Mark Pope leads Kentucky to Sweet 16 in 1st season
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Kentucky basketball under Mark Pope: Insiders give transfer portal news, 2025 recruits, roster, and targets
In John Calipari’s second season with Kentucky basketball, he led the Cats to the Final Four. Now, as Mark Pope enters his second year in Lexington, Big Blue Nation is expecting a similar result out of the 2025-26 Kentucky basketball roster. Pope led UK to the Sweet 16 last year with essentially a brand-new roster. He’ll have continuity with next season’s Kentucky basketball lineup in addition to the No. 6 class in terms of incoming recruits, per 247Sports. That class is highlighted by a pair of 5-star incoming freshmen, Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno. The latter is a native of the Bluegrass State as Pope has emphasized keeping local products at home.
The college basketball transfer portal also looms as another avenue to add talent to the UK basketball rotation, so who will Pope target from there? If you love the Wildcats, or 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 annual subscriptions*, so now is the time to sign up.
CatsPause already has news out on who is coming and going on the Kentucky basketball roster. Head to CatsPause.com now to see the latest updates.
Kentucky basketball roster news
The top available point guard in the transfer portal has reportedly identified Kentucky as being among his final four destinations. Xaivian Lee, who has spent the last three years at Princeton, is the third-ranked overall player still uncommitted from the portal. He would provide Pope with a proven commodity in the backcourt as he was All-Ivy First-Team each of the last two years as he led the Tigers to a 43-16 record over that stretch. Lee filled up the box score last season, averaging 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.2 steals.
A wing that Kentucky has set its targets on in the portal is Daniel Skillings Jr., formerly of Cincinnati. Standing 6-foot-6, with a 7-foot wingspan, Skillings’ numbers took a dip last year as he put up 9.2 points and 3.8 rebounds after averaging 12.9 points and 6.4 boards in 2023-24. After missing out on March Madness in each of his three years with the Bearcats, Skillings wants to go dancing with his new school, but Kentucky has lots of competition for his services. That starts with the champion Florida Gators, who have been in contact with Skillings, while other suitors include Alabama, Creighton and Gonzaga. Get the latest Kentucky basketball roster news at CatsPause.
How to get insider Kentucky basketball roster updates
Pope is expected to go after some big names in the transfer portal, and the CatsPause staff has all the latest news involving incoming and outgoing transfers. You can only see the latest updates at CatsPause.com.
Who are the top names Kentucky basketball is pursuing under coach Mark Pope? Go to CatsPause.com to see their insider information, all from a staff who has deep-rooted ties inside the Kentucky program, and find out.
And remember, CatsPause.com is offering 50% off an annual VIP membership for a limited time, so subscribe now before it’s too late.
