Kentucky
DB transfer BJ Mayes receives offer from Kentucky
The Kentucky Wildcats are hitting the transfer portal hard as they look to round out the roster for the 2024 season. One spot in particular they seem to be focusing on is the cornerback spot.
To end last week, the Cats extended an offer to South Alabama transfer CB Marquise Robinson, who will be taking a visit to Lexington here in the next few days. Now, it appears they are also looking at another player that’s in the portal.
UAB transfer cornerback BJ Mayes entered the portal just over a day ago, and now he has received an offer from Kentucky. He took to Twitter to announce the news.
Alongside the offer from UK, Mayes has also picked up offers from Auburn, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Houston, Illinois, TCU, Arkansas, and Memphis in the last 24 hours.
A 6-foot-1 and 185-pound cornerback out of Houston (TX), Mayes transferred to UAB from Incarnate Word. He spent two seasons in Birmingham playing for the Blazers.
During his time with UAB, Mayes totaled 82 tackles while adding 21 pass deflections and three interceptions. According to Pro Football Focus, Mayes logged 597 defensive snaps this past season, almost all of which were on the boundary, and finished with a 72.9 grade.
Mayes showed some impressive ball skills during his time in Birmingham, and that is exactly a trait this Kentucky team will be looking for. With Maxwell Hairston returning, the Cats will be looking to find a player to help anchor down the secondary alongside him. Could Mayes be that player?
This recruitment is just getting started. Let’s see if the Cats can land a visit.
Kentucky
Kentucky is poised to land either Donnie Freeman or Sebastian Rancik this weekend, per report
Jones posted on Twitter that “Kentucky will have (absent a major change) either Freeman or Rancik by tomorrow,” while also noting the Wildcats still need to add another shooter and another big to round out the roster.
One of the top targets is Donnie Freeman, a 6-foot-9, 205-pound sophomore forward transferring from Syracuse. Freeman arrived in Lexington on Tuesday night and began his visit on Wednesday before leaving without a commitment. While there was concern he could land at UConn, that visit has since been canceled, leaving Kentucky and St. John’s as the top teams.
Freeman averaged 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game last season, while adding nearly a block and a steal per contest. He shot 47.4% from the field but 30.2% from 3-point range across 23 games.
The other option is Sebastian Rancik, a 6-foot-11, 220-pound sophomore forward transferring from Colorado. Rancik visited Kentucky starting Wednesday through Thursday and brings a versatile skill set, averaging 12.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game while shooting 33.1% from 3.
Either Freeman or Rancik would provide a significant boost at the power forward position for head coach Mark Pope. Kentucky has already added guards Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins in the portal.
Kentucky
Kentucky football spring game offers early look at Will Stein’s Cats
Kentucky football coach Will Stein reflects on new position
Will Stein was officially introduced to fans and media as the head coach for the Kentucky Wildcats, replacing Mark Stoops.
LEXINGTON — Kentucky football had its first spring game under new coach Will Stein at Kroger Field on Saturday.
The offense, in blue jerseys, had its moments. So too the defense, donning white uniforms.
Ultimately, the blue squad earned a 23-18 victory in a game called just after noon because of inclement weather.
Stein admitted he “got emotional” as he charged onto the field prior to kickoff.
“I know it wasn’t a real game, but when I ran on the field, I definitely — man, I felt it,” he said. “It was like a wave running over me. And very, very, just cool.”
While it doesn’t count in the standings, Stein walked away pleased.
“I think we got a lot of really good work,” he said. “That’s the goal of spring is to improve with fundamentals and technique, learn how to practice, learn what winning edges that we need throughout spring to go into summer and fall and prepare the team for play. And we came out of the scrimmage clean. There (were) no injuries, which to me, that’s the biggest win of the day. I could (not) care less about the score.
“If we come out clean, that’s good. The Wildcats won.”
New starting QB Kenny Minchey looked about as expected, with sharp passes evened out by moments of inconsistency. Martels Carter Jr., a defensive back who is lining up at running back this spring, scored a touchdown and had several nice runs.
And the defense forced multiple three-and-outs and also picked off one Minchey pass on a two-point conversion.
This story will be updated.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
Kentucky
Kentucky has reportedly moved on from top-10 transfer Paulius Murauskas

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