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

[TrueblueCATfan]

I just saw where Bryce Hopkins is back in the portal

[George]

For reference, UK had anywhere between $9-12mil in NIL this year, which will almost certainly increase for next year.

[justafan]

For reference, UK had anywhere between $9-12mil in NIL this year, which will almost certainly increase for next year.

I’m curious where this range comes from. I’ve posted before, there’s no real way to know. Everyone inflates the numbers: school, boosters, coaches, players, parents, agents….. everyone. IMO, wild-a??-guesses by people wanting clicks.

[Catsrock]

I do not need to see tape of Magoon Gwath. His name is Magoon Gwath. Go get him. Pay him handsomely.

[George]

I do not need to see tape of Magoon Gwath. His name is Magoon Gwath. Go get him. Pay him handsomely.

If you told me the next season of The Mandalorian would feature a new villain named Magoon Gwath, I'd have no trouble believing you.

[Catsrock]

If you told me the next season of The Mandalorian would feature a new villain named Magoon Gwath, I'd have no trouble believing you.

Truth.

And in my imagination he rebounds like Oscar, shoots like Delk, and “goon “ is in his name—nobody messes with him.

[Joneslab]

There have always been guys around the UK program who have called things before they happen. I've been around for years and year and have seen it hundreds of times. In a town as small as Lexington with a basketball program as wide-ranging as UK's, for them to be able to keep all secrets is just not something that could possibly happen.

The problem is that there are a lot of UK fans/boosters/even employees sometimes who think they're Trilly Donovan, so they make stuff up for internet clout. That phenomenon is as old as the internet itself. So you have to be careful who you believe and not put a lot of emotional stock in stuff that leaks out, but rather just chalk it up as part of the fun, put it in your mind for later, and if it happens, great. If not, move on.

[Lighthouse]

^ We've had posters on here who would post stuff about the UK bb and fb programs, and they were just guessing.

[justafan]

No, I have nothing positive or negative to say about Trilly or any other insider.

i would certainly never 2nd guess anyone about recruits coming or not. Plenty of people have “connections”.

But, I would question anyone’s NIL numbers just because there are too many people and deals and no regulation, or centralized reporting.

sure, there is whatever UK calls its “central” fund, and there’s probably dozens that know that number. The rest 🤷‍♂️

even the “national” people throw out “wide ranges” of values for individual athletes. The 2025 SI report lists them as “estimated”. There might be some known values, but not all. So, guesses.

cooper Flagg: $4.8M. Maybe. Maybe more, maybe less.

where does SI/the writer get those numbers ?

https://www.si.com/college-basketball/highest-paid-college-athletes-via-nil-deals

[George]

Add Sam Houston’s Lamar Wilkerson to Kentucky’s list. Reportedly the best shooter in the portal.

[George]

UK had a Zoom meeting today with Eaglestaff.

[Joneslab]

UK had a Zoom meeting today with Eaglestaff.

Nice!

He's a wild player. Has some games where it looks like he was just firing it from virtually all angles for 40 solid minutes. If he were to come here, it'd be interesting to see how he could fit in on a better team.

But just based on his offensive potential alone, everybody should want this guy. Electric offense.

[George]

Trilly says this morning there's "a little bit of Kentucky buzz" re: Donovan Dent.

He'd be a heck of a get.

[Joneslab]

Trilly says this morning there's "a little bit of Kentucky buzz" re: Donovan Dent.

He'd be a heck of a get.

Wonder if he's any relation to Rodney Dent.

As chance would have it, I was watching an old Louisville news broadcast from the early '90s the other day and Fred Cowgill (an absurdly young Fred Cowgill) said, "I'd like to show you some video of the new UK commit, but apparently the people in Odessa, Texas don't have video." The player who'd just committed was Rodney Dent.

[George]

FSU transfer Taylor Bol Bowen will meet with Kentucky today via Zoom.