The Wildcats officially announced Mark Pope as its newest Kentucky basketball head coach on April 12, hiring him as a replacement for John Calipari, who left for Arkansas after 15 seasons in Lexington. Pope hired four assistant coaches shortly after taking the job, including Baylor assistant Alvin Brooks III, former Georgia head coach Mark Fox, BYU assistant Cody Fueger and former G League Ignite head coach Jason Hart. Brooks, Fueger and Hart have joined Pope on the Kentucky basketball recruiting trail to assemble the 2024-25 Kentucky basketball roster. They have used a combination of players from the college basketball transfer portal and incoming freshmen to build their initial Kentucky basketball lineup in Lexington.
Pope signed a five-year contract worth $27.5 million, along with additional bonuses and incentives in play. He has filled all but one scholarship spot for the upcoming season, even though he had to start from scratch following Calipari's departure. 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 atCatsPause.comare 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
The leading scorer from Pope's 2023-24 BYU roster is now a Wildcat, as Jaxson Robinson withdrew from the NBA Draft to follow Pope to Lexington. Robinson is entering his fifth collegiate season after pacing the Cougars with a career-high 14.2 points per game last year. He played 26.5 minutes primarily off the bench, earning Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year honors.
Robinson joins a plethora of other proven scorers on the roster, as Otega Oweh (Oklahoma), Ansley Almonor (FDU), Koby Brea (Dayton), Kerr Kriisa (West Virginia), Amari Williams (Drexel) and Andrew Carr (Wake Forest) were all in double figures at their respective schools last year. Former Oklahoma State center Brandon Garrison averaged 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season and was one of the most coveted players in the spring portal. The Wildcats still have one more scholarship to fill, and CatsPause will have the latest updates.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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