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.

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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.