Portal

[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.

It can take up to 48 hours from the time a player puts his paperwork in for it to clear and then we would know. Unless the player would put something out on social media. So could be a surprise update today or tomorrow even but I doubt it.

[WeWant9]

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.

[UKHoops01]

Saw this at late portal entries. But I thought these entered back a week ago or so. Am I wrong?

• Tounde Yessoufou (Baylor, Wing): A major late entrant, the former five-star recruit averaged 17.8 points for Baylor last year.
• Juke Harris (Wake Forest, Wing): A strong shooter and playmaker who entered the portal late.
• Dwayne Aristode (Arizona, Wing): (Arizona, Wing): A high-upside forward (6'8" 215lb)

Juke Harris was SUPPOSED to be a Michigan commitment....but then somehow, some way (agents?) Tennessee popped into the equation. As of now it looks like he went from an actual Michigan addition to now he's supposedly leaning towards the Vols. Maybe his agent thinks UK will get involved and drive the price up even more?

[Rondo#9]

Yessoufou has a do not contact tag. Joe Tipton says UCLA is his most likely destination.

[Rondo#9]

Saw this at late portal entries. But I thought these entered back a week ago or so. Am I wrong?

• Tounde Yessoufou (Baylor, Wing): A major late entrant, the former five-star recruit averaged 17.8 points for Baylor last year.
• Juke Harris (Wake Forest, Wing): A strong shooter and playmaker who entered the portal late.
• Dwayne Aristode (Arizona, Wing): (Arizona, Wing): A high-upside forward (6'8" 215lb)

Aristode has been in there for awhile. Juke Harris has been in there since the beginning. Yessoufou is the only new entry of those you listed.

[Pobilly]

Saw this at late portal entries. But I thought these entered back a week ago or so. Am I wrong?

• Tounde Yessoufou (Baylor, Wing): A major late entrant, the former five-star recruit averaged 17.8 points for Baylor last year.
• Juke Harris (Wake Forest, Wing): A strong shooter and playmaker who entered the portal late.
• Dwayne Aristode (Arizona, Wing): (Arizona, Wing): A high-upside forward (6'8" 215lb)

[UKHoops01]

Folgeuiras to Louisville

& Tonde Yessoufou is in the portal. Some sites have him listed as a PF but I think he's more of a 3.

Could him or Kam start at the 4 in the SEC?

Sure......on a sub .500 team, which is what it's looking like UK is going to be in the SEC in 2026-2027.

Unless things change drastically, this year is going to be Pope's swan song at Kentucky.

[Rondo#9]

Folgeuiras to Louisville

& Tonde Yessoufou is in the portal. Some sites have him listed as a PF but I think he's more of a 3.

Could him or Kam start at the 4 in the SEC?

[UKHoops01]

Los Gatos ...that sucks. He was sounding like one of our better potential options, considering what's left and how late in the game it is.

[Los Gatos]

Doubtful he'll enter the transfer portal, but if he does it may be even more doubtful that Pope would seriously consider him. He may view him as "backup plan material" like he did Rancik and miss out on him to a team that prioritizes him. The way Pope is being so picky about who he recruits seriously versus just who he mentions/contacts, it's hard to get a feel for who he might land.

Multiple sites reporting that he will return to Wisconsin.

[Pobilly]

UK signed another PG out of High school. Not from portal.

[Catsrock]

Let him go to Oregon. Would be a better fit. He can have a few trips east for big 10 games and rot out west. Get portal guys that are proven college players. Or possibly a euro guy.

After what Illinois just did as a Euro pro team I’ve been wondering where the next wave of Euros are. Hearing all too much about portal guys and basically nothing out of Europe.

[UKHoops01]

Hearing rumors that Nolan Winter from Wisconsin may hit the portal.

6’11, 220 PF, 13ppg, 8.5rpg, 33% from 3.

He’s Carr 2.0, IMHO. I think he is better than Carr defensively speaking.

Perfect fit for Pope at PF.

Doubtful he'll enter the transfer portal, but if he does it may be even more doubtful that Pope would seriously consider him. He may view him as "backup plan material" like he did Rancik and miss out on him to a team that prioritizes him. The way Pope is being so picky about who he recruits seriously versus just who he mentions/contacts, it's hard to get a feel for who he might land.

[Rondo#9]

Sebastian Williams-Adams to Vanderbilt.

Hell, f*** it, maybe Kam Williams can be the first player in basketball history to start at both the 3 & the 4. If thats Pope's plan he's nailing it good job.

[UKHoops01]

Word was that Freeman had given Pope a verbal and then the agent got involved with trying to get in a bidding war. That is why I said what I did.

I agree, but the real problem is with Pope.

I haven't been anywhere near as critical of Pope as a vast majority of our fan base has...but in this sense I have been and I'm going to be. And that is what the Michigan fan (white guy with goatee, sorry, I don't know his name) in this video is saying. It's a Sleepers Media video, and I'm not a fan of their's but....when they're right they're right. And at the 4 minute mark through the 5 and a half minute mark...I think he pretty much nails what has been Mark Pope's problem this off-season and how he has mishandled it and brought a lot of it on himself:

https://youtu.be/FejzzHFJJko?si=-rcrfr2EGCqVrB33