The Kentucky Wildcats will have a brand new look next season in Lexington. John Calipari left to take the head coaching job at SEC rival Arkansas, while the ‘Cats brought in former BYU coach and Kentucky national champion Mark Pope to take over.
So far the ‘Cats have landed some big fish in the transfer portal, including San Diego State’s Lamont Butler, Drexel’s Amari Williams, and Otega Oweh from Oklahoma.
However, there is still quite a bit of work to do with seven former Wildcats entering the transfer portal following Calipari’s departure. Three of those seven have already found new homes, including one who already followed Cal to Arkansas, but the other four are still on the open market – and two of them who many thought would remain in the NBA draft process did not.
Below is a look at all seven Kentucky transfers and where they might end up next season, or a look at where they did commit and what their role could look like in 2024-25:
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Eligibility: 3 years remaining
Stats: 4.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.7 blocks, 28.6% from three
Bradshaw was the first former Wildcat to commit to a new home, joining Jake Diebler’s new look Ohio State squad in the Big Ten.
A new regime and a natural bump from freshman to sophomore year could unlock a breakout season for Bradshaw – who was a highly regarded prospect before his uneven freshman year in Lexington.
Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
Eligibility: 3 years remaining
Stats: 15 games, 5.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, 37.5% from three
Ivisic was the first official player to follow John Calipari to Arkansas, and the lanky big man will look to build off a freshman season that started late due to NCAA issues.
If he can develop into the rim protecting, three point shooting unicorn many envisioned, it would be a huge win for coach Cal and could make him a strong NBA draft prospect in 2026.
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Eligibility: 3 years remaining
Stats: 9.9 points, 3.3 assists, 1.9 rebounds, 29.2% from three
Wagner ultimately fell behind his teammates Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard as NBA draft prospects, and his lack of outside shooting led to him returning to college for another season as he did not declare for the NBA draft.
Calipari is attempting to woo him to Arkansas, while former Hogs coach Eric Musselman is trying to land him at USC before they move into the Big Ten. Illinois is reportedly in the mix as well, and it feels likely the highly regarded point guard will be at one of those three spots next season.
Projected Landing Spot: Arkansas (USC and Illinois)
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Eligibility: 2 years remaining
Stats: 7.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 blocks
Pitt is making a big push to land versatile wing Adou Thiero, and if Jeff Capel can seal the deal that makes the Panthers a nice threat in the ACC.
Arkansas, North Carolina, and even a return to Kentucky are still on the table for the rising junior – making this one of the more up in the air transfer decisions among this group.
Projected Landing Spot: Pitt (UNC, Arkansas, Kentucky)
Syndication: The Courier-Journal
Eligibility: 2 years remaining
Stats: 3.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, 55.9% on two pointers
Onyenso initially declared for the NBA draft and indicated he was not planning to return to school, but after being in the draft process he eventually entered the transfer portal – and now has fully withdrawn and will play college basketball next season.
All signs currently point to Onyenso ending up at another SEC powerhouse next season in Alabama, who are heavily recruiting the lanky rim protector. If things fall through with ‘Bama there will be not shortage of suitors for the big man, but for now he is Nate Oats’ to lose.
Projecting Landing Spot: Alabama
Syndication: The Courier-Journal
Eligibility: 3 years remaining
Stats: 20 games, 7.2 minutes, 1.9 points, 1.7 rebounds, 65% on two pointers
Burks was a 6’9 freshman who joined Kentucky late in the offseason last year, and played sparingly despite some decent underlying numbers.
Burks admitted he picked Kentucky because of John Calipari, so if coach Cal will have him at Arkansas that seems like the strong bet here. If not, perhaps a move closer to his hometown of Decatur could be in the cards – maybe at UAB or Samford where he’d likely get a bigger role.
Projected Landing Spot: Arkansas (UAB or Samford)
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Eligibility: 3 years remaining
Stats: 7 games, 10 total minutes, 3 points
Hart was an extremely late addition for John Calipari’s team last season, and he only played 10 total minutes and hit one three pointer. He will head north to Muncie, Indiana to play closer to home with the Cardinals of Ball State.
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Courtesy : https://collegesportswire.usatoday.com/lists/kentucky-wildcats-basketball-transfer-portal-college/