The frenzy of preliminary skepticism that greeted Mark Pope’s hiring at Kentucky gave method to optimism over the previous few months as Pope assembled his first roster at his alma mater following 5 seasons at BYU. Not like his predecessor — John Calipari — so usually did, Pope will not be counting on five-star freshmen.
As a substitute, will probably be a solid of veteran transfers tasked with getting the Pope period off to a robust begin. Not a single scholarship participant from UK’s 2023-24 roster returns, and 6 of the newcomers are on their fifth season of faculty basketball.
Of the 12 scholarship gamers on Kentucky’s roster, solely 5 have eligibility remaining past the 2024-25 season. Three of these with a number of seasons of eligibility remaining are freshmen who could battle to earn vital taking part in time this season. So whereas most members of UK’s 2024-25 rotation will not be round lengthy, they are going to be suiting up for a pivotal season in program historical past.
The usual stays excessive at Kentucky — regardless of this system’s lack of current NCAA Match success — and it is on Pope to craft a crew that may compete for an SEC title and progress within the Large Dance as he seeks to construct momentum. As faculty basketball’s offseason participant motion cycle stops for good, it is time to begin breaking down the rosters of the game’s prime packages. For this installment, we’re looking on the Wildcats and making an attempt to decipher what their lineup may seem like when the season begins.
Projected beginning lineup
1. Lamont Butler
6-2 | 204 | Gr.
Butler made the Mountain West’s all-defense crew thrice throughout 4 seasons at San Diego State, which makes him a pleasant change of tempo from Kerr Kriisa, who’s his prime competitor for the job. The trade-off is that he is a less-effective 3-point shooter. However having each Butler and Kriisa on the roster is an instance of how Pope has choices for the best way to play primarily based on matchups and conditions.
2. Otega Oweh
6-4 | 208 | Jr.
Oweh’s offensive effectivity dipped considerably towards Large 12 opponents throughout his sophomore season at Oklahoma. Nevertheless, he rated as OU’s prime defender, per evanmiya.com, and that defensive ability set will give him a good chance to crack Pope’s beginning rotation, particularly if offense-first gamers like Kriisa and Brea are within the lineup.
3. Koby Brea
6-7 | 206 | Gr.
Brea led the nation in 3-point capturing proportion at 49.8% at Dayton final season. Pope’s BYU crew ranked third nationally in made 3-pointers per sport at 11.1. It seems like an ideal marriage between participant and scheme. Although there’s not a lot variety to his sport, Brea’s perimeter marksmanship ought to make him a mainstay in UK’s rotation.
4. Andrew Carr
6-11 | 227 | Gr.
Pope known as Carr Kentucky’s “most necessary piece.” As an offensively versatile ahead, he can hold the ground spaced together with his 3-point stroke (37.1% at Wake Forest final season) or play out of the submit. Carr can also be a plus defender. Forwards together with his two-way chops and offensive effectivity are a uncommon discover, and he may very well be a matchup downside for opposing forwards within the SEC.
5. Brandon Garrison
6-10 | 245 | So.
Garrison is a McDonald’s All-American from the Class of 2023 who regarded the half throughout his freshman season at Oklahoma State. He blocked 1.5 pictures per sport in simply 22.7 minutes of motion and transformed 57.2% of his pictures contained in the arc. Not solely can Garrison assist UK in 2024-25, however there’s an opportunity he may stick round even longer and grow to be an all-conference performer.
Chet White / UK Athletics
Bench
Jaxson Robinson
6-6 | 191 | Gr.
Robinson is not the sixth-most gifted participant on this roster. Removed from it. However Pope deployed him as BYU’s sixth man final season, and he received the Large 12’s Sixth Man of the 12 months award. The lanky wing is a gifted scorer with prior SEC expertise at Texas A&M and Arkansas. It will be no shock if he begins. However given Pope’s previous utilization of Robinson, it is easy to examine him coming off the bench.
Kerr Kriisa
6-3 | 190 | fifth
Love him or hate him, Kriisa is rarely uninteresting. The previous Arizona and West Virginia level guard is bringing his shameless, trash-talking aptitude again to the nationwide highlight at UK. A whopping 79.8% of his profession field-goal makes an attempt are from past the arc, and his assist-to-turnover ratio has by no means been nice. It is a flamable mixture that may make him a captivating piece of Pope’s first roster.
Amari Williams
7-0 | 265 | Gr.
Williams is a three-time CAA Defensive Participant of the 12 months from his time at Drexel. Based mostly on sheer expertise, it would be a shock if Williams supplanted Garrison within the frontcourt. Nevertheless, he is a seasoned veteran and paint enforcer.
Ansley Almonor
6-7 | 232 | Sr.
Almonor was a key a part of the FDU crew that knocked off No. 1 seed Purdue within the 2023 NCAA Match. Now, after consecutive all-conference seasons within the NEC, the stretch ahead is ratcheting up the competitors degree just a few levels. He is a confirmed, high-volume 3-point risk. He’ll want to indicate he can defend. If he can do it, his capturing can be a helpful asset.
Depth
Collin Chandler | 6-5 | 187 | Fr.
Travis Perry | 6-1 | 178 | Fr.
Trent Noah | 6-5 | 209 | Fr.
The veteran-oriented nature of Kentucky’s roster will make it robust for these freshmen to carve out vital roles. Whereas none are of the five-star selection that sometimes populated Calipari’s rosters, there’s some hope for multiyear improvement right here. Perry and Noah are each in-state prospects with long-term upside who can be proud to put on Kentucky blue. Chandler is a former Pope commit at BYU and top-40 prospect from the Class of 2022. He’ll be getting his first style of collegiate motion after a two-year church mission.