Mark Pope is entering a pressure-packed second full work week as the new head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, as he continues the process of piecing his first Kentucky basketball roster together. His coaching staff has been taking shape, with BYU assistant Cody Fueger, former Georgia head coach Mark Fox and former G League Ignite head coach Jason Hart all expected to be announced. Pope would have two more assistant coaching spots to fill at that point. Every coach on the staff will be busy trying to snag players from the college basketball transfer portal before the window closes at the beginning of May.
There were 10 players with college eligibility left on the roster from John Calipari’s final team, but none of those players are expected to return. Several of them declared for the NBA Draft, while the rest entered the college basketball transfer portal. 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 Kentucky basketball roster took a hit when reigning SEC Rookie of the Year, Reed Sheppard, said he is entering the NBA Draft. Sheppard is a projected lottery pick, so this move was possible with or without Calipari as the head coach, but Calipari leaving will certainly make it more challenging to bring in a player of Sheppard’s talent. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game last season while shooting 53.6% from the field. He was the team’s third-leading scorer, but he made a huge impact on his ability to space the floor as one of the best 3-point shooters in the country.
Sheppard shot 52.1% from beyond the arc while ranking second on the team in made 3-pointers (75). Sheppard joins Kentucky players like Ugonna Onyenso, Rob Dillingham and Justin Edwards who have declared for the 2024 NBA Draft. D.J. Wagner has joined the extended list of Wildcats in the transfer portal as Kentucky is projected to lose its top 10 leading scorers from last season. Billy Richmond, the No. 22 recruit in the country, became the latest Kentucky signee to decommit when re-opening his recruitment on April 16 as Pope has a lot of work ahead in shaping the 2024-25 Kentucky men’s basketball roster. Join CatsPause to see the latest on all of Kentucky’s roster changes.
Kentucky basketball news, roster
The 2024-25 Kentucky basketball roster is going to be brand new, as Pope has already started piecing Kentucky basketball players together. Former top-40 recruit Collin Chandler officially became the first player of the Pope era last week, flipping his commitment from BYU to Kentucky while still on a two-year mission trip overseas. The 2022 recruit will return to the United States at the beginning of May and is expected to arrive in Lexington shortly after.
Pope hosted his first official visitor last weekend, with former Drexel forward Amari Williams committing to play for the Wildcats by the end of the weekend. Williams is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year from the Coastal Athletic Association, picking Kentucky over St. John’s and Mississippi State. Four-star recruit Travis Perry remains committed as well, being the lone holdover from Calipari’s 2024 Kentucky basketball recruiting class. 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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