Portal

[UKHoops01]

I realize it's all opinion and everything... but 247 has Sebastian Williams-Adams ranked as the 38th overall transfer they ranked him higher than Wilkins.

I don't agree with that but, the upside for him is clearly there. Why did we not go after him?

I agree with you that I don't agree with a lot of these "rankings".

Best advice I could ever give anyone when it comes to "rankings"...is use your own eyes and rank them yourself. So many of these " rankings" services overweigh things like athleticism and measurables (wingspan, vertical, hand size, etc.): and try to 'project' how much they will develop rather than judging them off of their current basketball ability. That's why someone like Jayden Quaintence is going to be ranked so disproportionately ahead of Koby Brea. Shooting ability and fundamentals don't play near as much of a factor as they should.

[Catsrock]

Not that any of us has any clue what he's thinking or motivates him - or in reality, his handlers - but I'll bet it's probably 99% money and has nothing to do with all the theories that others have.

So it’s UK then. Didn’t he clearly state that he wants to be at KU but was going to visit UK (which he did) due to more money, or that KU needed to come up with more money?

[Rondo#9]

I realize it's all opinion and everything... but 247 has Sebastian Williams-Adams ranked as the 38th overall transfer they ranked him higher than Wilkins.

I don't agree with that but, the upside for him is clearly there. Why did we not go after him?

[Pete Hogwallop]

Yeaaahhh, Pobily basically said the same thing I said earlier. It's way less of a chance Stokes comes here if he looks at the roster and sees there's a chance he might have to play some significant minutes at the 4 spot. That's why it was crucial to at the very least get Rancik committed.

Let's just hope that Diallo is Stokes best friend and that trumps everything else.... aside from the money of course.

Not that any of us has any clue what he's thinking or motivates him - or in reality, his handlers - but I'll bet it's probably 99% money and has nothing to do with all the theories that others have.

[Pete Hogwallop]

Teams who at least by the portal numbers have to this point a better off season.
Stephen F Austin
Loyola
George Mason
Fordham
Omaha
Illinois Chicago
Southern Illinois
Rhode Island

speechless

So basically no team that matters at all.

[UKHoops01]

Teams who at least by the portal numbers have to this point a better off season.
Stephen F Austin
Loyola
George Mason
Fordham
Omaha
Illinois Chicago
Southern Illinois
Rhode Island

speechless

I honestly think Pope suffers from thinking that UK sells itself, and that kids will be chomping at the bit to come to UK. I think he mistakenly thought he'd have his pick of the litter and he could be a little picky. He cast a wide net, but there was no urgency. And he didn't jump himself to close when a kid like Rancik said he'd like to come, he seemed to have an attitude like "hold on, I think I can do better". And when "better" turned him down, he was in a world of hurt and didn't know how to react.

[Tomcats1990]

Teams who at least by the portal numbers have to this point a better off season.
Stephen F Austin
Loyola
George Mason
Fordham
Omaha
Illinois Chicago
Southern Illinois
Rhode Island

speechless

[Rondo#9]

Yeaaahhh, Pobily basically said the same thing I said earlier. It's way less of a chance Stokes comes here if he looks at the roster and sees there's a chance he might have to play some significant minutes at the 4 spot. That's why it was crucial to at the very least get Rancik committed.

Let's just hope that Diallo is Stokes best friend and that trumps everything else.... aside from the money of course.

[UKHoops01]

If that is our roster without Stokes, he will not be coming here. His word to the media for the last 10 days is he is waiting to see roster make up before making a decision. If we do not have 2 bigs (PF and C) he is not coming here to battle down low. He wants to be in a situation where he has free range. Hawthrone (by all reports) has not gained weight. He is a 3 as a skinny guy. Williams has much more weight and would be the 4 in that situation. But McBride would beat both out as the 4 as he can battle a bit down low for rebounds. I hope and pray Pope has other options (either portal guys in the draft or Euro Big PF with some range).

It's not unusual for fans of a particular team to be a little biased and overvalue their existing players. Unfortunately, players like Stokes who are more neutral to the situation look at things more objectively and are able to look at a roster and decide without a biased opinion if there is enough talent there to be worthy of making a commitment to join it.

[Pobilly]

St John's Guard Jason Sanon hearing from Kentucky.

The 6-5 guard out of Fall River, MA averaged 7.9 points and 2.4 rebounds per contest with the Johnnies in 2025-26 while finishing with shooting splits of 34/34/77

https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-w...d-joson-sanon/

Most of his shots must of been 3s as he shot the same overall %.

[Pobilly]

I think we go small, if McBride is the only true PF on the roster.

I could see Kam and Hawthorne (don’t forget he was a 4-star out of HS and has a year of weight training/practice under his belt) being the 3 and 4 combo.

G Diallo/M. Williams
G Wilkins/Morton
F K. Williams/Noah
F Hawthorne/McBride
C Moreno/Dynes/Potter

Not great, unless Hawthorne is the real deal and K Will comes on strong. That’s a middle of the road SEC bubble team at best, IMHO.

Really need Stokes at this point to have any semblance of hope.

If that is our roster without Stokes, he will not be coming here. His word to the media for the last 10 days is he is waiting to see roster make up before making a decision. If we do not have 2 bigs (PF and C) he is not coming here to battle down low. He wants to be in a situation where he has free range. Hawthrone (by all reports) has not gained weight. He is a 3 as a skinny guy. Williams has much more weight and would be the 4 in that situation. But McBride would beat both out as the 4 as he can battle a bit down low for rebounds. I hope and pray Pope has other options (either portal guys in the draft or Euro Big PF with some range).

[bucsrule8872]

Taylor Bol Bowen to Oregon. Another PF off the board.

McBride really might be a starter next season.

I think we go small, if McBride is the only true PF on the roster.

I could see Kam and Hawthorne (don’t forget he was a 4-star out of HS and has a year of weight training/practice under his belt) being the 3 and 4 combo.

G Diallo/M. Williams
G Wilkins/Morton
F K. Williams/Noah
F Hawthorne/McBride
C Moreno/Dynes/Potter

Not great, unless Hawthorne is the real deal and K Will comes on strong. That’s a middle of the road SEC bubble team at best, IMHO.

Really need Stokes at this point to have any semblance of hope.

[UKHoops01]

Taylor Bol Bowen to Oregon. Another PF off the board.

McBride really might be a starter next season.

No big loss, Bol Bowen didn't do much for me. He wasn't a particularly good offensive OR defensive player. McBride is at least a decent offensive player.... I'd just like to see him as the backup rather than starter.

EDIT: Of course....the way this portal cycle is going and has gone for Kentucky and Mark Pope, Bol Bowen might actually wind up looking like a great option for the 4!

[Rondo#9]

Taylor Bol Bowen to Oregon. Another PF off the board.

McBride really might be a starter next season.

[Pobilly]

Were there any late, last second portal additions to keep an eye on? I know Yessoufou, but didn't seem like there were really any late surprises this portal cycle. Feels like the staff is going have to go hard after some of these guys testing the draft waters.

Key Additions to the Transfer Portal (April 21-22, 2026):

• Tounde Yessoufou: The Baylor forward and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention entered the portal just before the deadline on Tuesday night, according to Pete Nakos of On3.
• Adam Miller: Gonzaga guard entered the transfer portal, becoming the seventh Bulldogs player to do so, as reported on April 21.
• Divine Ugochukwu: Michigan State guard entered the portal before the deadline with a "Do Not Contact" tag, per his representatives at WME.
• Christoph Tilly: The Ohio State 7-foot center entered the portal to keep his options open as he seeks a fifth year of eligibility, as reported on April 21.
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The transfer portal window closed for new entrants at midnight on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, for men's basketball, though names may take until Wednesday to be fully processed