Kentucky
Kentucky basketball under Mark Pope: Transfer portal news, 2024 roster, targets, recruits by UK experts
Before John Calipari decided he would leave for Arkansas, Kentucky basketball had the No. 2 recruiting class for 2024. However, five of the six players who signed in the Class of 2024 were released from their national letter of intent after Calipari jumped ship and new head coach Mark Pope is scrambling to put together a competitive Kentucky basketball roster for 2024-25. Only Travis Perry, a four-star out of Kentucky, has remained committed to the Wildcats from the Class of 2024, but Pope has already secured commitments from seven players in the college basketball transfer portal to join the Kentucky basketball lineup.
With zero scholarship players returning from last season’s team, Pope still has plenty of ground to cover in the high-school ranks and transfer portal. The portal is closed now, but those who entered it and remain uncommitted can still take visits while they make their decision and there are still unsigned high school prospects available that could become Kentucky basketball recruits. 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
With most of the immediate impact players in the high school ranks already signed to letters of intent, Pope has primarily focused on the NCAA basketball transfer portal to address his immediate roster needs. Kerr Kriisa, Otega Oweh and Brandon Garrison were all starters at Big 12 schools last season and should be in line for significant roles in Lexington.
Meanwhile, San Diego State transfer Lamont Butler Jr. and Duquesne transfer Amari Williams were defensive players of the year last season. Dayton transfer Koby Brea was also the A-10 Sixth Man of the Year and Andrew Carr has scored 1,286 points over a four-year career that has included two seasons at Delaware and two seasons at Wake Forest. Pope and the Wildcats are also reportedly in the mix for North Florida shooting guard Chaz Lanier and four-star in-state prospect Trent Noah is interested in Kentucky and Tennessee after being released from his letter of intent at South Carolina. 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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Kentucky
Kentucky volleyball heads to Japan for competition and culture
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The Kentucky volleyball team has begun their 11-day trip to Japan, where they have five games scheduled against Japanese Universities ahead of the 2024 season.
The ‘Cats are confident this experience ahead of the preseason will not only allow a smoother transition into college ball for the incoming freshman, but also allow for once-in-a-lifetime team bonding experiences. They’re hopeful that the extra reps before the regular season begins will set them up for success this upcoming fall.
“I think the biggest thing for us volleyball-wise is that this will allow us to get into preseason and be a week ahead,” head coach Craig Skinner said, per UK Athletics. “Typically in preseason, you have about two or two and a half weeks to get ready to play a match. This will give us an extra week ahead of preseason so we can iron out little things. It’s a huge advantage time-wise when you get to preseason.”
This extra time is valuable for the seven-time defending Southeastern Conference champions. Kentucky knows that these extra reps will help to enrich team chemistry on and off the court.
Senior setter and 2022 SEC Player of the Year Emma Grome says the trip will give the ‘Cats a great head start for the fall. She also thinks there will be lots to learn from the matches in Japan.
“I think it will be an interesting experience in general because they do a little bit of a different ballgame than us,” Grome said. “There’s some differences in the rules and I think that will be a good challenge for us. It will be cool to see how a different country plays. For me as a setter, it will be cool to watch their setters and see if they do anything different and maybe take some things from that.”
They will not only bring back new techniques regarding the game, but they’ll experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse themselves in a different culture. A lot of the team feels like they wouldn’t have had an opportunity to go to Japan otherwise, so this is a trip that they’ll remember forever.
“I love going to places like Japan, Brazil, China because the culture is so much different than what we know and they would never probably get this opportunity to go on their own,” Skinner said. “So, for us to get a life experience that we can all share together and bond as a team, but also, they will be talking about this trip for the rest of their lives. All of us will be. What a great opportunity that our administration and boosters have given us to be able to fund a trip like this. It’s just an unbelievable life adventure.”
Kentucky will play five games over their adventure abroad against Senri Kinran University, Ryokoku University, NNS University, and Nihon University.
Kentucky
Here's what will be on Northern Kentucky ballots Tuesday
Kentucky voters will go to the polls Tuesday, May 21, to weigh in on the nation’s presidential primaries and a number of other local elections.
Northern Kentucky voters will also consider the primary election of the state’s 4th Congressional District, currently held by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie. He’s facing two other Republican challengers, Eric Deters and Michael McGinnis, in the primary.
Boone County
Voters in Boone County will also consider primaries for the 60th, 61st, 66th and 69th Statehouse districts, as well as the 11th state Senate district. Three Boone County Board of Education candidates will also be on the ballot. Residents of Walton and Florence will also weigh in on city government primaries there.
You can find more information at the Boone County Clerk’s Office.
2024 Kentucky Voter Guide: Primary Edition
Campbell County
Campbell County voters will vote in a primary election for Kentucky’s 67th Statehouse district. Residents of Newport will also cast ballots for the city’s mayoral and commission primaries, and residents of other cities like Dayton, Bellevue and Fort Thomas will vote on city commissions. Find out more at the Campbell County Clerk’s Office.
Kenton County
Residents of Kenton County will consider nominees for Kentucky’s 61st, 64th and 69th Statehouse districts. They’ll also weigh in on county commission candidates. Covington residents will see primary elections for mayor and city commission, and residents in other Kenton County municipalities will vote for city council or city commission candidates. More information is available at the Kenton County Clerk’s Office.
Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. local time. You’ll need government-issued ID to vote.
Kentucky
Kentucky Newsmakers 5/19: Ky. Sec. of State Michael Adams; God’s Pantry Food Bank CEO Michael Halligan
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – On the latest edition of Kentucky Newsmakers, WKYT’s Bill Bryant talks with Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams and God’s Pantry Food Bank CEO Michael Halligan.
First, Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams is here as voters have been going to the polls for early voting before Tuesday’s primary.
Later, we’ll get an update from God’s Pantry Food Bank CEO Michael Halligan on hunger in Kentucky and their efforts to address it.
Copyright 2024 WKYT. All rights reserved.
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