Kentucky
Friday Headlines: Major Weekend for Transfer Visits
Kentucky basketball head coach Mark Pope has had quite the busy start in Lexington.
After a monumental introductory press conference and landing Amari Williams — one of the top targets in the transfer portal — Pope has yet another full weekend of recruiting.
Pope and his staff are hosting Aidan Mahaney, Andrej Stojakovic, Andrew Carr, Deivon Smith and Otega Oweh.
Smith, a fifth-year player, has played for Mississippi State, Georgia Tech and most recently Utah. He really found his groove with the Utes, averaging over 13 points and seven assists per game.
Carr, similar to Smith, has one year of eligibility remaining. The former Delaware and Wake Forest big man had a career-best season last year, averaging over 13 points and six rebounds.
Oweh, a former Oklahoma Sooners guard, is coming off a much-improved sophomore season where he averaged over 11 points per game and saw an increase in both his field goal as well as three-point shooting percentages.
Mahaney, a former Saint Mary’s guard, is also entering his third year of college basketball. He averaged just under 14 points per game each of the last two seasons and started every game this past year.
Stojakovic is the youngest of the group, opting to transfer from Stanford after just one season. He averaged over seven points per game and has the potential to be a multi-year player that could excel in Pope’s offensive system.
While this group is rather guard-heavy, that’s okay. Kentucky is unlikely to land all of them, but if Pope can secure Carr and two or three of the guards then his roster will be in much better shape than it currently sits.
Tweet of the Day
No surprise here.
Headlines
Cats in the NFL Draft – UK Athletics
A number of former Wildcats are expected to be taken in this week’s NFL Draft.
Brian Robinson Passes More Than Just The SEC Look Test – Vaught’s Views
He has such a high ceiling.
Alvin Brooks III Joins Kentucky Men’s Basketball Staff – UK Athletics
Alvin Brooks III, regarded as one of the nation’s best assistant coaches, has joined the Kentucky men’s basketball coaching staff as associate head coach it was announced on Thursday.
Bears select QB Caleb Williams with No. 1 pick in NFL draft – ESPN
Like we expected.
Reed Sheppard Has What NBA Teams Like And Want – Vaught’s Views
Will really miss him wearing Kentucky blue.
59 Wildcats on SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll – UK Athletics
A total of 59 University of Kentucky student-athletes earned a place on the 2023-24 Winter Sports Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll.
Vikings trade up with Jets, get J.J. McCarthy 10th at NFL draft – ESPN
Again, like we expected.
Amari Williams “like a man among boys on court” – Vaught’s Views
Appears to be a home run.
Michael Penix Jr. taken by Falcons in NFL draft surprise – ESPN
Surprise of the draft.
Bio Blast: Oklahoma transfer Otega Oweh – KSR
Everything you need to know.
Broncos make Bo Nix sixth QB picked in first round of NFL draft – ESPN
Former Auburn Tiger heads to Denver.
Kentucky
Kentuckians deserve honesty about McConnell’s health | Letters
What is going on with Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell’s health?
The 84-year-old senator is still hospitalized after nearly three weeks, according to staff. Staff members still have not said why he was admitted.
Like many Kentuckians, I have been following the recent questions surrounding Senator Mitch McConnell’s health and ability to carry out the responsibilities of his office. Every elected official deserves privacy regarding personal medical matters. But when legitimate questions arise about an officeholder’s ability to serve, the public deserves transparency.
Unlike the presidency, the Constitution provides no mechanism for addressing the incapacity of a sitting member of Congress. That makes accountability even more important. At a time when every vote and committee decision can have significant consequences, Kentucky cannot afford uncertainty about whether one of its two senators is fully able to represent the Commonwealth.
Governor Beshear, Senator Rand Paul and Kentucky’s six members of the U.S. House should insist on transparency on behalf of their constituents. Kentuckians deserve an honest assessment of whether Senator McConnell is able to fulfill the duties of the office to which he was elected.
If he is well enough to continue serving, that should be communicated clearly. Weeks of unanswered questions are not fair to Senator McConnell, nor are they fair to the people he was elected to serve. I hope my fellow Kentuckians will join me in urging our elected officials to be transparent and put the interests of Kentucky first.
— Kate Caverno, 40245
Kentucky
US 51 Cairo bridge to remain closed for period of time
By West Kentucky Star staff
Jul. 07, 2026 | 10:07 PM
| PADUCAH
The US 51/Cairo Bridge will remain closed for a period of time.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced Tuesday the connector between Wickliffe and Cairo was closed Monday as crews conducted a special inspection and identified a problem with a bearing pad on the Kentucky approach.
A bearing pad shifted out of place, causing the bridge deck to become misaligned by approximately two to three inches at an expansion joint. A repair is needed.
Bearing pads function like cartilage between joints, supporting steel beams while accommodating the bridge’s natural expansion and contraction.
There are no concerns about the bridge’s overall structural integrity.
The repair will require crews to lift a heavy section of the bridge deck to replace the bearing pad. State engineers are working with the contractor and design team to finalize a repair plan as quickly as possible.
There is currently no estimated timeline for reopening the bridge. Motorists should continue to use alternate routes and expect the bridge to remain closed until the necessary repairs have been completed.
Kentucky
Former Kentucky guard Quade Green joins La Familia
La Familia has added another familiar face to its roster, as former Kentucky point guard Quade Green is set to make his debut with the Wildcats alumni team in the 2026 edition of The Basketball Tournament (TBT).
Green will be participating with La Familia for the first time as the program enters its third summer competing in the $2 million winner-take-all event. He joins a roster already featuring Kentucky alumni Andrew Harrison, Archie Goodwin, Kahlil Whitney, Reid Travis, and Willie Cauley-Stein.
In addition to the former Wildcats, three non-Kentucky players also appear on La Familia’s official roster: guards James Mainor-Bell and Chase Audige, along with forward Chris Coffey. While the trio has not been officially announced by the team, each is currently listed on La Familia’s website.
Green arrived at Kentucky in 2017 as a 5-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American. During his freshman season, he averaged 9.3 points and 2.7 assists while starting 13 games and helping lead the Wildcats to the Sweet 16. As a sophomore, he averaged 8.0 points before transferring midway through the season.
Following Kentucky, Green continued his career at Washington before playing professionally overseas. He most recently competed internationally after beginning his professional journey in Europe.
With another experienced playmaker now in the backcourt, La Familia continues to strengthen its roster ahead of another run at the TBT championship. Green’s addition brings veteran leadership, scoring ability, and another former Wildcat eager to represent Big Blue Nation this summer.
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