Kentucky
Mark Pope’s Postgame Praise: Kentucky Coach Embraces Illinois Star Will Riley
Illinois’ season came to an end against Kentucky on Sunday, as the Illini fell 84-75 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Milwaukee. What the future holds for the Illini roster remains to be seen, as the NBA Draft and transfer portal will certainly be calling a variety of names.
One of those names is freshman Will Riley, who could certainly hear his name called in the first round of June’s NBA Draft.
Riley was a prized recruit from Canada whose commitment Brad Underwood and Illinois won over Alabama and Kentucky. Riley made those visits last summer before choosing the Illini and enrolling at Champaign shortly after.
Following Sunday’s game, Riley was understandably down. One of the first to console him? The Kentucky coach that didn’t ultimately land his commitment, Mark Pope.
“What an incredible season he had with a great Illinois team,” Pope said of Riley following the game, “Beautiful kid with a beautiful family.
“And he’s really smart, because he didn’t come play for me.”
Pope then went ahead to make a prediction on what’s next for the Illinois star.
“Huge future as a big-time pro.”
Brad Underwood on Illinois roster retention
For years, college basketball teams would lose in the NCAA Tournament and perhaps one or a couple would be off to the pros, while other seniors readied for the business world. Then there were the underclassmen who would certainly be back in the tournament again for their respective schools.
Today, with the transfer portal, who will remain with any given program is a question even head coaches don’t always know the answer to.
Underwood about the next steps for the Illini basketball regarding roster retention, and admitted that most of it is well out of his hands.
“It’s always about [retention],” Underwood said. “Unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of control of that.
“Last year, we were very old. I thought we had a group this year that I enjoyed coaching.”
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The Kentucky High School Athletic Association indoor state track meet rolled on on Wednesday, March 4. One day after Beechwood claimed the Class 1A boys team title, three Northern Kentucky big schools combined for four individual state titles in Class 3A.
Cooper’s Paul Van Laningham won the 3,200-meter run in 9:09.49 and took second place in the 1,600-meter run in 4:07.88. It was a reversal of his results at the 2025 indoor state meet and earned him his fifth overall state title. He scored all of Cooper’s points, good for ninth place in the team standings with 18 points.
Van Laningham’s teammate, Ava Dunn, got the day started with a shot put title, throwing the 8.82-pound ball 39 feet, 3.25 inches.
Simon Kenton’s Alexis Howard won the long jump with an attempt of 18 feet, 7.25 inches, then claimed the triple jump title with a distance of 37 feet, 4.25 inches. It is her second straight indoor long jump title and third overall as she also claimed the 2024 outdoor title. Taking fifth place in the 55-meter dash, she scored all 24 points for SK, finishing in a tie for eighth place. Cooper was right behind with 22 points.
Finally, Conner’s Avery Vanlandingham win the 800-meter run in 2:17.55, out-leaning North Oldham’s Millie Huang at the line.
Kentucky
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A wide receiver from Belle Glade, Florida, Gilmore totaled 28 receptions for 313 yards and one touchdown for the Wildcats during the 2025 season. The 6-foot-1 sophomore has had a very interesting offseason as he entered the portal, flipped a commitment, and is now back in Lexington.
After the 2025 season, Gilmore committed to Louisville when he entered the transfer portal, then flipped his commitment to Baylor, and ultimately signed with the Bears. To end Gilmore’s portal saga, he’s now back in a familiar place with the Wildcats.
When the 2026 season begins, Gilmore will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Gilmore had a solid sophomore campaign with the Wildcats, appearing in all 12 games. His best game of the season came in the late-season loss against Vanderbilt. He tallied six catches for 55 yards in the game.
With Kentucky losing most of its wide receiver production from last season, this is a significant pickup, and it won’t be surprising if Gilmore is back in the starting lineup this fall.
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