Creighton Transfer Arthur Kaluma Commits to Kansas State

For the second time in 2023, Jerome Tang and Kansas State handed an L to Kentucky. Jeff Goodman reports Arthur Kaluma has committed to the purple Wildcats from the Little Apple.

Kentucky was among the schools that initially contacted Kaluma when he entered the transfer portal. The versatile forward was scheduled to visit Kentucky and Alabama next week, but those visits were canceled at the conclusion of Kaluma’s Kansas State official visit.

A 6-foot-8 forward, Arthur Kaluma was the highest-ranked recruit to ever sign with Creighton when the Top 50 prospect from Arizona joined the program in 2021. Over two seasons as a starter for the Bluejays, Kaluma averaged 11.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He shot just over 43% from the field and improved his three-point shooting percentage to 31.1% last season.

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Another Transfer Portal Whiff for Kentucky

Arthur Kaluma is the latest in a long line of Kentucky basketball misses in the transfer portal this offseason. It all started with Hunter Dickinson, who chose Kansas over the Wildcats. Keshad Johnson officially visited Kentucky before choosing Arizona. That doesn’t include the many players, like Arthur Kaluma, who were considered UK targets that ultimately took their talents elsewhere without ever visiting Lexington.

In addition to the misses, Kentucky has also lost six players from last year’s roster to the transfer portal. Momentum seems to indicate that number could grow to seven if Antonio Reeves pursues grad transfer options.

Without reinforcements from the transfer portal, Kentucky is going young, really young. Of the seven rotational players available on the roster, five are freshmen and two are sophomores with limited experience, Adou Thiero and Ugonna Onyenso.

Following the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline, three new names were added to the board. All three are from the high school ranks. Jordan Burks will announce his commitment on Monday and UK is the favorite. Joey Hart recently officially visited Kentucky, as did 2024 prospect Somto Cyril. The big man from OTE recently picked up a UK crystal ball pick from Travis Branham. The center could reclassify and join the Cats right away.

The transfer portal has not been kind to Kentucky this offseason. Just when you thought the tide might be turning, Arthur Kaluma committed elsewhere.