Mark Pope, Kentucky contact FSU transfer Baba Miller among top transfer targets

According to Kentucky Sports Radio, Kentucky has reached out to Florida State transfer Baba Miller.

KSR’s Jacob Polacheck tweeted out on Wednesday afternoon that On3’s Joe Tipton had reported news of UK’s contact with Miller:

“NEW: Kentucky has contacted Florida State transfer Baba Miller, he tells @TiptonEdits of @On3sports. Miller says it was an assistant, not head coach Mark Pope who reached out.”

As a sophomore during the 2023-24 season, Miller averaged 7.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 0.9 steals in 33 games, 32 of which he started in, playing 24.8 minutes per night. In his debut campaign in 2022-23, Miller made 15 appearances, including two starts. The 6-foot-11 Spaniard averaged 4.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per contest while shooting 47.4% from the floor.

Miller played high school basketball in Madrid, Spain, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 88 overall recruit in the 2022 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

When news broke that Baba Miller would enter the portal, he also announced he’d test the NBA Draft waters this offseason. So, he’s still got a college vs. pro decision to make before finalizing a new school to attend.

For Kentucky, Miller’s name gets added to a growing list of transfer targets for Mark Pope in his first few days on the job. With the previously-top-ranked recruiting class falling apart following John Calipari’s departure, plus all but one scholarship player on last year’s roster going to the NBA Draft or transferring out, Kentucky’s overhaul comes by default.

Per KSR, the Wildcats are also reportedly in touch with the following players: Duke guard Jeremy Roach, Dayton guard Koby Brea, Oklahoma guard Otega Oweh, Stanford forward Andrej Stojakovic, Drexel forward Amari Williams, BYU center Aly Khalifa, Oklahoma State guard Javon Small and Belmont forward Cade Tyson.

Roach is a multi-year starting point guard for Duke who averaged north of 14 points per game last season. He’d be one heck of an addition. As would a guy like Oweh, a bulldog defensive player who averaged double-figures for Oklahoma, and Brea and Tyson were among the top 3-point shooters in college basketball last season.

A solid crop of possible targets for Mark Pope and Kentucky so far. Of course, there’s also some BYU players that could come with Pope, as well as some potential freshmen recruits on the horizon as well.