Kentucky basketball under Mark Pope: Transfer portal news, 2024 roster, targets, recruits by UK experts

After 15 seasons on the job, John Calipari stepped down as head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats to take the same job at Arkansas. Kentucky hired Mark Pope, a former standout guard for the Wildcats, from BYU to take over the program, and the Wildcats will have a drastically new Kentucky basketball roster for the 2024-25 college basketball season. Calipari had signed another loaded recruiting class of six players, but five of them opted to leave when he left for Arkansas, leaving Pope with a depleted Kentucky basketball recruiting class and not much time to rebuild.

Pope has had a fair amount of early success landing players in the Transfer Portal, but he still has holes to fill in the Kentucky basketball lineup before the 2024-25 college basketball season tips off. Where will Pope turn to build his 2024-25 Kentucky basketball depth chart? 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

Pope kicked his roster rebuild off with a bang, when he quickly landed a pair of highly coveted players in the spring Transfer Portal. He landed former Oklahoma State center Brandon Garrison, who was ranked as a five-star prospect in the Class of 2023, to get things started. The 6-foot-11, 245-pound big man averaged 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game during his freshman season, and will give the Wildcats a physically imposing presence in the paint.

More recently, the Wildcats landed former San Diego State point guard Lamont Butler Jr.. Butler is experienced and talented, and was a key piece in San Diego State's run to the national championship game in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. The 6-foot-2 point guard has career averages of 7.7 points, 2.6 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game. 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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