2025-26 Roster Chatter (UPDATE: Oweh Returns, Roster Complete)

[Joneslab]

A lot of times you can exploit/hack certain positions if you can play a certain way. This is kind of what Cal was going for when he talked about all that "positionless" stuff.

The best example would be somebody like Chuck Hayes. You could have Hayes guard basically all 5. Outside of Davis, he remains the best defensive player I've ever seen at Kentucky because of that. He was traditionally a 4, but his defensive ability allowed him to just wreck the game on the defensive end.

A stretch 4 is basically a guard who can handle a big player defensively. The problem with a lot of college stretch 4's is they can only play away from the basket and don't give you a lot inside. Andrew Carr was a good stretch 4, but he was a "good" shooter and a "good" interior player, obviously not great at either. If you can find a player who can bang *and* shoot* and *drive* it...well, you get guys like Cooper Flagg, who are truly positionless and it's a main reason why they're manna in the game of college basketball.

[KCKUKFan]

Willie and AD are the best individual defensive players I've seen at Kentucky. Hayes and Erik Daniels right up there. Hawkins.

Pitino's prime teams were great defensively, but that was more of a team effort.

[Joneslab]

Last season Vandy's coach put on their roster that all their player were "point guards." They all show up on the roster as PG's.

Same theory there, i.e. if everybody on the team can do guard stuff, including the bigs, you turn yourself into a super dangerous team.

Main reason Amari was so good: bigs couldn't press out on him because he'd carve them up with his passing, and he dribbled like a guard. Obviously couldn't shoot...but if he could've he would've never made it to Kentucky anyway and would've been playing for the Sacramento Kings.

[Bluesong]

Quick question, what is a good site to keep track of who's committed so far in the portal?

This site right here. 😎 Here is a list of some of the notables still in the portal.

As of April 9, 2025, several notable college basketball players have entered the transfer portal and are yet to commit to new programs. Here are some of the top players currently available:

• Coleman Hawkins, Forward: After withdrawing from the NBA Draft, Hawkins entered the transfer portal. The 6-foot-10 forward was an All-Big Ten selection, averaging 12.1 points and 6.1 rebounds with Illinois. He also shot a career-best 36.9% from three-point range. Hawkins has reportedly scheduled a visit to Kansas State.

• Arthur Kaluma, Forward: Kaluma withdrew from the NBA Draft and entered the portal after one season at Kansas State, where he averaged 14.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Potential destinations for Kaluma include Memphis, Illinois, and Creighton, where he began his college career.

• Dug McDaniel, Guard: Following Michigan’s coaching change, McDaniel entered the portal. He averaged 16.3 points per game and has two years of eligibility remaining, making him a highly sought-after player.

• Andrej Stojaković, Guard/Forward: The son of former NBA star Peja Stojaković, Andrej entered the portal after his freshman year at Stanford. Given his potential and lineage, he is expected to attract significant interest from various programs.

• Owen Freeman, Forward: The 2023-24 Big Ten Rookie of the Year from Iowa has entered the portal. Despite injury challenges, he averaged 16.7 points per game. Schools like Michigan, Ohio State, Gonzaga, Alabama, and Arkansas have shown interest.

• Nick Boyd, Guard: After a season at San Diego State, Boyd entered the portal. He previously played a significant role in Florida Atlantic’s 2023 Final Four run. A reunion with former FAU coach Dusty May at Michigan is a possibility.

• Nick Davidson, Forward: Davidson, a 6-foot-8 forward from Nevada, entered the portal after averaging 15.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game, earning second-team All-Mountain West Conference honors.

Please note that the transfer portal is highly dynamic, and player commitments can change rapidly. For the most current information, it’s advisable to consult official team announcements or trusted sports news outlets.

[KentuckyWild2020]

Problem solved

I appreciate the information.

[40bill]

"Position less basketball" is a phrase we've heard for quite a while. Like has been mentioned there are many great rebounder that don't fit the mold of a 4.
Barkley is the prime example. Hayes. Maybe Kenny Walker. Noah isn't much shorter than Hayes or Barkley. Rebounding is a lot about position and a ton about attitude. We have 6 foot 8 guards these days. It's more about finding what the guy does well and put him in a position to succeed. As much as I liked Andrew Carr I'm not real sure he ever found his actual sweet spot.
Big part of coaching is getting those bits and pieces in the right spots.

I'm pretty sure Brandon Garrison wants to be a 3. He definitely didn't excel at the 5 spot, and for all his ability he didn't really strike me as a 4 either.

Ah well...we get to find out in a few months.

[Joneslab]

Garrison played some 4 last year with varying results. He's got the stretch skillset, doesn't have that fluidity off the dribble you need to play that position at a high level.

I believe the player from Robert Morris might be more of a fit as a stretch. I hope Garrison/Quaintance are the duo at the 5.

Because you can still play a stretch 5. Happens in the NBA all the time. That's where Garrison was at his best: doing 5 things defensively and then stepping out and knocking down a shot or two.

[Bluesong]

Problem solved

I appreciate the information.

You’re welcome!

[George]

Updates from this morning:

1. Temper your excitement about Wilkerson. Sounds like this is a classic case of "who will pay me the most," a la Chaz Lanier from last year. Florida, IU, and some other big players will be involved, and the "highest bidder" scenario may not be ideal for Kentucky in this particular case.
2. Lots of people are confused by, and doubting, last night's rumors about Garrison. Doesn't mean he isn't or hasn't been a transfer possibility, but there's a big role and plenty of money for him at UK next season, regardless of the JQ addition.
3. Yates: The longer it goes, the worse it looks for UW.
4. SMU will give Pierre the money he wants, but he may be waiting on the chance to take visits elsewhere (dead period ends soon). UK and Pierre have gone back and forth three or four times now.

[KCKUKFan]

Updates from this morning:

1. Temper your excitement about Wilkerson. Sounds like this is a classic case of "who will pay me the most," a la Chaz Lanier from last year. Florida, IU, and some other big players will be involved, and the "highest bidder" scenario may not be ideal for Kentucky in this particular case.
2. Lots of people are confused by, and doubting, last night's rumors about Garrison. Doesn't mean he isn't or hasn't been a transfer possibility, but there's a big role and plenty of money for him at UK next season, regardless of the JQ addition.
3. Yates: The longer it goes, the worse it looks for UW.
4. SMU will give Pierre the money he wants, but he may be waiting on the chance to take visits elsewhere (dead period ends soon). UK and Pierre have gone back and forth three or four times now.

Alvaro? Need that 4 shored up with Diaboute.

Ideally, we need Alvaro and our starting 2G shooter.

[George]

Alvaro? Need that 4 shored up with Diaboute.

Ideally, we need Alvaro and our starting 2G shooter.

I don't know if we'll land Alvaro AND keep BG AND pull another shooter. I think they like Alvaro's shooting so much that they'd view him as that shooter. Still not sure BG stays if we get Alvaro, even though there wouldn't be as much competition for minutes as one might think, given their size.

The more I read about Alvaro, though, the more I want that guy at Kentucky. He'd be so sick in Pope's offense. Shoots something like 41% (on pretty high volume) from three, and as I can't stop saying, his assist rate is 22%. And here's the thing about that: Amari's at Drexel 17.9%, then jumped to 24% at UK, so look at how much that improved with Pope, then assume Alvaro would improve on 22% from his position.

Filthy.

[Joneslab]

I liked Alvaro since I heard about him...BUT guards win college basketball games. If the choice is between a big man and a guard, unless that big man is otherwordly you'll always pick the guy who's going to have the ball in his hands.

Kentucky's staff *seems* to be behaving in such a way they do want that other guard, just by dint of the fact that we know (or at least this is what's been reported) they keep making calls about these guards that come available.

[KentuckyWild2020]

I don't know if we'll land Alvaro AND keep BG AND pull another shooter. I think they like Alvaro's shooting so much that they'd view him as that shooter. Still not sure BG stays if we get Alvaro, even though there wouldn't be as much competition for minutes as one might think, given their size.

The more I read about Alvaro, though, the more I want that guy at Kentucky. He'd be so sick in Pope's offense. Shoots something like 41% (on pretty high volume) from three, and as I can't stop saying, his assist rate is 22%. And here's the thing about that: Amari's at Drexel 17.9%, then jumped to 24% at UK, so look at how much that improved with Pope, then assume Alvaro would improve on 22% from his position.

Filthy.

Agreed

[KentuckyWild2020]

For the record,having experienced portal players coming in makes me alot more excited than having high school freshmen with the exception of Wall/Cousins or AD/MKG.

With that being said, this year we still have 3 freshmen that are pretty darn good in my opinion.

Year two is lining up to be about as good as it can be.


Still, never forget, this year's Kentucky team healthy pulled a 16-0 run on the National Champions.

I said it then i will say it now, that was a special moment of Kentucky basketball. That was a surreal moment to witness and in my opinion a defining moment in the Mark Pope era..

[George]

New name for you guys: WSU’s Cedric Coward.