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Identify potential recruits for Mark Pope’s debut season in Kentucky basketball’s transfer portal
Lexington — With May nearly halfway through, Kentucky basketball has filled 11 of its 13 available scholarships. Mark Pope, who is starting his debut season as UK coach, has no intention of wasting any spots.
In a recent appearance on “College Hoops Today,” a podcast hosted by national reporter Jon Rothstein, Pope stated that completing the Wildcats’ last two scholarships is the staff’s top concern. Pope described the 13th and final scholarship as “a floating piece” for the team.
“We envision it as a place for a young player,” he told Rothstein. “It could be a location for a senior player who plans to redshirt. It could be a site for a project. It could be ideal for a high-risk guy.
We’re really focused on filling these remaining two seats as a priority right now.” At least one of the remaining two seats, if not both, will be filled by another transfer portal commit.
Kentucky is currently planning to bring in eight transfers next season: Ansley Almonor (Fairleigh Dickinson), Koby Brea (Dayton), Lamont Butler (San Diego State), Andrew Carr (Wake Forest), Brandon Garrison (Oklahoma State), Kerr Kriisa (West Virginia), Otega Oweh (Oklahoma), and Amari Williams.
Who else may the Wildcats acquire from the transfer portal?
Keep an eye on these three names:
The favorites
Chas Lanier (North Florida) Kentucky is vying for Chaz Lanier, a four-year starter at North Florida.
He recently visited BYU and completed a trip to Lexington earlier this week. He went straight from the University of Kentucky campus to Knoxville, where Tennessee is also strongly recruiting the Nashville native. It’s clear why so many schools are seeking him.
He is a high-level scorer, averaging 19.7 points per game and earning first-team all-conference accolades in the Atlantic Sun last season. Lanier is a player who can go out and provide offense without needing plays put out for him.
He started 31 of the Ospreys’ 32 games in 2023-24, shooting 51% from the field (44% from three) and 86.4% from the line. Lanier only missed a double-figure point total once last season, with four games of 30-plus points (topped by a 35-point performance against North Alabama) and 15 games of 20 or more points.
According to 247Sports, he is the No. 11 overall player in the transfer portal, and the No. 3 shooting guard.
Jaxson Robinson(BYU)
BYU guard Jaxson Robinson has played under Mark Pope, and the two could be reunited at Kentucky. Jaxson Robinson has been connected to Kentucky since Pope took control. That’s due to their common history: Pope coached Robinson the previous two seasons at BYU.
Robinson had a breakout season in 2023-24, leading the Cougars in scoring (14.2 points per game) and earning the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year honor. He was also an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection, shooting 35.4% (81 for 229) from beyond the 3-point line.
If Robinson commits to Kentucky, it will be his fourth college stop. Prior to his two seasons at BYU, he played for Arkansas in 2021-22. Robinson played his freshman season (2020-21) at Texas A&M.
The most significant holdup is Robinson’s participation in the NBA draft process. He could choose to maintain his name in the draft. However, if he chooses to return to the college ranks, just one outcome is anticipated.
The Deseret News reported last week from the NBA draft combine in Chicago that “if Robinson decides to withdraw from the draft, they fully expect him to be playing for Kentucky next season.” Wooga Poplar (Miami) is a long-shot but nevertheless worth watching.
Former Miami guard Wooga Poplar has sparked interest from Kentucky. While Kentucky is not regarded as a front-runner for Wooga Poplar, it is not completely out of the running for the former Miami guard.
Villanova is currently regarded as the favorite, owing to his Philadelphia roots. Last Monday, Rothstein wrote that Poplar was at Villanova that day “and will visit Oregon soon, per his father.”
Last month, Poplar’s father told Adam Zagoria, another national college basketball reporter, that his son will “probably” visit the United Kingdom.
“They want him,” Poplar’s father informed Zagoria about the Wildcats. As of May 21, that visit has not occurred.
However, this has not previously been a deal-breaker for Pope’s program. Butler and Garrison made their commitments to Kentucky before even seeing Lexington.
If Poplar turns down his hometown Wildcats of Villanova and the Ducks of Oregon, what kind of player will the Cats of Kentucky inherit? Last season, the 6-foot-5, 197-pound guard averaged 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists for the Hurricanes.
Poplar got 19 points and eight rebounds in Miami’s first-ever ACC/SEC Challenge game at Rupp Arena last season, but Kentucky won 95-73.
