The eyes of the college football world will be on Ohio State on Saturday as the Buckeyes serve as one of the headliners for a loaded spring game slate. The pressure is high for coach Ryan Day and this team in the 2024 season, and Saturday’s scrimmage will give fans a taste of what’s ahead this coming season and whether these Buckeyes can meet those lofty goals.
Day had a busy offseason after missing the College Football Playoff for the second time in three seasons. He hired his former coach, Chip Kelly, to run the offense and fully handed over playcalling duties for the first time since taking over the Buckeyes program. Ohio State also showed incumbent starting quarterback Kyle McCord the door and brought in three new signal callers to vie for snaps.
But perhaps most importantly, Ohio State managed to retain a number of key playmakers including running back TreVeyon Henderson and defensive lineman Jack Sawyer. The Buckeyes have the makings of a title team, but the pressure will only grow over the coming months.
With all the attention on the horizon, here’s how to watch Ohio State’s spring game and key storylines to watch.
How to watch 2024 Ohio State spring game live Date: Saturday, April 13 | Time: 12 p.m. ET Location: Ohio Stadium — Columbus, Ohio Live Stream: Fox
2024 Ohio State spring game storylines
Who stands out at quarterback? Five players are competing for the starting quarterback job and early reviews are mixed. The Buckeyes brought in three new additions on top of two returners, but Kansas State transfer Will Howard is viewed as the favorite to start the year under center. Howard led the Wildcats to a Big 12 title in 2022, but regressed last season. The door is still open for another player to step up. Devin Brown started the Cotton Bowl after Kyle McCord transferred, but struggled. Freshman Julian Sayin has reportedly looked the part so far. Could he force his way into playing time?
Which newcomers step up? After losing to Michigan last season, Day aggressively attacked the portal for reinforcements. A number of big-time players make their debuts on Saturday. Alabama safety transfer Caleb Downs is a surefire All-America candidate while running back Quinshon Judkins starred at Ole Miss. Howard will push for the starting job and center Seth McLaughlin should fortify the interior. Another key addition came via the high school ranks. No. 1 overall recruit Jeremiah Smith stuck with Ohio State after late pressure to flip and has quickly dropped jaws around Columbus. While the Buckeyes are deep at the position, all eyes will be on Smith at Ohio Stadium.
How has the offense changed under Chip Kelly? Day was open about wanting a full-time playcaller so he could focus more comprehensively on the team. Kelly gives him one of the most proven names in college football. While results were inconsistent during his tenure at UCLA, Kelly consistently put together effective offenses, and even innovated to create mismatches in the run game in new ways. At Ohio State, Day recruited a dual-threat quarterback and added a physical running back in Judkins. Can Kelly get the most out of them?
Georgia has established itself as the class of college football after going 42-2 over the past three seasons with two national championships. After missing the 2023 College Football Playoff, however, the Bulldogs have a fresh dose of motivation. If the way UGA asserted itself in a 63-3 Orange Bowl victory over Florida State was any indication, the ‘Dawgs are going to be relentless in their pursuit of a return to the top of the sport.
The only program to beat Georgia over the past three seasons is Alabama, which bid farewell to legendary coach Nick Saban this offseason. Michigan, which took the national championship mantle from Georgia in January, is also going through a coaching change. As a result, the door has been flung wide open again for ninth-year coach Kirby Smart to take his alma mater back to the summit.
That journey will pass an important reference point Saturday during the annual G-Day spring game. While Smart is unlikely to show much of the playbook or let any state secrets out of the bag, the scrimmage will nonetheless be the most insightful look yet at what Georgia will be in 2024.
With the Bulldogs set to put themselves on display to conclude the spring practice session, let’s dive in a little deeper. Here are some spring game storylines, as well as information on how to watch the Bulldogs’ 2024 debut.
How to watch 2024 Georgia spring game live Date: Saturday, April 13 | Time: 1 p.m. ET Location: Sanford Stadium — Athens, Georgia Live Stream: SEC Network+
2024 Georgia spring game storylines
Which playmakers step up? Departed tight end Brock Bowers and receiver Ladd McConkey are potential first-round draft picks after playing huge roles over the past three seasons. Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, UGA’s third-leading receiver last season, is gone, too. G-Day will offer a glimpse into which players are primed to fill the production void. Receivers Arian Smith, Dominic Lovett and Dillon Bell are among the receivers to watch, but tight end Oscar Delp is also a serious breakout candidate. After playing second fiddle to Bowers, Delp figures to be on the receiving end of significantly more targets in 2024 after catching 24 passes in 2023.
Critical reps for reserves: A year ago, Georgia opened with Tennessee-Martin, Ball State, South Carolina and UAB. All four contests were home games, and none of the opponents went on to reach a bowl game (Tennessee-Martin isn’t even an Football Bowl Subdivision program). The easy beginning allowed Georgia to get in-game reps for backup quarterbacks Gunner Stockton and Brock Vandagriff, along with many other reserves. This time around, the opening isn’t so soft. The Bulldogs open against Clemson at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. After a patsy game with Tennessee Tech in Week 2, their next two games are at Kentucky and at Alabama. The next time Georgia is playing football with fans in the stands will be against a power-conference team, and only one of its first four games is at home this season. That makes spring game reps all the more important for the inexperienced players who may be called upon to help the Bulldogs win a critical game in Week 1.
Young secondary stars: Among the losses in Georgia’s secondary were cornerback Kamari Lassiter, safety Javon Bullard and safety Tykee Smith. While there is plenty of returning talent waiting in the wings to fill their shoes, a couple of newcomers from the nation’s No. 1 ranked recruiting class have also arrived on the scene with much fanfare. Ellis Robinson IV was the No. 2 overall player and top cornerback in the Class of 2024, per 247Sports. KJ Bolden is also on campus after ranking as the No. 1 safety in the class. It may not be their time to shine just yet, but G-Day offers them an early chance to show what they can do. Alabama got major contributions from a freshman safety last season in Caleb Downs. Perhaps Georgia can do the same this season in its secondary.
Not only are the Alabama Crimson Tide replacing a legend following Nick Saban’s retirement, but they are also replacing nearly half their roster. Kalen DeBoer is taking over a team that lost nearly 50 players from last year’s squad that was the SEC champion, went to the College Football Playoff and finished No. 5 in the final AP Poll. But since this is Alabama football, it simply reloaded and landed No. 2 in the Class of 2024 recruit rankings, per 247Sports. Fans of Alabama football will get their first taste of many of these newcomers at the Alabama football spring game on Saturday.
A-Day is what the event is known as, and the 2024 A-Day Game will take place at 4 p.m. ET from Bryant-Denny Stadium. Five-star CB recruits Jaylen Mbakwe and Zabien Brown should see reps considering the lack of depth at the position for Bama, but which other new faces should Alabama football fans get to know? If you want to see the latest Alabama football news, you should join Bama247, the 247Sports affiliate that covers the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The team of insiders at Bama247 are providing on-the-ground updates on every development in the football coaching search, including insights from Matt Zenitz, John Talty and Mike Rodak, who have more than 25 years of experience covering the Crimson Tide. The trio has deep-rooted ties inside and around the Alabama community, and Talty wrote The Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban, a Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly bestseller. It’s all available at your fingertips on any device here.
The team at Bama247 has extensive coverage heading into Alabama’s spring game, including injury information and potential depth chart changes. You can also get the low-down from fellow fans on the Bama247 message board. Head to Bama247 and join now to see the latest updates regarding spring practice and the 2024 A-Day Game.
Updates on the Alabama offensive line Perhaps no position group for Bama will be shuffled as much as the offensive line, which has lost at least three starters from last year’s team. A fourth, left tackle Kadyn Proctor, transferred home to Iowa after the season before announcing his intention to transfer back to Alabama. Proctor was the No. 1 offensive lineman in his class, per 247Sports, but he won’t be a part of the A-Day Game.
While that top-ranked lineman won’t suit up, another very well could in true freshman Casey Poe. He just enrolled in January, and the 247Composite graded him as the top interior lineman in the Class of 2024. With LG Tyler Booker the only available returning starter, Poe could be featured up and down the O-line to see where he can contribute most effectively right away.
One thing fans will definitely want to see in regards to the O-line is the center-quarterback exchange after numerous issues during last year’s CFP semifinal loss to Michigan. DeBoer says the team is using a clap cadence for QB Jalen Milroe to receive the snap in shotgun, and per the head coach, the team hasn’t “had any problems” with the exchange throughout spring practice. Join Bama247 for the latest on the offensive line depth chart.
Alabama wide receiver overhaul The Tide will have to replace their top two receivers after losing Jermaine Burton, who declared for the NFL Draft, and Isaiah Bond, who transferred to Texas. That leaves the top returning wideout as Kobe Prentice, who had 18 catches for 314 yards and two scores last year, but no other returning receiver had more than 162 yards a year ago.
Early enrollee Bubba Hampton will be tasked, in part, with helping to fill those voids, and he is a four-star freshman from Daingerfield (TX). Ranked as the No. 16 athlete in his class, Hampton making his presence felt will be even more essential with Jalen Hale still recovering from a knee injury suffered on March 26.
Hale was the No. 6 receiver in the Class of 2023 and saw spot duty as a freshman. He was expected to have a much bigger role in 2024, but a timetable for his return hasn’t been set. WR Germie Bernard, who followed DeBoer from Washington, has a leg up on his teammates in terms of familiarity with the offensive scheme and could rise up the depth chart with a strong performance on Saturday. Join Bama247 to read the latest VIP article regarding Odom and the Alabama wide receivers’ room.
How DeBoer has made use of Alabama spring football practice One of the Saban-era traditions for the Alabama spring game that DeBoer intends to keep in place is that the winners will receive a steak dinner while the losers will be relegated to “beans and wienies.” The result hardly matters but the incentive certainly encourages players on both sides to put in a solid effort. Fans will certainly be looking for players who flash and for continued growth in the final outing of DeBoer’s first spring at the helm.
DeBoer has publicly stated that he’s been satisfied with how his team has progressed over the course of spring practices and he’s highlighted a handful of players who have stepped up in the process. Washington transfer Germie Bernard is quickly making an impact. Bernard followed DeBoer to Tuscaloosa after making 34 catches for 419 yards and two touchdowns while adding two rushing touchdowns last season. So what has DeBoer thought of his first spring at Alabama and where will he be expecting improvement? Join Bama 247 to read VIP articles recapping all the latest Alabama football news now.
How to get insider information on Alabama football The Bama247 team has VIP information on the offensive line situation, the development of the wide receivers’ room and how DeBoer is approaching his first spring at the helm. Join Bama247 to see it all and get all the latest Alabama football spring game news.
Who are the top players that Alabama fans should watch for on Saturday, and which players can you expect to stand out? Join Bama247 to see all the latest A-Day Game news, all from a team of reporters with decades of experience covering the Crimson Tide, and find out.
Michigan coach Dusty May received a major boost Monday, when former FAU star center Vlad Goldin committed to the Wolverines, 247Sports confirmed. Ranked the No. 8 player in the CBS Sports Transfer Rankings, Goldin will give May an anchor in the frontcourt as he continues to build out his first roster.
May and Goldin are deeply familiar with each other after spending the last three seasons guiding FAU to unprecedented success. Goldin started all 39 games for the Owls on their march to the 2023 Final Four and then upped his production this past season.
The 7-foot-1 Russian averaged 15.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game in the 2023-24 campaign while earning All-AAC honors. Goldin’s 67.3% field-goal percentage stood out and made him one of the most efficient bigs in college basketball. He will have one season of eligibility remaining.
Goldin is merely the latest big-name transfer addition for May, who is tasked with turning around a program that limped to an 8-24 record in coach Juwan Howard’s final season. But with Goldin in the fold, the makings of a competitive roster are coming together.
Michigan could deploy a fascinating tandem of towers on the floor together in the season ahead. With 7-foot Yale transfer Danny Wolf also committed, May will be tasked with devising a plan that properly utilizes both bigs. Wolf also ranks in the top 40 of the CBS Sports Transfer Rankings and has more of a perimeter-oriented game.
Wolf’s ability to step out and shoot 3-pointers and create shots off the dribble differentiates him from Goldin, who is more of a prototypical paint presence without any perimeter pop. While their offensive games should complement each other, May will also need to formulate a defensive strategy as opponents may look to exploit the Wolverines off the dribble with quicker players when Goldin and Wolf are playing together.
The Arkansas Razorbacks shook up the college basketball world when they hired head coach John Calipari away from SEC rival Kentucky. Calipari replaces Eric Musselman, who left Arkansas for USC following the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Calipari is widely considered to be one of the best recruiters in the history of college basketball and gained notoriety during his time at Kentucky for the eye-popping number of future NBA players he coached in Lexington. Arkansas basketball is aiming to make the Final Four for the first time since 1995, but saw every scholarship player on the 2023-24 Arkansas basketball roster leave via graduation, college basketball transfer portal, or NBA Draft.
Calipari-coached teams have appeared in six Final Fours, with the 2012 Kentucky Wildcats being his only team to cut down the nets as national champions. The 65-year-old coach will attract the top names in the college basketball transfer portal and on the Arkansas basketball recruiting trail. Can Calipari have the same level of success he’s become accustomed to? If you love the Razorbacks, 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 HawgSports, the 247Sports affiliate that covers Arkansas.
The team of insiders at HawgSports.com are providing up-to-the-minute scoop on the latest intel surrounding the Arkansas basketball coaching transition and roster changes. Launched in 2002, HawgSports has established itself as the top source for insider Arkansas basketball coverage. Trey Biddy, Danny West and Connor Goodson have a combined 30 years of experience covering the Razorbacks professionally. And right now, HawgSports is offering 30% off the first year of an annual subscription*, so now is the time to sign up.
The team at HawgSports has full coverage of who is coming and who is going on the Arkansas basketball roster. Head to HawgSports now to see all the insider info.
Arkansas basketball roster departures Arkansas lost every player from last year’s roster, with leading scorers Tramon Mark and Khalif Battle both choosing to enter the transfer portal. Mark, who averaged a career-high 16.2 points per game is looking for his third school in three years after transferring to Arkansas from Houston last offseason. Battle is set to make the final stop of his career after averaging 14.8 points in his only season with the Razorbacks.
Third-leading scorer Trevon Brazile declared for the NBA Draft, while fourth-leading scorer Makhi Mitchell used the remainder of his eligibility last year. Other key players from last year’s roster included Keyon Menifield Jr. (portal), Jalen Graham (eligibility), El Ellis (eligibility) and Davonte Davis (portal). The Razorbacks also lost a pair of top-100 2024 recruits in Isaiah Elohim (USC) and Jalen Shelley (uncommitted). Join HawgSports to see the latest on all of Arkansas’ roster changes.
Arkansas basketball news, roster Calipari has already managed to flip three commitments from Kentucky to Arkansas. Small forward Karter Knox headlines the trio and comes in ranked as the No. 20 overall player in the country. Knox has NBA bloodlines as the brother of NBA player Kevin Knox and is long and athletic. He is a capable scorer on all three levels and was the No. 1 per-minute scorer in the Nike EYBL last spring and summer by averaging 19.8 points over 24 minutes.
Knox is joined by small forward Billy Richmond and combo guard Boogie Fland. Richmond is a 6-foot-5 left-handed wing who is also an elite level athlete. The Camden (N.J.) product is a high level defender with explosive leaping ability. Fland is a 6-foot-2 combo guard, who many experts believe is the best pure shooter in the 2024 recruiting class. Fland will have to get stronger at the next level, but his length and quickness should allow him to make an immediate impact in the SEC. Join HawgSports to get the latest on all of Arkansas’ roster additions.
How to get insider Arkansas basketball roster updates Calipari has already been in contact with multiple transfers from power-conference teams, so be sure to join HawgSports to see who they are and get the rest of the insider roster news.
Who are the top names Arkansas basketball is pursuing under coach John Calipari, and which power-conference transfers could land in Fayetteville? Go to HawgSports to see their insider information, all from a team of reporters with years of experience covering the Razorbacks, and find out. And reminder, HawgSports is offering 30% off the first year of an annual VIP membership*, so subscribe now before it’s too late.
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Crunch time has arrived for college basketball players considering jumping into the transfer portal. Wednesday marks the final day for players to enter if they wish to be eligible immediately in the 2024-25 season. While players less than 30 days removed from a coaching change at their current schools can still enter after the May 1 deadline, it’s now or never for nearly all Division I players.
Don’t be surprised if there are a few big-name entries that sneak in before the deadline. With several major programs still seeking to fill out their rosters for next season and armed with NIL cash, the allure to test the market will be strong for some players who have stayed put to this point.
One example of a late entry is Lamont Butler. The veteran San Diego State guard announced on April 24 that he would be hitting the portal, and within just two days he was committed to Kentucky. Things are moving quickly as the high-caliber talent remaining on the market gets more scarce.
So long as players have entered the portal by the deadline, they will have ample time to choose their new school ahead of the 2024-25 season. Those who are exploring the NBA Draft process have through May 29 to withdraw if they want to return to college next season.
When players hit the portal, the best will be ranked here.
Check out the latest transfer portal updates from 247Sports
Johnell Davis Old school: FAU
Davis played a key role in taking FAU to the 2023 Final Four and built on his breakout season by upping his scoring average to 18.2 points in 2023-24. The 6-4 guard hit 41.4% of his 3-pointers, pulled down 6.3 rebounds and averaged 1.4 steals for the Owls in his fourth season of college basketball. He’s only got one season left to play and is also testing the NBA Draft waters.
Tucker DeVries Old school: Drake | New school: West Virginia
DeVries won Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year twice during three seasons while playing for his father, Darian DeVries. The 6-7 wing averaged 21.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game in 2023-24. He’s a career 35.9% 3-point shooter and dynamic offensive threat. DeVries is following his father, who accepted the West Virginia job.
Norchad Omier Old school: Miami
At 6-foot-7, Omier is an undersized but physical big who brings a deft shooting touch at the rim. He’s a voracious rebounder and can get to high-efficiency spots as the roll guy in the pick-and-roll. Omier averaged 17 points and 10 rboards per game while shooting 59.8% from the floor this past year for the Hurricanes. He also demonstrated 3-point shooting promise for the first time in his career.
AJ Storr Old school: Wisconsin | New school: Kansas
Storr provided a significant jolt of offense for Wisconsin in the 2023-24 season, averaging 16.8 points. The 6-6 wing is a multi-level scorer with the size needed to finish in the paint and around the rim. being surrounded by other dynamic playmakers at Kansas should allow Storr increase his efficiency after he shot 43.4% from the floor for the Badgers.
Kadary Richmond Old school: Seton Hall
Richmond fueled Seton Hall’s NIT title run as the Pirates’ leading scorer at 15.7 points per game and lead facilitator with 5.1 assists per game. He was also the team’s highest-rated defender by a longshot, per evanmiya.com. The 6-foot-5 guard is a four-year veteran of high-major basketball and is the sort of tough, two-way player who could make a difference on a deep with Final Four aspirations.
Jeremy Roach Old school: Duke | New school: Baylor
Roach is a seasoned floor general with two years of experience under Mike Krzyzewski and two years of experience under Jon Scheyer. The 6-1 guard earned third-team All-ACC honors in 2023-24 while averaging 14 points and 3.3 assists per game on 42.9% 3-point shooting. With 108 starts for a premier program under his belt, Roach will be a plug and play replacement for RayJ Dennis, who is out of eligibility after playing a similar one-year rental role at point guard for the Bears in 2023-24.
Mark Mitchell Old school: Duke | New school: Missouri
Mitchell started 67 games in his two seasons at Duke after ranking as a five-star prospect in the Class of 2022. The 6-9 forward is a dynamic athlete who played mostly at small forward in 2022-23 before sliding to power forward this past season. He averaged 11.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game on 54% shooting from the floor this past year. With two seasons of eligibility remaining and NBA-caliber upside, Mitchell could blossom into a star for a rebuilding Missouri team.
Vladislav Goldin Old school: FAU | New school: Michigan
Goldin averaged 15.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game on an insanely efficient 67.3% shooting from the floor for FAU in 2023-24. The 7-1 Russian is a rugged and seasoned veteran who impacts both ends of the floor. He is a particularly strong asset on offense, despite the fact that he’s never attempted a 3-pointer.
Oumar Ballo Old school: Arizona | New school: Indiana
Ballo’s size (7-foot and 260 pounds) makes him a difficult player for opponents to manage. He averaged 12.9 points and 10.1 rebounds in 2023-24 for Arizona on 65.8% shooting. There isn’t much versatility to his game, and Ballo’s free-throw shooting dipped to a career-worst 49.5% this past season. But he’s a productive bruiser with a proven track record at an elite program who will help Indiana replace the production of Kel’El Ware, who is headed to the NBA Draft.
Zeke Mayo Old school: South Dakota State | New school: Kansas
Mayo earned Summit League Player of the Year after averaging 18.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists for a South Dakota State team that won the conference. He’s a career 38.8% 3-point shooter and scored 19 points on just 11 shots against Iowa State’s vicious defense in an NCAA Tournament loss. There is a strong recent track record of Summit League Players of the Year transferring up. Max Abmas was the leading scorer for Texas this season after winning the award twice in his career at Oral Roberts. Baylor Scheierman has also been a star at Creighton the past two seasons after winning Summit League POTY at SDSU in 2022.
Robbie Avila Old school: Indiana State | New school: Saint Louis
Avila became a college basketball cult hero while earning all-MVC honors as a sophomore. The 6-10 center averaged 17.4 points and 6.6 rebounds on 53.6% shooting for an Indiana State team that finished 32-7. Avila is great around the rim but also shot 39.4% from 3-point range on 4.2 attempts per game, which makes him a rarity among bigs in college basketball. He is following coach Josh Schertz from ISU to Saint Louis.
Trey Townsend Old school: Oakland | New school: Arizona
Townsend earned Horizon League Player of the Year honors while leading Oakland to a conference title and upset victory over No. 3 seed Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The 6-foot-6 forward is a dynamic scorer who racked up 1,813 points in four seasons playing for the Golden Grizzlies. He should play a key role for an Arizona team replacing a massive amount of production.
Clifford Omoruyi Old school: Rutgers
Entering the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Omoruyi’s 93 blocks ranked fourth nationally. The 6-11 center is an elite rim protector with consecutive Big Ten All-Defense honors. Omoruyi also averaged double figures in each of the last three seasons and posted 29 double-doubles in his four years with Rutgers. He can’t do much away from the rim offensively but is excellent defensively.
Tramon Mark Old school: Arkansas | New school: Texas
Mark averaged 16.2 points on 48% shooting for Arkansas in 2023-24 after spending the first three years of his career at Houston. The 6-5 guard is just a career 32% 3-point shooter, but he’s a battle-tested veteran with the ability to go out and get buckets in a variety of ways. He is a big addition for a Texas team losing its top four scorers.
DJ Wagner Old school: Kentucky
Wagner finished the 2023 recruiting cycle ranked as the nation’s No. 6 high school prospect, according to 247Sports. He displayed flashes of his elite potential during an SEC All-Freshman campaign at Kentucky but was inconsistent, shooting just 40.5% from the floor and 29.2% from 3-point range. Though the 6-3 guard didn’t turn out as a one-and-done superstar, his talent is clear and his ceiling remains high.
Cade Tyson Old school: Belmont | New school: North Carolina
Tyson is a career 44.6% 3-point shooter on 287 attempts over two seasons with Belmont. At 6-7 and with a demonstrated outside stroke, he should slot in to a significant role with the Tar Heels. How Tyson will translate defensively to a higher level is likely the biggest question mark here. But his offensive game is sweet.
Darlinstone Dubar Old school: Hofstra | New school: Tennessee
Dubar is a 6-6 wing who averaged 17.8 points and 6.8 rebounds on 39.9% 3-point shooting for a 20-win Hofstra team. He began his career at Iowa State, starting seven games for the Cyclones in 2020-21. As a fifth-year player with a proven shot and good size, he’ll be part of the committee tasked with helping Tennessee replace All-American guard Dalton Knecht. Former Alabama guard Aaron Estrada is a recent example of a quality high-major player to come through Hofstra.
Zvonimir Ivišić Old school: Kentucky | New school: Arkansas
Ivišić showed tantalizing flashes of potential as a freshman at Kentucky. With a rare combination of size, skill and shooting ability, he will be an integral piece in John Calipari’s effort to field a competitive team in his first season at Arkansas. At 7-2, Ivišić can swat shots or step out and hit 3-pointers. With a full offseason to spend in Arkansas’ strength and conditioning program, the Croatian big man should develop the strength required to bruise on the block in a rugged conference.
Wooga Poplar Old school: Miami
Poplar averaged 13.1 points per game on 38.5% 3-point shooting for Miami in the 2023-24 season. The 6-foot-5 guard also played a starting role for the Hurricanes during their 2023 Final Four run. While his defense could use some refining, the Philadelphia native is great off-ball weapon with the athleticism to attack closeouts and finish at the rim.
Rylan Griffen Old school: Alabama | New school: Kansas
Griffen averaged 11.2 points on 39.2% 3-point shooting while starting 33 games as a sophomore for Alabama. The former top-50 prospect has good size as an off-ball guard at 6-5. Though he didn’t register as a high-impact defender, Griffen is an appealing transfer because of his demonstrated record of offensive efficiency for a high-level program.
Chucky Hepburn Old school: Wisconsin | New school: Louisville
Hepburn started 103 games over three seasons at Wisconsin, establishing himself as reliable floor general and defensive pest. The 6-foot-2 guard is a career 36.2% 3-point shooter and earned Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors in the 2023-24 season while averaging 2.1 steals. He rated as the Badgers’ most-efficient player and No. 2 defender this past season, per evanmiya.com.
Meechie Johnson Old school: South Carolina | New school: Ohio State
Johnson wasn’t necessarily South Carolina’s best all-around player. But the 6-2 guard did lead the Gamecocks in scoring at 14.1 points per game in 2023-24 during his second season in the program. Johnson began his career at Ohio State and will have one season of eligibility remaining as he returns to his home state to finish out his career with the Buckeyes.
Kobe Johnson Old school: USC | New school: UCLA
Johnson stood out as an elite defender for USC, collecting 2.2 steals per game and rating as one of the top players on that side of the ball in the Pac-12. The 6-5 wing also scored 10.9 points per game in 2023-24. Though just a career 32.9% 3-point shooter, Johnson has some chops as a distributor and will be a plug-and-play veteran as he heads across town to play for UCLA.
Brandon Garrison Old school: Oklahoma State
Garrison showed glimpses of why he was a top-50 prospect and McDonald’s All-American in the Class of 2023 during his freshman season at Oklahoma State. There are offensive strides to be made, but Garrison blocked 1.5 shots per game in just 22.7 minutes and has three seasons of eligibility remaining to continue realizing his potential.
Jonas Aidoo Old school: Tennessee
Aidoo took significant strides as a junior during the 2023-24 season, averaging 11.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks as a full-time starter for the Volunteers. At 6-11, he registered as one of the most impactful defenders in the SEC. However, Aidoo did struggle in the rare instances when he was matched up against the sport’s top bruisers such as Hunter Dickinson, Ryan Kalkbrenner and Zach Edey.
Malik Mack Old school: Harvard | New school: Georgetown
Mack’s efficiency dipped down the stretch, but it was still a phenomenal freshman season for the 6-1 guard, who averaged 17.2 points and 4.8 assists per game. The Ivy League Rookie of the Year finished with 18 points and six assists at Boston College and scored 27 at Indiana during the first month of his college career. It was an impressive peek at what he’s capable of against high-major opposition.
Tony Perkins Old school: Iowa | New school: Missouri
Perkins averaged 14 points, 4.6 assists and 1.6 steals while starting all 34 games for Iowa as a senior. Following 126 career appearances for the Hawkeyes, he should make a significant impact for a Missouri program seeking to bounce back from an 0-18 SEC record. Though just a career 31.7% 3-point shooter, Perkins is a physical guard at 6-4 who can attack the basket. He also rated as Iowa’s top defender in the 2023-24 season, per evanmiya.com.
Milos Uzan Old school: Oklahoma | New school: Houston
Uzan dished out 4.7 assists versus just 2.1 turnovers per game against Big 12 competition in the 2023-24 season. The 6-4 guard started 56 games during his two seasons with the Sooners and will be tasked with helping Houston replace beloved point guard Jamal Shead. He won’t be handling that job alone — few could — but he’ll be a big piece in keeping the Cougars in the Big 12 hunt.
Terrence Edwards Old school: James Madison | New school: Louisville
Edwards was the leading scorer at 17.2 points per game for a James Madison team that finished 32-4 with a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The 6-6 guard also dished out 3.4 assists for the Dukes after making significant productivity strides in all four years he was at JMU. He will be a vital piece for coach Pat Kelsey’s first team at Louisville.
PJ Haggerty Old school: Tulsa | New school: Memphis
Haggerty averaged 21.2 points on 54% shooting inside the arc for Tulsa in 2023-24. What separates the 6-3 guard from some of the other volume scorers in the portal is that he has three seasons left to play. Instead of merely serving as a one-year rental, he could potentially develop into a three-year rotational mainstay. And if he develops his 3-point shot, he could be a high-level college star.
Myles Rice Old school: Washington State | New school: Indiana
Rice defeated cancer and helped lead Washington State to its first NCAA Tournament since 2008. With coach Kyle Smith off to Stanford, it was no surprise to see Rice hit the portal. The 6-2 guard averaged 14.8 points, 3.8 assists and 1.6 steals for the Cougars and should have three seasons of eligibility remaining. He needs to improve his 3-point shot (27.5% on 3.7 attempts per game) and bulk up. But there is a lot to like about his trajectory for an Indiana team that desperately needed to upgrade its backcourt.
Kylan Boswell Old school: Arizona | New school: Illinois
Boswell started 35 games for Arizona as a sophomore, averaging 9.6 points and 3.6 assists while shooting 37.9% from 3-point range. The 6-foot-2 guard isn’t particularly explosive or rangy, which means he has limitations as a driver and defender. But he’s sure-handed and produced a solid track record of perimeter shooting in two years with the Wildcats.
Kanaan Carlyle Old school: Stanford | New school: Indiana
Carlyle averaged 11.5 points and 2.7 assists per game in his freshman season at Stanford after ranking as a four-star prospect in the Class of 2023. His best games came against Arizona and Washington State, which were both NCAA Tournament teams. With three seasons of eligibility remaining and a proven body of work at the high-major level, there is some upside here.
Danny Wolf Old school: Yale | New school: Michigan
Wolf averaged 14.1 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks for a Yale team that reached the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. He is more fluid, nimble and versatile than a typical seven-footer. Wolf can attack defenders off the dribble, hit 3-pointers or post up. He has two seasons left, and his rare combination of size and tools make him one of this offseason’s most interesting transfer prospects.
Dillon Mitchell Old school: Texas
Mitchell made strides as a sophomore at Texas but still has untapped potential after ranking as a five-star prospect in the Class of 2022. The former McDonald’s All-American is an athletic power forward who finishes well at the rim. But Mitchell’s 0 for 8 career 3-point mark means you can’t pair him with a non-shooting center without clogging up the floor.
Ryan Conwell Old school: Indiana State | New school: Xavier
Conwell is a 6-4 guard who hit 40.7% of his 3-point attempts on 7.1 tries per game as a sophomore at Indiana State. He finished second on the team in scoring at 16.6 points per game and dished out 2.5 assists. Considering that Conwell also rates as a quality defender, he should be a key part of Xavier coach Sean Miller’s effort to get the Musketeers back to the NCAA Tournament.
Alijah Martin Old school: FAU | New school: Florida
Martin was a three-time all-conference performer at FAU while appearing in 124 games across four seasons under Dusty May. The 6-foot-2 guard is a good defender for his size and a career 36.9% 3-point shooter. He’s more of a shooting guard than a point guard and has proven he can make substantive contributions to a winning program.
Chris Youngblood Old school: South Florida | New school: Alabama
Youngblood was the leading scorer for the AAC champions, averaging 15.3 points on 41.6% 3-point shooting for a 25-8 South Florida team. The 6-4 guard was the league’s co-player of the year and should be an excellent fit with an Alabama program that prioritizes efficient 3-point shooting.
BJ Freeman Old school: Milwaukee
Freeman was a busy man the past two years at Milwaukee, leading a pair of 20-win teams in scoring. In 2023-24, he also led the Panthers in rebounds (6.6), assists (4.1) and steals (1.1). At 6-6, he’s both a good solo shot creator and can facilitate for others. His results against high-major opposition were mixed in a limited sample size over the past two years, but Freeman can help a good team.
Great Osobor Old school: Utah State
Osobor earned Mountain West Player of the Year honors after averaging 17.7 points, nine rebounds and 1.4 blocks for a Utah State team that won a strong league. The 6-8 big man does his work in the paint and hasn’t shown much of an outside shot, but his effectiveness as an interior scorer is tremendous.
Jalen Blackmon Old school: Stetson | New school: Miami
Blackmon turned heads nationally with his 43-point outburst in the ASUN Tournament title game. The 6-3 guard hit 38.1% of his 3-pointers on 8.3 attempts per game in the 2023-24 season and is a career 90.6% free-throw shooter. The Indiana native has only one season of eligibility remaining and should be a difference maker for a Miami team that lost key players Wooga Poplar and Norchad Omier to the portal.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie Old school: Belmont | New school: Maryland
Belmont was at its best with Gillespie on the floor; he averaged 17.2 points, 4.2 assists and 2.2 steals for the Bruins. The 6-foot guard is on the smaller side but shot a ridiculous 66% inside the arc and a solid 38.7% beyond it. With two seasons of eligibility remaining, he’s a good addition for a Maryland team that needs help in the backcourt.
Dug McDaniel Old school: Michigan | New school: Kansas State
McDaniel averaged 16.3 points and 4.7 assists while shooting 36.8% from 3-point range on 5.8 attempts for a bad Michigan team. The 5-11 guard also rated as the Wolverines’ top defender, per evanmiya.com. Although his offensive numbers dipped against Big Ten foes, the former four-star prospect will help a Kansas State team needing to upgrade its guard play.
Otega Oweh Old school: Oklahoma | New school: Kentucky
Oweh’s production and efficiency dropped dramatically during the grind of Big 12 play after his sophomore season began with tantalizing glimpses of offensive promise. While his game remains a work in progress, the 6-5 wing is already a great defender. With two years left to play, Oweh can be an elite defensive stopper for Mark Pope’s first UK team.
Aidan Mahaney Old school: Saint Mary’s
Mahaney earned first-team All-WCC honors in both his seasons at Saint Mary’s and was the conference’s Freshman of the Year in the 2022-23 season. Though his efficiency dipped as a sophomore, the 6-foot-3 guard is a natural shot-maker who could thrive in the right system. He’s a career 37.5% 3-point shooter and often came up clutch in key situations for a team that secured a No. 5 seed in each of the past two NCAA Tournaments.
Tyrese Hunter Old school: Texas | New school: Memphis
Hunter started 71 games over his two seasons at Texas after winning Big 12 Rookie of the Year at Iowa State in 2021-22. Based on the trajectory he established with the Cyclones, Hunter seemed destined to become an all-Big 12 performer. It didn’t work out that way, but the 6-foot guard is talented and destined to play a key role for Memphis.
Saint Thomas Old school: Northern Colorado | New school: USC
Northern Colorado produced a gem last cycle in Dalton Knecht. Can it come through again? Thomas is a vastly different player but nonetheless intriguing. At 6-7, he averaged 19.7 points, 4.2 assists and 1.7 steals while making 57.2% of his 2-pointers and 33% of his 3s in 2023-24. The dynamic forward began his career at Loyola Chicago and has one season left to play.
Dante Maddox Jr. Old school: Toledo | New school: Xavier
Given how productive transfer guards Quincy Olivari and Dayvion McKnight were for Xavier last season, it would be no surprise if the Musketeers’ incoming crop of perimeter players produces in similar fashion. Maddox hit 42.4% of his 3-pointers in two seasons with the Rockets.
Jordan Pope Old school: Oregon State | New school: Texas
Pope averaged 17.6 points and 3.4 assists while shooting 37.1% from beyond the arc for Oregon State as a sophomore in 2023-24. The 6-2 guard needs to improve defensively but is a proven high-major scorer with two years of eligibility remaining. He should play a key role for Texas squad losing guards Max Abmas and Tyrese Hunter.
Jacob Crews Old school: UT Martin | New school: Missouri
Crews shot 41.4% from 3-point range on 6.7 attempts per game as a junior for a UT Martin team that won a share of the OVC regular-season title. He also yanked down 8.2 rebounds per game for the Skyhawks. There are questions about his defense, but at 6-7 and with a good shooting stroke, he is big pickup for Missouri. The Tigers are coming off a winless SEC campaign and need help.
Skyy Clark Old school: Louisville | New school: UCLA
After spending one season at Illinois, Clark transferred to Louisville and led the moribund Cardinals in scoring during the 2023-24 season at 13.2 points per game. His career 1:1 assist-turnover ratio is unappealing, but if the former top-40 prospect can fit in with the Bruins, he can turn things around.
Aden Holloway Old school: Auburn | New school: Alabama
Holloway’s upside as a former five-star prospect is clear. But after shooting just 31.8% from the field as a freshman at Auburn he’s got something to prove as he heads to rival Alabama with three seasons of eligibility remaining.
TJ Bamba Old school: Villanova
Bamba started 33 games at Villanova in 2023-24 after leading Washington State in scoring in the 2022-23 season. He’s a veteran, off-ball guard with good size at 6-foot-5 and a career 38% 3-point shooting mark over four seasons.
Max Shulga Old school: VCU
Shulga is a seasoned veteran who averaged 14 points and 3.6 assists on 41.5% 3-point shooting for VCU last season after following coach Ryan Odom from Utah State. He can play on or off the ball and is strong in the pick and roll.
Aaron Bradshaw Old school: Kentucky | New school: Ohio State
Bradshaw struggled for minutes as a freshman while navigating a crowded Kentucky frontcourt. He was the No. 5 overall player in the Class of 2023, according to 247Sports, and showed glimpses of promise during his lone season with the Wildcats. The 7-footer can step out and hit 3-pointers and is more mobile as a perimeter defender than most college centers.
Malik Dia Old school: Belmont | New school: Ole Miss
Dia shined as a dynamic frontcourt player in his sophomore season at Belmont after playing sparingly during his freshman season at Vanderbilt. He averaged 16.9 points and 5.8 boards for the Bruins while shooting 34.1% from 3-point range. He’s 6-9 and has surprising athleticism for a player with such a big frame. His game needs refining, but Dia’s upside is clear.
Dre Davis Old school: Seton Hall | New school: Ole Miss
Davis averaged 15 points per game and shot 35% from 3-point range in his second season at Seton Hall. It was the fourth season of college basketball for the 6-5 guard, who began his career at Louisville. He averaged 16.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game during Seton Hall’s five-game NIT title run.
Amari Williams Old school: Drexel | New school: Kentucky
Williams earned CAA Defensive Player of the Year for a third straight season while averaging 1.8 blocks per game. The 6-foot-10 rim protector rated among the top-100 defenders in all of college basketball entering the NCAA Tournament, per evanmiya.com. He also scored 12.2 points and grabbed 7.8 rebounds for a 20-win Dragons team.
Felix Okpara Old school: Ohio State | New school: Tennessee
Okpara chose wisely by picking Tennessee after the Volunteers lost their top two centers Jonas Aidoo and Tobe Awaka in the transfer portal. The 6-foot-11 big man blocked 2.4 shots per game in just 23.5 minutes for the Buckeyes as a sophomore and hit 60.7% of his 2-point attempts as an efficient scorer at the rim.
Michael Ajayi Old school: Pepperdine | New school: Gonzaga
Ajayi is 6-7 and hit 47% of his 3-pointers on 2.5 attempts per game while averaging 17.2 points in his lone season at Pepperdine. While Ajayi was a rebounding force for the Waves with 9.9 per game, his defense is a question mark. He should be a natural fit at Gonzaga as the Bulldogs seek to build a deeper roster after struggling with depth in 2023-24.
Lamont Butler Old school: San Diego State | New school: Kentucky
Butler won Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year during his fourth and final season at San Diego State. The 6-foot-2 guard’s game is defined by dogged defense. Though he’s just a 32.1% 3-point shooter, Butler may improve offensively in UK coach Mark Pope’s more up-tempo scheme.
Desmond Claude Old school: Xavier
Claude is a physical perimeter player who was Xavier’s second-leading scorer at 16.6 points per game. His career 25.3% 3-point shooting mark is an eyesore, but he’s an intriguing talent with a knack for putting the ball in the basket.
Frankie Fidler Old school: Omaha | New school: Michigan State
Fidler finished second in the Summit League in scoring at 20.1 points per game. The 6-7 forward hit 35.6% of his 3-point attempts in 2023-24 and was effective against Big 12 foes TCU and Texas Tech. There are many recent examples of players from this league transferring up and playing big roles for good teams.
Riley Kugel Old school: Florida | New school: Kansas
Kugel is an interesting prospect with good tools and NBA upside; however, the 6-5 wing regressed as a sophomore while shooting just 31.2% from 3-point range. If he can push that closer to 40% and cut back on his turnovers, then Kugel could blossom into an impact 3-and-D player.
Deivon Smith Old school: Utah
Smith was a steal on the 2023 transfer wire, landing as a star in the Utah lineup after he was a role player at Mississippi State and Georgia Tech during his first three seasons. The 6-foot-1 guard finished sixth nationally in assists per game at 7.1 while also scoring 13.3 points per game on 40.8% 3-point shooting for the Utes.
J’Vonne Hadley Old school: Colorado | New school: Louisville
Though only a role player on a team oozing talent, the 6-foot-6 wing did a lot for the Buffaloes, averaging 11.6 points, six rebounds and 2.4 assists. He attempted just 1.3 shots from 3-point range but hit 41.7% of them, and was efficient inside the arc (56.5%). A significant role should be available to him at Louisville as the Cardinals reboot under new coach Pat Kelsey.
Mason Gillis Old school: Purdue | New school: Duke
Gillis appeared in 132 games over five seasons at Purdue, serving as a reliable stretch forward while shooting 40.7% from 3-point range. The 6-foot-6 Gillis isn’t much of a playmaker or shot creator off the dribble, but he’s steady and will be needed veteran voice on a Duke team that is going to be relying heavily on freshmen.
Tre Donaldson Old school: Auburn | New school: Michigan
Donaldson averaged 6.7 points, 3.2 assists and shot 41.2% from 3-point range in just 19.3 minute per game at Auburn in 2023-24. With two years of eligibility remaining, the 6-2 Donaldson could be an impact player for the Wolverines as first-year coach Dusty May gets his program going.
Javon Small Old school: Oklahoma State
Small averaged 15.1 points and 4.1 assists in his lone season at Oklahoma State after spending two years at East Carolina. The 6-2 guard hit 37.4% of his 3-pointers for the Cowboys, although that mark dropped to 31.8% in conference play.
Roddy Gayle Jr. Old school: Ohio State | New school: Michigan
Gayle is a physical shooting guard who can take defenders off the dribble and use his strength and athleticism to get good looks. He’s just a career 33.1% 3-point shooter. But after averaging 13.5 points and 3.1 assists for the Buckeyes as a sophomore, Gayle should be a key contributor at Michigan as the Wolverines get started under first-year coach Dusty May.
Chaz Lanier Old school: North Florida
Lanier carries boom-or-bust vibes into the portal after making a whopping 44% of his 3-point attempts on 7.5 attempts per game in his fourth season at North Florida. The 6-foot-4 guard was merely a role player early in his career before breaking out to earn all-Atlantic Sun honors this past season. If his outside shooting stroke carries over, he’ll be one of the transfer cycles biggest names.
Sean Stewart Old school: Duke
Stewart logged just 8.3 minutes per game as a freshman at Duke while stuck behind a logjam of frontcourt players that included Kyle Filipowski, Mark Mitchell and Ryan Young. But his splits were encouraging, and his athleticism came through in his limited spurts of action. The former McDonald’s All-American has three seasons of eligibility remaining and could still blossom into an NBA Draft prospect.
Sean Pedulla Old school: Virginia Tech | New school: Ole Miss
Pedulla was a mainstay in the Virginia Tech rotation for the past three seasons and led the Hokies in scoring during the 2023-24 campaign at 16.4 points per game. He is a career 35.5% 3-point shooter and dished out 4.6 assists per game during his junior year. The 6-1 guard struggled with turnovers in 2023-24 (3.3 per game) but has enough offensive game to make an impact at Ole Miss.
Adou Thiero Old school: Kentucky
Kentucky’s most effective defensive lineups often featured Thiero. The tenacious 6-6 wing guards and rebounds with a voracious appetite and can score attacking the rim. He’s just a career 32.3% 3-point shooter and doesn’t have a refined offensive game. Still, his 80% free-throw shooting mark in 2023-24 portends promise, and he could shine if given a greater and more consistent role.
Brandon Huntley-Hatfield Old school: Louisville | New school: NC State
Huntley-Hatfield finally began showing more consistent flashes in 2023-24 of why he was a five-star prospect in the Class of 2021. The 6-10 interior presence averaged 12.9 points and 8.4 rebounds for Louisville. He’s not an elite rim protector (0.8 blocks per game in 30.8 minutes) and is just beginning to show comfort as a 3-point shooter. With DJ Burns Jr. gone, there should be plenty of room for Huntley-Hatfield to shine in the NC State frontcourt.
Andrej Stojakovic Old school: Stanford | New school: Cal
Stojakovic soldiered through some rough patches as a freshman at Stanford after he was a McDonald’s All-American in the Class of 2023. At 6-foot-7, the son of former Sacramento Kings great Peja Stojakovic could be a pro prospect in his own right if he can build on the underwhelming 30.8% 3-point shooting mark he posted for the Cardinal.
Andrew Carr Old school: Wake Forest | New school: Kentucky
Carr is a stretch four who shot 37.1% from 3-point range on 2.8 attempts per game for Wake Forest during his fourth season of college basketball. The 6-9 forward averaged 13.5 points per game for the Demon Deacons. He is skilled around the rim and serviceable defensively. Carr has one season of eligibility remaining.
Eric Dailey Old school: Oklahoma State | New school: UCLA
Dailey was a bright spot for Oklahoma State during a down season, averaging 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 49.6% from the floor. The 6-8 forward has three seasons left to play with promise as a versatile forward and the potential to impact both ends of the floor over a three-year period.
Pop Isaacs Old school: Texas Tech | New school: Creighton
Creighton had a perimeter scoring role available amid the departures of Trey Alexander and Baylor Scheierman. Isaacs will help fill it after averaging 15.8 points as a sophomore at Texas Tech. The 6-foot-2 guard was not efficient — shooting just 34.9% from the floor as a sophomore — but he is talented.
Tarris Reed Old school: Michigan | New school: UConn
Reed will be a prominent member of the Donovan Clingan replacement committee at UConn after averaging nine points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks as a sophomore at Michigan. He’s a former four-star prospect with a big frame.
New Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope continues to fill out his Kentucky basketball coaching staff, as Alvin Brooks III became the fourth official member last week. Brooks, a longtime assistant at Baylor, joins a staff that includes Cody Fueger, Jason Hart and Mark Fox. All three are permitted to engage in off-campus Kentucky basketball recruiting and they will have their hands full over the next few months. The entire Kentucky basketball roster departed after John Calipari left for Arkansas, so Pope is aggressively targeting players from the college basketball transfer portal.
The first spring evaluation period is just three weeks away, which means some of the attention will turn to future recruiting classes as well. Pope also has one spot remaining on his staff for a coach who will not have off-campus recruiting duties. 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 Kentucky has officially lost Joey Hart, a 6-foot-5 guard who entered the transfer portal after last season. Hart was a finalist for Indiana’s Mr. Basketball in his senior season and has transferred back to his home state, playing for Ball State University. Hart only appeared in seven games as a freshman at Kentucky, but could have seen an expanded role with the totally revamped roster at Kentucky.
Reed Sheppard, the reigning SEC Rookie of the Year, highlights the four Kentucky basketball players who have declared for the 2024 NBA Draft. Ugonna Onyenso, Rob Dillingham and Justin Edwards have also declared. Antonio Reeves, the team’s leading scorer, is out of eligibility and will also go pro. Pope hasn’t had any time to ease into returning to his alma mater as he continues to try to fill Kentucky’s roster for a program with lofty expectations every season. Kentucky has made the NCAA Tournament the last three seasons and 29 of the last 33 years and those expectations won’t change for fans with Pope taking over. Join CatsPause to see the latest on all of Kentucky’s roster changes.
Kentucky basketball news, roster One player who will not be on Kentucky’s roster is BYU guard Richie Saunders, who withdrew from the transfer portal. Saunders visited Lexington at the beginning of the week, but decided to stay in Provo. He averaged 9.6 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 52.3% from the floor last season, so he would have been a nice addition to Pope’s initial roster.
The Wildcats have already added former BYU commit Collin Chandler and Drexel transfer Amari Williams. Kentucky Mr. Basketball winner Travis Perry, who signed with Calipari in November, said he is sticking with his decision to play for Kentucky as well. Pope is set to host multiple visitors over the next week, so the roster is likely going to change quickly. 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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New Kentucky coach Mark Pope landed a pair of commitments via the transfer portal last weekend in Oklahoma’s Otega Oweh and Wake Forest’s Andrew Carr to add to the 2024-25 roster. Pope added San Diego State star guard Lamont Butler to the roster from the transfer portal earlier in the week.
Butler, the 2023-24 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year, was the second transfer portal commitment Pope landed this month. Earlier this month, Drexel star forward Amari Williams committed to the Wildcats. Williams, a three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year, was the second newcomer UK landed since Pope’s arrival after Collin Chandler flipped his commitment from BYU to Kentucky.
Chandler, a member of the 2022 recruiting cycle, spent the last two years on a Mormon mission. He was Pope’s highest-rated signee (No. 33 overall) during his tenure at BYU.
With Kentucky star freshman Reed Sheppard declaring for the NBA Draft and Joey Hart transferring to Ball State, the Wildcats have zero returning scholarship players remaining.
Four-star guard Billy Richmond decommitted from the Wildcats’ once-heralded recruiting class a few hours after Chandler committed to the Wildcats. Chandler’s commitment comes after several members of UK’s 2024 recruiting class re-opened their recruitments following the departure of coach John Calipari for Arkansas. Travis Perry remains committed to UK, but four top 50 prospects formerly pledged to the Wildcats are now on track to play elsewhere next season.
Pope, who spent the past five seasons as BYU’s coach, played at UK under Rick Pitino from 1994 to 1996 and was a key part of the program’s 1996 national title run. With most of Kentucky’s 2023-24 roster either out of eligibility, in the transfer portal, or headed to the NBA Draft, his first order of business is building a roster for next season.
CBS Sports is tracking the status of the Kentucky roster and recruiting class in real time. Here’s where every current UK player and commit currently stand.
Incoming transfers Amari Williams (Transfer from Drexel) GP: 32 | GS: 32 | PPG: 12.2 | RPG: 7.8
The three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year is a valuable addition for Kentucky. Williams brings experience (79 career starts) and will be one of the best defensive players in the SEC from Day 1. Williams has averaged at least 1.8 blocks per game during the last three seasons. Williams shot 51.7% from the floor on 8.4 attempts per game during the 2023-24 campaign. Williams ranked No. 57 in the CBS Sports Transfer Portal Rankings.
Lamont Butler (Transfer from San Diego State) GP: 37 | GS: 37 | PPG: 9.3 | APG: 3.0
Butler is responsible for one of the biggest shots in Final Four history. Butler hit a game-winning jumper at the 2023 Final Four against FAU to help his school advance to the national title game. Butler is a proven veteran who excelled on the defensive end in the Mountain West. Butler and Williams will give the UK two of the top defenders in the SEC.
Oweh made 28 starts this past season for the Sooners and averaged a career-high 11.4 points. Oweh’s calling card is his defense, and he’s shown an ability to guard multiple positions. Williams, Butler, and Oweh should help the Wildcats transform into a competent unit on that end of the floor after last year’s squad allowed 79.7 points per game. That mark ranked fourth-worst among all Power Six programs.
Andrew Carr (Transfer from Wake Forest) GP: 35 | GS: 35 | PPG: 13.5 | RPG: 6.8
Carr is an experienced veteran who started his career at Delaware in 2022 before transferring to Wake Forest ahead of the 2022-23 campaign. Carr set career highs in points, blocks, and rebounds last season. The 6-foot-10 forward has shown an ability to stretch the floor and connected on 37.1% of his 3-pointers on just under three attempts (2.8) per game. Carr has 112 starts in 117 appearances in his college career.
Canada appeared in 25 total games over his five-year career with Kentucky. He made five appearances this season.
Kareem Watkins GP: 6 | GS: 1 | PPG: 0 | RPG: 0.2
Watkins has appeared in 20 games over the last four seasons with Kentucky. He made six appearances this season.
Walker Horn GP: 4 | GS: 0 | PPG: 0 | RPG: 0
Horn has made eight appearances over the last two seasons for Kentucky.
Grant Darbyshire GP: 4 | GS: 0 | PPG: 0 | RPG: 0
Darbyshire made four appearances for Kentucky this season.
Kentucky players not expected to return Reed Sheppard (Declared for NBA Draft) GP: 33 | GS: 5 | PPG: 12.5 | RPG: 4.1
Sheppard was named CBS Sports Freshman of the Year after putting up one of the most efficient stat lines in the country. Sheppard made only five starts in 33 games but had an impact whenever he stepped onto the court. Sheppard finished the season shooting 53.6% from the floor, 51.1% on 3-pointers (on 4.4 attempts), and 83.1% from the charity stripe. Sheppard finished five steals shy (82) of breaking the single-season record set by Rajon Rondo during the 2004-05 season. On Thursday, Sheppard officially declared for the NBA Draft.
While Ivišić didn’t play a ton during his freshman season, he definitely made an impact when he played. Hours after he was ruled eligible by the NCAA on Jan. 20, Ivišić recorded 13 points, five rebounds, and a pair of assists in his collegiate debut.
Days after Ivišić entered the transfer portal, he announced he would follow Calipari and had committed to Arkansas.
Ugonna Onyenso (Declared for NBA Draft) GP: 24 | GS: 14 | PPG: 3.6 | RPG: 4.8
The top shot-blocker on last season’s Kentucky team averaged 18.6 minutes per night. Onyenso made 14 starts after playing less than seven minutes as a freshman the year before, but has declared for the NBA Draft.
D.J. Wagner (In transfer portal) GP: 29 | GS: 28 | PPG: 9.9 | RPG: 1.9
Within a few days after Calipari’s departure, his hiring at Arkansas and Pope’s arriving at UK, Wagner entered the transfer portal.
Wagner ranked as the No. 6 player coming out of high school and was one of the prized recruits from his class. The Wagner family has deep ties to Calipari, as D.J.’s father, Dajuan Wagner, played for Calipari when he was the coach at Memphis.
Rob Dillingham (Declared for NBA Draft) GP: 32 | GS: 1 | PPG: 15.2 | RPG: 2.9
The top-ranked player in CBS Sports’ NBA Draft prospect rankings is turning pro. Dillingham was named SEC 6th Man of the Year after putting up big numbers in his first season at Kentucky. The 6-3 guard made only a single start but was one of Kentucky’s best players the entire season. Dillingham is a crafty guard with a quick burst that can get to the rim whenever he pleases. Dillingham has received buzz over the last few months as a potential No. 1 overall pick.
Bradshaw was the first player from Kentucky’s top-ranked 2023 recruiting class to enter his name in the transfer portal. Bradshaw missed the start of the season due to injury and appeared for the first time on Dec. 2 against UNC Wilmington. Bradshaw was the No. 5 recruit coming out of high school. Bradshaw is expected to transfer to Ohio State, according to 247Sports.
Adou Thiero (In transfer portal) GP: 25 | GS: 19 | PPG: 7.2 | RPG: 5
Thiero entered his name into the transfer portal last month and is the No. 53 player available in David Cobb’s transfer portal rankings. Thiero saw a larger role during his second season in Lexington, making 19 starts and 25 appearances while averaging career-highs in almost every statistical category.
Hart will enter the transfer portal after playing sparingly as a freshman. The former three-star recruit committed to Kentucky out of high school over UCF, Ball State, Drake and Northwestern among others. Hart committed to Ball State on Thursday.
Justin Edwards (Declared for NBA Draft) GP: 32 | GS: 30 | PPG: 8.8 | RPG: 3.4
Edwards was the first Kentucky player to declare for the draft and decided to turn pro days before Calipari left the program. The former highly-touted prospect showed flashes of his five-star billing throughout the season. Edwards projects as someone who will either get drafted late in the first round or early in the second round of this summer’s draft. Edwards is a perfect swing for the fences prospect.
Antonio Reeves (Out of eligibility) GP: 33 | GS: 33 | PPG: 20.2 | RPG: 4.2
The leading scorer on Kentucky last season is out of eligibility. Reeves transferred to Kentucky in 2022 after spending the first three seasons at Illinois State. Reeves never entered his name into the transfer portal last summer but reportedly took summer classes at Illinois State, where he began his career. He finished his college career with a career-high in points and rebounds.
Tre Mitchell (Out of eligibility) GP: 27 | GS: 24 | PPG: 10.7 | RPG: 7.2
Like Reeves, Mitchell is out of eligibility. Mitchell transferred to Kentucky for his final college season after stops at UMass, Texas, and West Virginia. Mitchell provided a valuable veteran presence for a young roster and started 24 out of the 27 games he appeared in.
Jordan Burks (In transfer portal) GP: 20 | GS: 0 | PPG: 1.9 | RPG: 1.6
Burks is a former three-star recruit from the 2023 recruiting cycle. He appeared in 20 games this season and scored a career-high 13 points in a win over Vanderbilt. Burks entered the transfer portal on Friday. Kentucky will have zero scholarship players returning on the roster from last season.
Kentucky’s incoming recruiting class Under Calipari, Kentucky finished with a top-five recruiting class every cycle since 247Sports started tracking team rankings in 2010. The Wildcats landed the No. 1 recruiting class in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2020, and 2023 under his watch. But in an era when age and experience rule the day in college basketball, relying so heavily on one-and-done prospects began to hurt Kentucky in recent seasons.
Here is a look at Kentucky’s roster and incoming recruiting class with 247Sports rankings.
No. 33 Collin Chandler Chandler is technically part of the 2022 recruiting class. But after spending two years on a Mormon mission, the Utah native will be a freshman in the 2024-25 season. The 6-4 guard ranked as a four-star prospect and was originally committed to BYU before requesting a release and becoming Pope’s first commitment at Kentucky. 247Sports recruiting analyst Brandon Jenkins described Chandler as “a competitive guard who always plays in attack mode.”
No. 73 Travis Perry Perry was Kentucky’s lone signee from the Bluegrass State. He ranked as the No. 6 point guard in the 2024 cycle and committed to Kentucky over Alabama, Cincinnati, Ole Miss, and Western Kentucky. Perry is the all-time leading scorer in Kentucky high school boys’ basketball history.
Class of 2024 recruits no longer committed No. 8 Jayden Quaintance The highest-ranked signee from Kentucky’s incoming recruiting class is unique because of his age. Quaintance won’t turn 17 years old until July, making him ineligible for the 2025 NBA Draft. NBA rules state that a player must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft, which opens the door for him to play two seasons in college. Quaintance committed to Kentucky over Florida, Missouri, and Ohio State. On Wednesday, Quaintance’s father, Haminn, told 247Sports that his son would be requesting his release from his NIL to Kentucky. Haminn recently posted on social media that their family would be “riding with the big dog (Calipari) until the wheels fall off.” Calipari will likely attempt to lure in Quaintance to come to Arkansas.
No. 20 Karter Knox (Committed to Arkansas) The brother of former Kentucky one-and-done Kevin Knox II was the most recent player to pledge their commitment to Calipari in this class. Knox committed to Kentucky on March 9 over Louisville, USF, and a return to Overtime Elite. He was the highest-ranked high school player on the board available after former Indiana signee Liam McNeeley requested a release from his NLI. Knox’s brother, Kobe, is a current player at USF. Knox committed to Arkansas on Monday.
No. 22 Billy Richmond (Committed to Arkansas) Richmond committed to Kentucky on Dec. 21 over Alabama, LSU, and Memphis but decommitted on April 16. The Richmond family has deep ties to Calipari. Richmond’s father, who is also named Billy Richmond, played for Calipari at Memphis from 2002 to 2004. Richmond is considered an athletic lefty wing with the chance to make an immediate impact when he steps onto campus this fall. Richmond committed to Arkansas on Friday.
No. 26 Boogie Fland (Committed to Arkansas) The McDonald’s All-American is one of the best combo guards in the country and ranked only behind Rutgers signee Dylan Harper for the top player at the position. Fland committed to Kentucky over Alabama, UConn, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, and St. John’s. Fland was Kentucky’s second commitment in the 2024 cycle, but asked for his release less than a week after Calipari was introduced at Arkansas. Fland committed to Kentucky on Thursday.
No. 46 Somto Cyril The first commit of Kentucky’s 2024 recruiting class picked the Wildcats over Cincinnati, Florida, Georgetown, Indiana, Kansas, Memphis, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. Cyril ranks as the No. 10 center in his class. Cyril was granted his release from his NLI and de-committed from Kentucky on Wednesday.
North Carolina landed one of the top players in the transfer portal last weekend in Belmont’s Cade Tyson. Tyson ranked as the No. 16 player in the CBS Sports Transfer Rankings and was one of the top 3-point shooters in the sport this past season.
The addition of Tyson to the Tar Heels 2024-25 roster comes days after CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander reported that All-American guard RJ Davis would return to school for his fifth and final season.Davis will be the only first-team All-American returning to play college basketball next season. The others (Zach Edey, Jamal Shead, Tristen Newton, and Dalton Knecht) are all heading to the NBA Draft.
After Armando Bacot decided to play a final season in 2023-24, Davis’ return gives UNC two different All-Americans in consecutive years for the first time since James Worthy, Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins in the early 1980s.
Davis won’t be the only key player returning. UNC guard Seth Trimble — a key backup on this season’s team — elected to remove his name from the transfer portal to return to campus. Former five-star recruit Elliot Cadeau is expected to return for his sophomore season.
CBS Sports is tracking the status of the Tar Heels roster and recruiting class in real time. Here’s where every current North Carolina player and commitment currently stand.
Tyson is quite literally the definition of a sharpshooter. The 6-foot-7 forward connected on 46.5% of his triples on 5.5 attempts per night — hence why he was one of the most coveted players available. Tyson should have an opportunity to set into a starting role right away with starting forwards Cormac Ryan and Harrison Ingram both departing the UNC program.
North Carolina players expected to return RJ Davis GP: 37 | GS: 37 | PPG: 21.2 | RPG: 3.6
Davis has a strong argument as the best player in the sport and will be one of the top favorites to win the Naismith Player of the Year award. The UNC star has appeared in 138 career games at UNC with 118 starts under his belt. Davis was 11th in the country in points per game and was a key reason why UNC earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament after a disappointing season the year before.
Cadeau is a prime breakout candidate. The former five-star prospect elected to reclassify up to join UNC ahead of this past season, and after coming off the bench for the first few games of the season, he found a spot in the starting lineup. Cadeau averaged a team-high 4.1 assists. If Cadeau can further develop his jumper and shot from beyond the arc, he will find himself in the conversation as one of the best point guards in the ACC.
Seth Trimble GP: 35 | GS: 1 | PPG: 5.2 | RPG: 2.1
Trimble started just one game for the Tar Heels this past season but was a backup on a team that reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. After initially entering his name in the transfer portal to explore his options ahead of his junior season, Trimble withdrew to give the Tar Heels more depth. Trimble averaged 17.1 minutes per game, and with Cormac Ryan and Harrison Ingram departing, more minutes should be available for the 6-3 guard.
Washington appeared in all 37 games and primarily served as the backup center. Washington only averaged 8.4 minutes per game. That number should go up with Bacot leaving.
Zayden High GP: 23 | GS: 0 | PPG: 0.8 | RPG: 1.1
High played sparingly this past season. The former No. 92 overall prospect in the 2023 recruiting cycle appeared in just 23 of UNC’s 37 games.
In his first season at UNC, Withers appeared in all 37 games and made three starts. He spent the first three seasons of his career at Louisville. Withers has one final season of eligibility if he elects to exercise it.
North Carolina players not expected to return Armando Bacot (Out of eligibility) GP: 37 | GS: 37 | PPG: 14.5 | RPG: 10.3
The college career of one of the most accomplished players in ACC history is over. Bacot averaged a double-double for the third consecutive season and holds the program record for double-doubles and career rebounds. He is one of three UNC players to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career.
Cormac Ryan (Out of eligibility) GP: 36 | GS: 34 | PPG: 11.5 | RPG: 2.8
The Notre Dame transfer used his final season of eligibility with the Tar Heels. Ryan started 34 games and shot 35.4% from distance on 5.9 attempts per night. He played in 152 games across three schools (Stanford, Notre Dame, and North Carolina) and made 121 career starts.
Harrison Ingram (Declared for NBA Draft) GP: 37 | GS: 36 | PPG: 12.2 | RPG: 8.8
While it’s possible that Ingram could withdraw from the NBA Draft to return to school because he’s maintaining his eligibility throughout the process, staying in the draft seems like the more logical choice. Ingram had a productive season as a full-time starter and proved to be one of the best rebounding wings in the country. Ingram currently projects as a second-round pick this summer.
North Carolina was Wojcik’s final stop of his five-year career. He started at Loyola-Chicago and played two seasons at Brown before enrolling at UNC. Wojcik averaged 8.3 minutes per night and appeared in 32 games.
James Okonkwo (In transfer portal) GP: 15 | GS: 0 | PPG: 1.0 | RPG: 1.0
Okonkwo entered the transfer portal shortly after the conclusion of the season. He spent only one season at UNC after playing the last two seasons at West Virginia under Bob Huggins.
North Carolina’s incoming recruiting class North Carolina coach Hubert Davis has found success during his tenure using high school recruiting and the transfer portal. UNC’s 2024 recruiting class ranks No. 12, and last year’s class — headlined by Cadeau and High — ranked 15th. The Tar Heels are bringing in two top 10 players in the 247Sports rankings: Ian Jackson and Drake Powell. The other player in the class is three-star center James Brown, who ranks as the No. 108 overall prospect.
Here is a look at North Carolina’s roster and incoming recruiting class with 247Sports rankings.
No. 9 Ian Jackson The highest-ranked player from UNC’s recruiting class committed to Davis and company over Arkansas, Kentucky, LSU, and Oregon. The 6-5 shooting guard ranked as the No. 4 player at his position in the 2024 recruiting cycle. Jackson could make an impact as a two-way player from Day 1.
No. 10 Drake Powell The No. 10 overall player in the 2024 recruiting cycle committed to North Carolina in September 2022 over Appalachian State, Cincinnati, Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee, and more. Powell is from Pittsboro, North Carolina — less than 20 miles from UNC’s Chapel Hill campus.
No. 108 James Brown Brown committed to North Carolina in January 2023 over Illinois, Duke, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Missouri, and more. He should provide depth at center upon his arrival on campus.
