class within the 2024 cycle by 247Sports collectively. Kentucky’s incoming class consists of five-star middle Jayden Quaintance, four-star guard Billy Richmond, four-star guard Boogie Fland, four-star middle Somto Cyril, and four-star guard Travis Perry.
Quaintance, Fland, Cyril, and Perry signed their Nationwide Letter of Intent to return to Kentucky, whereas Richmond has but to signal.
4-star ahead Karter Knox dedicated to Kentucky final month, however on Monday Knox’s father advised 247Sports that his son will reopen his recruitment due to Calipari’s exit.
Underneath Calipari, Kentucky completed with a top-five recruiting class each cycle since 247Sports began monitoring workforce rankings in 2010. The Wildcats landed the No. 1 recruiting class in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2020, and 2023 below his watch.
Here’s a have a look at Kentucky’s roster and incoming recruiting class with 247Sports rankings.
No. 22 Billy Richmond
Richmond dedicated to Kentucky on Dec. 21 over Alabama, LSU, and Memphis. The Richmond household has deep ties to Calipari. Richmond’s father, who can also be named Billy Richmond, performed for Calipari at Memphis from 2002 to 2004. Richmond is taken into account an athletic lefty wing with the prospect to make a direct affect when he steps onto campus this fall.
No. 26 Boogie Fland
The McDonald’s All-American is likely one of the finest combo guards within the nation and ranked solely behind Rutgers signee Dylan Harper for the highest participant on the place. Fland dedicated to Kentucky over Alabama, UConn, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, and St. John’s. Fland was Kentucky’s second commit within the 2024 cycle.
No. 73 Travis Perry
Perry was Kentucky’s lone signee from the Bluegrass State. He ranked because the No. 6 level guard within the 2024 cycle and dedicated to Kentucky over Alabama, Cincinnati, Ole Miss, and Western Kentucky. Perry is the all-time main scorer in Kentucky highschool boys’ basketball historical past.
Recruits now not dedicated
No. 8 Jayden QuaintanceÂ
The best-ranked signee from Kentucky’s incoming recruiting class is exclusive due to his age. Quaintance will not flip 17 years previous till July, making him ineligible for the 2025 NBA Draft. NBA guidelines state {that a} participant should be a minimum of 19 years previous throughout the calendar yr of the draft, which opens the door for him to play two seasons in school. Quaintance dedicated to Kentucky over Florida, Missouri, and Ohio State. On Wednesday, Quaintance’s father, Haminn, advised 247Sports that his son can be requesting his launch from his NIL to Kentucky. Haminn lately posted on social media that their household can be “driving with the massive canine (Calipari) till the wheels fall off.” Calipari will seemingly try and lure in Quaintance to return to Arkansas.
No. 20 Karter Knox
The brother of former Kentucky one-and-done Kevin Knox II was the latest participant to pledge their dedication to Calipari on this class. Knox dedicated to Kentucky on March 9 over Louisville, USF, and a return to Time beyond regulation Elite. He was the highest-ranked highschool participant on the board obtainable after former Indiana signee Liam McNeeley requested a launch from his NLI. Knox’s brother, Kobe, is a present participant at USF. With Knox reopening his recruitment, he’s sure to have loads of suitors for his companies.
No. 46 Somto CyrilÂ
The primary commit of Kentucky’s 2024 recruiting class picked the Wildcats over Cincinnati, Florida, Georgetown, Indiana, Kansas, Memphis, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. Cyril ranks because the No. 10 middle in his class. Cyril was granted his launch from his NLI and de-committed from Kentucky on Wednesday.