First-year Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope has tended to assemble coaching staffs composed of unproven assistants who are early in their career, but he has taken a different approach this offseason. Pope hired Cody Fueger, Alvin Brooks II, Jason Hart and Mark Fox, all veteran coaches. Brooks spent the last eight seasons as the top assistant for Baylor, while Hart has nine years of NBA experience and Fox has 18 years of collegiate head coaching experience. They have been able to build a Kentucky basketball roster from scratch over the past two months after John Calipari's exit led to a mass departure.
Pope has ties to Lexington, as he was a player on Kentucky's 1996 national title team. He has used the college basketball transfer portal to assemble his first Kentucky basketball team as the Wildcats' head coach, and now he will try to prepare them for the upcoming season. 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
Pope had to hit the ground running when he was named Kentucky's new head coach since several members of last year's Kentucky basketball roster have departed Lexington. Forward Zvonimir Ivisic is the first player to follow Calipari to Arkansas, and guard/small forward Adou Thiero followed after playing his past two seasons with Coach Cal. Aaron Bradshaw joined Ohio State, and guard Joey Hart will be on the Ball State roster next season. Point guard D.J. Wagner will follow Calipari to Arkansas.
Justin Edwards, Rob Dillingham and Ugonna Onyenso have all made the final decision to declare for the Draft. Kentucky will also be without top scorers Tre Mitchell and Antonio Reeves next season since both players graduated. Join CatsPause to see the latest on all of Kentucky's roster changes.
Kentucky basketball news, roster
Pope's leading scorer from last season at BYU is following him to Lexington, as BYU transfer Jaxson Robinson withdrew from the NBA draft and signed with Kentucky. Robinson was named the 2023-24 Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 14.2 points per game on 42.6% shooting. He was ranked as the eighth-best small forward in the transfer portal, according to the 247Sports rankings.
Robinson was Kentucky's ninth transfer portal addition of the offseason, joining players like Andrew Carr (Wake Forest), Brandon Garrison (Oklahoma State) and Lamont Butler (San Diego State). The Wildcats also have three incoming freshmen in Travis Perry, Collin Chandler and Trent Noah. They only have one scholarship spot remaining heading into the summer. 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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