The mass exodus of much of the Kentucky basketball roster to the transfer portal defined the school’s offseason following the departure of John Calipari and the hire of Mark Pope. However, Pope is slowly rebuilding the talent pool for the Wildcats and landed a pair of Power-6 transfers in back-to-back days. Last weekend, wing Otega Oweh joined the 2023-24 Kentucky basketball roster from Oklahoma, and then forward Andrew Carr followed suit from Wake Forest. Both players were double-digit scorers for their respective teams last season, and each knocked down at least 37% of 3-point attempts.

Pope still has some work to do regarding Kentucky basketball recruits since the cupboard is bare. Four-star Travis Perry remains the only Class of 2024 prospect who has signed a letter of intent with UK, but he’s a big get as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Kentucky per 247Sports. If you love the Wildcats, or just want the latest roster updates and college basketball transfer portal news, be sure to see what the proven team of insiders are saying at CatsPause, the 247Sports affiliate that covers Kentucky.

The team of insiders at CatsPause.com are providing up-to-the-minute scoop on the latest intel surrounding the Kentucky basketball coaching transition and roster changes. CatsPause has built a solid reputation over its 20+ years covering the Wildcats, and has deep-rooted sources inside and around the Kentucky athletic department. And right now, CatsPause is offering 50% off the first year of an annual subscriptions*, so now is the time to sign up.

The team at CatsPause has full coverage of who is coming and who is going on the Kentucky basketball roster. Head to CatsPause now to see all the insider info.

Kentucky basketball roster departures 

The 2024-25 Kentucky basketball roster is quickly starting to take shape, as Pope landed another key player earlier this week. San Diego State transfer Lamont Butler, the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year last season, committed to Kentucky as one of the top players from the college basketball transfer portal. He averaged 9.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 27.6 minutes per game and has played in 11 career NCAA Tournament games.

Kentucky’s defense is already looking like a strength, as three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year Amari Williams also committed earlier this month. He averaged 12.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 blocks per game for Drexel last season. Pope also has a pair of recruits committed in Travis Perry and Collin Chandler and is hosting multiple visitors in the coming days. Join CatsPause to see the latest on all of Kentucky’s roster changes. 

Kentucky basketball news, roster

The month of April ended on a high for Kentucky Wildcats basketball, as the program landed former five-star recruit Brandon Garrison. The center was the No. 45 overall prospect in the Class of 2023, started nearly every game of his lone season at Oklahoma State, and averaged 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds while ranking fifth in the Big 12 with 1.5 blocks. However, Garrison’s transfer was only the appetizer to how the month of May started for UK basketball.

On May 1, coach Pope snagged former Dayton standout Koby Brea from the college basketball transfer portal after he was a two-time Sixth Man of the Year award winner in the A-10. Brea is arguably the best shooter in college basketball and became the fourth player in Division I history to make 100 3-pointers on at least 50% of his attempts last season. Brea had double-digit scoring outings in both of his NCAA Tournament games last year and should be a perfect fit in Pope’s offense as his BYU team finished second in the country in 3-point attempts per game last season. Join CatsPause to get the latest on all of Kentucky’s roster additions. 

How to get insider Kentucky basketball roster updates

Pope could also be bringing at least one big-time BYU player with him, so be sure to join CatsPause to see who that is and get the rest of the insider roster news. 

Who are the top names Kentucky basketball is pursuing under coach Mark Pope, and what former BYU player could land in Lexington? Go to CatsPause to see their insider information, all from a team of reporters with years of experience covering the Wildcats, and find out. And reminder, CatsPause is offering 50% off the first year of an annual VIP membership*, so subscribe now before it’s too late.

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It may have been a “swan song” for the Trifecta Gala on Kentucky Derby Eve, but the annual event appeared to go out with a bang Friday night.

After more than 20 years, the Kentucky Derby Eve charity gala welcomed its last room full of partying locals and celebrity VIPs.

“It is a bittersweet moment,” said party co-host Eden Bridgeman Sklenar, whose father, retired NBA guard and entrepreneur Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman, was part of the group that first hosted the celebrity Derby bash — then called “The Derby Grand Gala “— in 2002.

“Tonight is a culmination of so many thoughts and visions,” she said. “It’s finally here. We’ve been planning, we feel, for this moment since 2002 to really celebrate.”

Bruno Mars headlined the party, taking to the stage just before 11 p.m. with a string of hits.

Mars’ vocals blasted out of the tent, bringing teens on motorized scooters and passersby to a halt to hear the 15-time Grammy Award winner belt.

After a three-year hiatus, the party returned this year, for a final time, with the theme “The Night of Roses.”

Held in various locations under a handful of different names over the last two decades, the gala took to the waterfront this year.

Temporary tents reaching more than 60 feet tall were erected just for the party in a parking lot west of Louisville Slugger Field.

Hanging installations in the large main tent included an abstract take on the Churchill Downs twin spires, floral chandeliers, and a horse sculpture.

This year’s charity partner was Big Brothers Big Sister Kentuckaina. Past funding recipients include The V Foundation, West End School, Dare to Care, and The University of Louisville Autism Center.

Television and radio host Kenny Burns served as the party’s master of ceremonies and Chris Tucker was emcee for the night, a delight for Kentucky Derby regular and television personality Star Jones who said she “wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

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“And quit saying it’s the last one,” Jones said with a wink. “I’m trying to talk Eden into a couple more.”

Three-time Super Bowl champion Emmitt Smith made his return to Louisville for his second Kentucky Derby and said he was ready to enjoy himself at the Trifecta Gala.

“Tonight I’m looking forward to enjoying what opportunity has behind this door,” he said. “I’m looking forward to Bruno Mars performing and doing his thing.”

First-time attendee Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Sutton Stracke took to the red carpet ― which was in fact a floral pattern green carpet ― in tennis shoes after a long day at Churchill Downs.

“Even in the rain, it’s very pretty. It’s very ethereal,” she said. “I’m sort of on cloud nine right now.”

Other guests to walk the carpet included University of Louisville alumna and WNBA player Angel McCoughtry and former WNBA player Lisa Leslie, among others.

Just a few months off their Super Bowl win, Kansas City Chiefs players Isiah “Pop” Pacheco, Creed Humphrey and Mike Caliendo walked the red carpet together.  

Asked if he had a Derby horse pick, Pacheco cracked a grin.

“Horse 10, let’s do it,” said the running back, who wears the jersey number 10.

Bridgeman Skelnar said she was proud of the gala’s track record of “bringing the Derby experience to all, with a little bit more color.”

Reporter Matthew Glowicki can be reached at mglowicki@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4000 or on Twitter @mattglo.

Dannielynn Birkhead and Larry Birkhead are spending some quality time at the Kentucky Derby! 

On Friday, May 3, the father-daughter duo stepped out in grand style to attend events ahead of Saturday’s big race. 

“On our way to Barnstable-Brown Gala for the kick-off of the @kentuckyderby weekend,” Larry, 51, captioned an Instagram carousel featuring photos of himself and Dannielynn, 17. 

In the first image, the two sat beside each other sharing a seat while smiling for the camera. The photographer wore a gray suit set with a black tie as his daughter opted for an all-black look previously worn by Janet Jackson.

“Dannielynn is wearing her second @janetjackson outfit to the party that I got from Janet’s @juliens_auctions -charity auction,” he wrote of her attire. 

According to Julien’s, the garment is a “Gianfranco Ferre black dress that’s knee-length in the front and floor-length in the back and features zippers all around.”

Birkhead concluded, “Looking forward to a fun Derby weekend with the newly graduated high school student!”

The daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith lives a relatively private life year-round. However, each May, Dannielynn and Birkhead make it their mission to attend the Kentucky Derby together — a tradition they’ve had since Dannielynn was 3 years old. 

“Ahh The derby where you met her mama!!! I love that you’ve made it a tradition. She’s beautiful! You both look great. Congrats Danni! 🥹💞,” one person wrote in the Instagram comment section. 

For the 2023 Kentucky Derby, the teen wore a sunflower print dress designed by Leo Lin while posing for photos with her father — who coordinated with similar colors.

Other than their annual father-daughter outings, the pair are also known to be supportive of one another via social media. 

For Birkhead’s birthday in January, he joked about how his daughter snapped “really bad pictures” of him.

“#1-3) A friend took us to dinner for my birthday and Dannielynn continued her journey to take really bad pictures of me,” he began in his Instagram caption, alongside photos of himself and his daughter laughing over a meal. 

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And for Dannielynn’s birthday in September, Birkhead praised his daughter.

“Happy 17th Birthday Dannielynn! I am so proud of you in each and every way. Wishing you the best day ever!” he wrote. “You are funny, crazy smart, pretty and just about everything I could ever imagine. Your Mom would be so proud of you, I sure am.”

Before ending his post, Birkhead added, “Happy Birthday! Love Dad ❤️ By the way, when you asked me if you could live in my basement forever. I said yes, but I didn’t have the heart to tell you there aren’t any basements in Florida 😂 ❤️ #HappyBirthday 🎂.”