Written By: Lukas Witt, Sports View America Freelance Writer
Oklahoma State transfer and Former McDonald’s All-American Brandon Garrison has committed to Kentucky. Garrison averaged 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 57.2% from the field, and 1.5 blocks per game in his Freshman season with the Cowboys. Garrison is a physical player in the paint using his 6’11”, 245 pound frame to create mismatch nightmare matchups for opposing teams Garrison also is a underrated passer from the big man spot that is a continued theme for Mark Pope and his Portal gets. With a stacked Portal Class Mark Pope looks to get some much needed bench depth as we are closer to a full roster.
Written By: Lukas Witt, Sports View America Freelance Writer
The next piece for Mark Pope and company is 6’10” stretch 4 Andrew Carr. After a visit to Lexington Andrew Carr has committed to Kentucky for next season. Carr averaged 13.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 52.6% from the field, and 37.1% from 3 this past season for the Demon Deacons. Carr has the ability to stretch the floor and shoot consistently from 3 while also being a factor in the paint. The big can also get it done on the glass averaging almost 2 offensive rebounds per game. This is a huge get for Mark Pope and his staff as they continue to bring in a experienced team for next season.
Written By: Lukas Witt, Sports View America Freelance Writer
Oklahoma transfer Otega Oweh has committed to Kentucky and Mark Pope. Otega was one of the best 2 way guards in the Big 12 last year for the Sooners. Oweh averaged 11.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 49.3% from the field, and 37.7% from 3 last season. After a surprising visit to Lexington during the middle of the week Otega Oweh has committed to Kentucky. Oweh was a top 80 player in the country in the 2022 class and had offers from Miami (FL), Illinois, Georgia, and many others before ultimately deciding to commit to Oklahoma. Oweh is a impressive player he is a high motor player with quick burst around the rim that allows him to finish around the best in the country he is also is a good defender who guards the opponents best player. Otega Oweh is a great step in building a roster in Lexington for Mark Pope and his staff.
Written By: Lukas Witt, Sports View America Freelance Writer
San Diego State transfer and Final Four hero Lamont Butler has Committed to Kentucky. Butler who hit the game winner versus FAU in the Final Four in the 2023 Final Four is joining Mark Pope and Kentucky next season. This past season Butler averaged 9.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.0 rebounds, 42.1% from the field, and 1.5 Steals a game for the Aztecs. Butler also took home the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year award. The guard is one of the best defensive players in the country and brings much needed leadership to the Cats, Butler is very impressive in the mid range area and finishes at the rim well. Mark Pope will hope to build off this momentum during the weekend as we will see very highly touted transfers in Lexington.
Written By: Lukas Witt, Sports View America Freelance Writer
Williams is the 3x CAA Conference Defensive player of the year and has made his commitment known. Williams, visited the Bluegrass State over the weekend, and chose Kentucky over St. John’s and Mississippi State.
The 6’10”, 265lb. senior had a stellar season at Drexel where he played all 4 seasons before entering the transfer portal. Williams averaged 12.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.9 assist, and shot 51.7% from the field. He led the Dragons to a 20-12 record in the CAA Conference, one of the toughest mid-major leagues. Williams finished 5th in rebounding, and 1st in blocks in the CAA. Williams has made his presence known down low on both the offense and defensive sides of the ball. He does a solid job finding a way to bully his way down low making him a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. Williams put up a season high 20 points and 8 rebounds against The College of Charleston coached by now Louisville coach Pat Kelsey. Williams is a huge boost for what’s to come for Mark Pope and the future of his first roster in Lexington.
Written By: Lukas Witt, Sports View America Freelance Writer
No, It’s not the Pope you’re thinking of, it’s actually Mark Pope Kentucky’s newest head coach. The Mark Pope era is starting off with a bang as Sunday he was announced as Kentucky Basketball’s 23rd head coach in front of a wild 20K+ fans inside Rupp Arena. In his introductory press conference which saw many fans getting to Rupp early and lining up outside, there were even some 5K or so fans not able to get into the arena, that watched on monitors from the lobby area. On that day a bus carrying members and players from the 1996 National Championship team along with other Kentucky teams entered the arena to a loud standing ovation, last off the bus was 1996 member, team captain and newly announced head coach Mark Pope with the championship trophy in his left hand which resembled him arriving at Rupp in 1996 to celebrate that same championship year earlier.
After a very well received reception by fans, former players, and donors Mark Pope didn’t wait to start putting together a staff and roster. Pope began contacting some of the best transfer portal recruits and also contacted players still left undecided on last year’s Kentucky team such as Zvonimir Ivisic, Adou Thiero, Jordan Burks, and Reed Sheppard. Pope also contacted some of the incoming recruits for next season such as Jayden Quaintance, Boogie Fland, and Travis Perry unknown if they were contacted are Billy Richmond, Somto Cyril, and Karter Knox.
In Pope’s first few days not all were full of sunshine and rainbows Kentucky lost a couple players to the transfer portal including Zvonimir Ivisic and DJ Wagner but also lost 2024 commits Jayden Quaintance, Boogie Fland, Billy Richmond, Somto Cyril, and Karter Knox. The lone recruit left was 4 star in-state 5000 point scoring guard Travis Perry. Later in the week former BYU commit to Pope in the 2022 recruiting class followed him to Kentucky in Collin Chandler who was a top 35 player in 2022 but will be a freshman this year because Chandler was on Mormon Mission in Sierra Leone and reassigned to London and set to return home May 2nd. Zvonimir Ivisic later followed coach John Calipari who was one of his influences in bringing the Croatian Sensation to Lexington for this past season. DJ Wagner is also expected to follow Cal to Arkansas as well as some members of the ‘24 recruiting class previously committed to Kentucky. Most recent departures are that of Joey Hart who will be joining Ball State and coach Michael Lewis and Ketucky’s beloved Reed Sheppard who announced he will be chasing his dream of playing in the NBA and not returning to Kentucky for his sophomore season.
Let’s talk portal side of things, Kentucky has reached out to a couple of high level players for next year’s roster but Pope has lasered in on top 20 Indiana decommit Liam McNeely a product of a stacked Montverde Academy in Florida who is coming off a Chipotle Nationals Championship, the five star recruit and McDonald’s All-American has received interest from UConn, Kansas, and a return to Indiana. KSR’s Matt Jones stated Wednesday night that Mark Pope and McNeely were on a zoom call that night. Kentucky has also reached out to several transfers listed below who are reported targets by Pope and his Staff. BYU assistant coach Cody Fueger will join Pope’s staff at Kentucky, Fueger is one of the best offensive assistants in the country and is already on the recruiting trail.
The KY Press 