Mark Pope’s Kentucky basketball team: Transfer portal updates, 2024 roster, recruits, and targets identified by leading SEC insiders
With years of experience covering the Wildcats, CatsPause provides up-to-date information on the Kentucky basketball team’s roster under new head coach Mark Pope.
College basketball roster changes happen quickly, and under new coach Mark Pope, the Wildcats are constantly changing their Kentucky basketball team for 2024–25. Five-star recruits were frequently paraded through Lexington by former head coach John Calipari. But the one-and-done roster-building strategy also had drawbacks because of the high annual player turnover and dependence on young players. Pope will now have to put together a team that is designed to win in March following Calipari’s inability to advance past theopening weekend of the
Pope’s goals for the Kentucky basketball recruiting class include late additions, rehiring the current roster, and transfers to Kentucky. Pope still has a lot of ground to cover as the spring college basketball transfer portal opens on March 18 and closes on May 1. If you’re a die-hard Wildcat supporter or simply want to stay up to date on roster changes and college basketball transfer portal news, check out what the knowledgeable staff of insiders at CatsPause, the 247Sports affiliate that covers Kentucky, has to say.
The most recent information on the coaching change at Kentucky basketball and the roster changes is being provided by the team of insiders at CatsPause.com. Over the course of its more than 20 years of covering the Wildcats, CatsPause has established a strong reputation and has deep connections within the Kentucky athletic department. It’s also the perfect time to sign up, as CatsPause is currently offering 60% off the first year of an annual subscription*.
The CatsPause staff is fully informed about the arrivals and departures from the Kentucky basketball team. Visit CatsPause right now to view all the exclusive content.
Tre Mitchell and Anthony Reeves are no longer eligible to play basketball for Kentucky, and Rob Dillingham, Justin Edwards, and Ugonna Onyenso have all submitted 2024 NBA Draft declarations. Of those, Dillingham is thought to be the best NBA prospect due to his average of 15.2 points, 3.9 assists, and 2.9 rebounds per game from the previous campaign.
Former top-five prospect D.J. Wagner, a freshman in the 2023 class, has made his way onto the college basketball transfer portal. In high school, Wagner was named MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game, so the basketball team at Kentucky will be sad to see him go.
After Calipari left, a number of players, including forward Adou Thiero, guard Joey Hart, center Aaron Bradshaw, and center Zvonimir Ivisic, registered on the transfer portal. Furthermore, four of Kentucky’s six 2024 recruits have withdrawn their commitments, so Pope will have a difficult time selecting the Kentucky basketball team’s starting lineup for the upcoming campaign. Get up to date on all of Kentucky’s roster changes by subscribing to CatsPause.
News and roster for Kentucky basketball
The player to watch now that most of Kentucky’s best 2023–24 prospects are moving on is Reed Sheppard. Although Pope is expected to be a lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Kentucky native may decide to play another season in Lexington because of Pope’s emphasis on 3-point shooters. Pope’s family is familiar with Pope.
Pope needs to bring in impact players soon because every other player expected to return from Kentucky’s 2023–24 roster only played sporadically the previous season. Guard Collin Chandler, one of his previous BYU signees, has committed to play for Pope at Kentucky. One player from Calipari’s 2024 recruiting class, point guard Travis Perry (ranked No. 73 in the country by 247Sports), is the only player the Wildcats still have available.
Although none of them averaged more than 2.0 points per game in 2023–24, Jordan Burks, Brennan Canada, Kareem Watkins, Walker Horn, and Grant Derbyshire are the other players who are currently anticipated to return. According to 247Sports, Billy Richmond and Travis Perry are currently ranked No. 22 and No. 73 in the country, respectively, and are still part of the 2024 recruiting class.
Pope is actively looking to expand the roster, with at least eight scholarships available. In order to be competitive right away in Lexington, Pope, for instance, is said to have been in contact with TCU transfer JaKobe Coles. He will also be considering all of the options that are still available in the 2024 recruiting class. Check out all of Kentucky’s recent roster additions by subscribing to CatsPause.
Ways to Become Insiders updates to the Kentucky basketball roster
Be sure to sign up for CatsPause to see who Pope might be bringing with him, along with all the other insider roster information. Pope may also be bringing at least one elite BYU player.
Under head coach Mark Pope, which players are Kentucky basketball’s top targets, and which former BYU player might end up in Lexington? Visit CatsPause to view their insider knowledge, which comes from a group of reporters with years of Wildcats coverage experience. As a reminder, sign up for an annual VIP membership* at CatsPause today before it’s too late to take advantage of the 60% discount.
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