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Adou Thiero shares goodbye message with Kentucky and BBN

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Adou Thiero shares goodbye message with Kentucky and BBN


Adou Thiero didn’t know what he wanted once his sophomore season at Kentucky wrapped up with a first-round loss to Oakland in the NCAA Tournament. John Calipari‘s departure to Arkansas hadn’t happened yet, but he knew a fresh start could be ideal for all parties involved — particularly for himself. He hit the portal on March 28, the first Wildcat to make a decision on his future. Calipari entered the coaching portal just over a week later on April 7.

Thiero calls that spring period a lonely time, one that had him fighting off the clutter while figuring out what was best for his future. He didn’t know who he could trust with so many people pulling him in different directions.

“It was real — I don’t know. I don’t want it to actually mean lonely, but it was kind of like that,” he told KSR at SEC Media Day. “I was trying to figure everything out with a whole bunch of outside noise. I was trying to cut that out, just trying to do what’s best for me.”

It took a week for the portal earthquake he was living in to calm down with potential options starting to emerge. He cut his list down to five schools: North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Indiana and, yes, Arkansas and Kentucky. The athletic forward, now listed at 6-8, 220 pounds, spoke with first-year coach Mark Pope to discuss a potential return to Lexington. Then Coach Cal set up a meeting in Kentucky, hoping to get back on the same page with his former three-star diamond in the rough.

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Then Calipari met with him back home in Pennsylvania, followed by an official visit to Fayetteville. And a commitment.

“I talked to him while I was in Kentucky, went home, had a conversation when I was at home, and he talked to my parents too. That made them more comfortable,” he said, adding that the follow-up trip sealed the deal.

But how does one go from wanting to explore his options away from Coach Cal at Kentucky before joining him at Arkansas? Thiero felt the grass wasn’t always greener on the other side.

“I had to realize he helped me become the player I was from my freshman to sophomore year,” he said. “He helped me make that big jump and I was already comfortable with the whole staff and everything. It was like, why go somewhere new with people you don’t know rather than being with someone you’ve known your whole life? And they’re a Hall of Fame coach on top of it.”

Then came the next steps, getting used to his new home where “everything was just grinding from there, getting in the gym, getting better, getting to know everybody on the team with the facility, the university, just everything. It was about meeting new people and just being comfortable with the area.”

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How quickly did he get used to wearing red?

“When I first got there, everything was different, seeing a whole bunch of red going from seeing a whole bunch of blue,” Thiero said. “But I like the color red, too [laughs].”

It was certainly an adjustment, but having two former teammates — beyond the handful of coaches and staffers — with him in Fayetteville helped soften the landing. Zvonimir Ivisic and DJ Wagner are navigating the same things he is, just as the rookies who originally committed to play for Calipari at Kentucky are, to a lesser extent.

“That makes it better because whenever I ask questions, we’re all in the same boat,” Thiero said. “We’re all confused together. We’re all figuring it out together and that helps us grow as a team, figuring out everything we have to do.”

How are the familiar faces doing in Fayetteville?

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“Z, he’s getting a lot more comfortable. Last season, he wasn’t able to start until midway through the season. Now he has the same amount of time as everyone else in the country. That’s gonna be really good for him, I’m pushing him every day,” the former Wildcat added. “DJ, he’s getting better. He’s already a phenomenal player and a leader for us on the floor. That’s our point guard, he talks, everything. Defensively, he’s helped Boogie (Fland) out a lot.”

That’s the next chapter in his life and basketball career, turning the page on his two years in Lexington as a Wildcat. When reflecting on that part of his journey and the impact that time made on who he is today, Thiero struggled through his words, choked up as the memories came flooding back. He picked the Alabama home win where the Cats beat the Tide at their own game en route to a 117-95 blowout as his favorite.

“That was a good game, very energetic,” he said. “Crowd was into it, our whole team was into it. It was a great game.”

That’s one of many, though. It’s a period of his life he’ll always cherish.

“It was a great experience. It was something I wanted to do ever since I was a kid, playing at the University of Kentucky,” he told KSR. “Being able to live out that dream was a real blessing. I’m just grateful for it, grateful for all of BBN. Thank you for all of your support. It was… dang. It’s real — man, I forgot the word. I appreciate it. Thank you.”

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What will it be like being on the opposing bench on February 1? He actually feels he has an advantage coming into the road matchup, but the emotions are going to get to him either way.

“For me, I don’t think it’s gonna be like enemy territory. I’ve got a lot of home games on there,” he added. “I’ll probably have the most home games on that court, so I’ll just be out there letting my game do the talking for me. The emotions will definitely come out for that game, for sure.”



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Kentucky

3 Transfer Portal Moves: Former Kentucky QB Gavin Wimsatt Finds New Home

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3 Transfer Portal Moves: Former Kentucky QB Gavin Wimsatt Finds New Home


The snow has slowed the Commonwealth to a crawl, but the transfer portal is still moving and grooving. The dead period ended, allowing players to hit the road for another round of visits. Kentucky got a big recruiting win over the weekend when Washington State DL David Gusta signed with the Wildcats. Now a few other chips are falling in different places.

Gavin Wimsatt started his career at Rutgers. After three seasons in Piscataway, the Owensboro native moved back to his Old Kentucky Home. Now he’ll finish his college career in Conference-USA.

Wimsatt revealed on Instagram that he will spend his final year in college at Jacksonville State. He’ll be suiting up for Charles Kelly, the former Auburn defensive coordinator who was hired this offseason to replace Rich Rodriguez. I must say, the quarterback can pull off the cowboy hat.

Join KSR Plus! With a KSR Plus membership, you get access to bonus content and KSBoard, KSR’s message board, to chat with fellow Cats fans and get exclusive scoop.

EDGE Target Commits to Auburn

Kentucky lost its top three EDGE players to the transfer portal this offseason. They’ve added a pair of players, Kameron Olds and Sam Greene, but they could use one more who could provide some pass-rush pop. Chris Murray was the first big fish on the list. He visited Kentucky and three other schools prior to the dead period. After the break, he made a few more visits before the All-C-USA performer from Sam Houston State selected Auburn.

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The Cats missed on Murray, but it won’t be considered a miss if they can reel in Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace. The FCS All-American was the Missouri Valley Defensive Player of the Year after tallying 17.0 TFLs and 9.5 sacks. He visited Kentucky on Friday. USC, Mississippi State, and Wisconsin are also in the hunt for the immediate impact EDGE. If Kentucky can seal the deal, this might be their biggest win of the entire transfer portal cycle.

Former Kentucky WR to the Big Ten

Chauncey Magwood flashed during his brief stint at Kentucky. The class of 2021 signee appeared in all but one game over his two seasons in Lexington. The mid-three-star prospect from Georgia was a physical wide receiver who could play inside or outside, catching 8 passes for 121 yards, and a touchdown.

Without much playing time on the horizon, Magwood hit the transfer portal and landed at UCF. The Gus Malzahn era was regrettable for all parties involved, including Magwood. He caught just 9 passes for 142 yards in two seasons.

Rather than lingering in Orlando limbo, Magoowd hit the transfer portal again. West Lafayette is going to look a lot different than Central Florida. He’s transferring to Purdue to help Barry Odom rebuild the dilapidated Boilermakers program.





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Kentucky State Police trooper injured in crash during winter storm

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Kentucky State Police trooper injured in crash during winter storm


HART COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) – Kentucky State Police say one of their troopers was injured Sunday morning in a crash during the ongoing winter storm.

Police say the crash happened along Interstate 65 in Hart County, north of Bowling Green. Snow was falling at the time of the crash.

A Kentucky State Police vehicle is involved in a crash on I-65, Sunday, January 5, 2025.(Kentucky State Police)

State Police say the trooper is receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. No other details about the crash have been released.

Law enforcement agencies across Kentucky have been asking people to stay home Sunday, as snow and ice have made many roads around the state dangerous for travel.

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5 bills Kentucky lawmakers plan to introduce in the 2025 legislative session

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5 bills Kentucky lawmakers plan to introduce in the 2025 legislative session


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Kentucky lawmakers won’t be able to file proposed bills until the next legislative session starts Jan. 7. But that hasn’t stopped them from saying what they plan to submit.

During the 2024 interim, several legislators shared draft bills they plan to file during in the 2025 legislative session. While some are bills that have been filed in previous years, others are new ideas.

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The only way to view pre-filed bills publicly is if lawmakers share their drafts on their own social media accounts, websites or as part of meeting materials for interim committees. That’s because legislation passed in 2022 removed the process of posting pre-filed bills on the Legislative Research Commission’s website.

Here’s a look at some of the bills lawmakers have shared or said are expected to appear during session.

Requiring bathrooms by ‘biological sex’

In August, Republican Rep. Matt Lockett shared draft language of a bill that would require more than a majority of restrooms in public schools be designated for a specific biological sex.

At an Interim Joint Committee on Education meeting, Lockett said the bill is a response to Fayette County Public Schools building gender-neutral restrooms with individual private floor-to-ceiling stalls at Britton Middle School.

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His draft bill would require at least 90% of restroom facilities in school buildings that serve more than 100 students be designated for “a specific sex.”

Lockett said the bill’s goal is to protect children and provide “a facility for learning where they won’t feel threatened, embarrassed or be afraid to use the restroom.”

Prohibiting some sex offenders from Halloween activities

Rep. Chad Aull, D-Lexington, announced in October he plans to file a bill that would prohibit many people on Kentucky’s sex offender registry from participating in Halloween activities involving minors.

In the draft copy of the bill, registrants who have committed criminal offenses against minors would be prohibited from engaging in Halloween-related activities. That would include trick-or-treating, costume parties where children are present or events involving the distribution of candy to kids.

The bill would apply to 14 days before and after Oct. 31 of each year. Violating the restrictions would result in a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class D felony for subsequent offenses.

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Making fluoridation in water optional

Rep. Mark Hart, R-Falmouth, is renewing the push to make fluoridation in water optional for local districts.

The bill Hart said he plans to file again next session would eliminate the state’s water fluoridation mandate. Last year’s legislative session was the first time Hart’s bill received a committee hearing, but it didn’t make it across the finish line.

Hart said the bill wouldn’t ban the use of fluoride but would protect the state from liability related to “risks” stemming from fluoride exposure, citing data from a report released by the National Toxicology Program.

Meanwhile, prominent health organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and American Academy of Pediatrics, say adding small amounts of fluoride to public drinking water helps strengthen teeth, with research showing fluoridated water reduces tooth decay by 25% in children and adults.

Holding parents accountable for gun violence involving minors

Republican Rep. Kim Banta, with Democratic Rep. Tina Bojanowski as co-sponsor, plans to file a bill that would hold parents and guardians accountable for gun violence carried out by a minor in their care.

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The Kentucky Lantern reported that Banta’s bill would let individuals who are hurt or threatened by a minor using a gun sue the minor’s parents or guardians. Besides killing a person, that could also include threatening someone with a gun and shooting a neighbor’s dog.

Requiring licenses for tobacco retailers

Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, is working on a bill he believes would help keep tobacco products away from minors.

At an interim committee meeting, Higdon said his bill would require licensing for all sellers of vape or tobacco products, allowing for enforcement by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

The bill also would implement stricter fines and penalties for retailers who violate the law and allow ABC officers to inspect businesses without a warrant.

Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at @hpinski@courier-journal.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski. 

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