Kerr Kriisa suits up in Kentucky uniform during star-studded first trip to Lexington
The Kentucky Wildcats and Big Blue Nation got their first glimpse of one of their top acquisitions out of the transfer portal this offseason — Kerr Kriisa, decked out in Wildcat blue. Head coach Mark Pope brought in his new star shooting guard for what he called ‘a celebrity trip,’ which allowed for a photo shoot for Kriisa and both the home and away uniforms for the first time as an official member of the program.
In the social media post below, you can see Coach Pope and his highly touted transfer portal acquisition striking a pose under Kentucky’s 2012 national championship banner in their locker room.
The image is courtesy of On3’s Kentucky fan site, KSR, which also posted a few more pictures from Kriisa’s personal collection from his trip to Lexington, KY.
Kriisa, who had stopped at Arizona and West Virginia before heading to Kentucky, is a lethal perimeter shooter expected to help spread the floor for Kentucky in Pope’s first season leading the program. The 6-foot-3 guard was a starter for the Wildcats 2022 and 2023 tournament teams. Following the ’23 season, Kriisa opted to hop in the transfer portal and head to Morgantown, WV, to join Bob Huggins. Unfortunately, that plan was derailed after Huggins parted ways with the Mountaineers program following a series of off-the-court incidents.
Despite being unable to coach Kriisa this past season, the former Mountaineers head coach still honored him and his family by filling in for his parents for West Virginia’s senior day.
Kriisa to wear No. 77 for Kentucky
According to Pope, Kriisa apparently made a bold claim during a recent photoshoot as a new Wildcat. It all revolves around a jersey number.
Pope, joining a local radio show, shared that Kriisa asked for the No. 77 — which he intends to wear as a Wildcat — during a recent photoshoot. Someone asked if Kriisa was a big fan of Luka Doncic, who has donned the number during his ascent to NBA superstardom.
As far as Kriisa is concerned, things might be the other way around.
“We did a photoshoot and we gave him a jersey, and in this conversation, he said he was gonna be No. 77. My GA actually made the comment, said, ‘Oh, you’re a huge Luka Doncic fan?’ And he was like, ‘No! I had this number way before Luka started wearing it! He took it from me!’” Pope said. “Honest to goodness, that just happened not too long ago, with no hesitation. ‘No, Luka took my number, man. What are you talking about?’”