Portal Season: Who Stays? Who Goes?

Kentucky Men’s Basketball’s season has come to an end. We now turn our attention to the off season, and more specifically the transfer portal. Kentucky has the potential to retain 11 of the 14 scholarship players from this past season, as we head into player’s exit interviews, let’s take a look at where each player stands, and the chance they could be back at Kentucky next season based on what I’m hearing at this moment. Keep in mind, things could change drastically on either side of these decisions coming out of exit interviews. We will update this as we hear more information. 

Roster Update: V1. 

Graduating/NBA: 3.

Otega Oweh. (Grad)

Denzel Aberdeen. (Grad)

Jayden Quaintance. (NBA) 

Portal?: 5. (% chance returns to UK)

Jaland Lowe. (10%) I’ve been hearing that Lowe would prefer to move on from UK for a few weeks now. hasn’t changed much, will UKs attempt to keep him be enough? Do they want too? Some Big12/Big10 schools have been rumored, will admit he’s probably the 1/5 here I think the staff could convince themselves of running it back with. But a lot of questions regardless here for both sides to figure out, gonna assume gone for now. 

Jasper Johnson. (5%) I’d be shocked at this point if Jasper returns to UK. Not sure anything changes in the Exit interview either side. I’ve heard UL/UNC could circle back around, and more than 1 Big12 School is interested. 

Trent Noah. (20%) this year obviously didn’t go as planned. Might be time to face harsh truths on both sides. Noah can be a MM contributor, he knows that, and he knows his worth. Don’t think we see another year of Noah as a 10th+ man for UK. 

Mouhamed Dioubate. (10%) just not a system fit for Pope. Incredible utility player in the right role, doubt it will be at UK, heard multiple Big12 Schools have real potential interest.

Brandon Garrison. (40%) had been hearing the staff would like to keep BG next year in the right role, with an NIL adjustment.. i wonder how keen BG would be to that idea. I won’t be shocked if he transfers out, but, dont be shocked if they work out some kind of return.  Id probably lean gone for now. A certain Big10 school is reportedly interested. 

Returning: 6. (% chance returns to UK)

Collin Chandler. (90%) one of the guys I have most confidence in to return. He’s Popes guy. Would be shocked if he leaves.

Kam Williams. (60%) as far as I know UK would love him back. Its possible he tests his value, could have teams trying to steal a 6’8 3/D SF, but I think he fits well at UK off/def, an has a chance to compete to start, will likely come down to UK’s NIL offer, v what he feels he’s worth. Gonna lean a return for now, but probably my least confident of these 6. 

Braydon Hawthorne. (80%) He’s publicly announced he’d be back after a redshirt year, a source I’ve talked too specified a little further that “It has to make sense both sides” I think BH wants to be at UK, I wouldn’t think UK feels the need to recruit over him specifically. He’s got the game to earn some big minutes next year. Feel good he’ll be back as of now, unless UK’s future plans have changed with him, I don’t feel he stays if he gets specifically recruited over, but we’ll see. Will definitely have more concrete info here very soon. 

Andrija Jelavic. (80%) another Pope guy. He had a tough year but AJ has a lot of potential in Pope’s offense. I think he wants to be here, but does UK feel confident enough to run it back with him + 1 more PF? I think so. Remember, AJ got stateside in mid August.. he will now have the chance at a full spring/summer to prep on campus for next season. 

Malachi Moreno. (90%) like CC, would be shocked if MM leaves UK. 15 minutes from his home, a lot more details go into that, that’ I can’t get into, but MM knows he still needs time. I think he’ll be back certainly, probably with a slight bump in NIL, possibly as a backup, but still 3 years of eligibility. Pope isn’t giving up on him. 

Reece Potter. (50%) honestly I don’t have too much info on Reece. But being home, and coming off a redshirt, would be a little surprised personally if he leaves.

Best,