Fun Facts About Mark Pope's Second Kentucky Transfer Portal Class

The metaphorical hay is in the barn. Denzel Aberdeen‘s surprising commitment on Monday afternoon solidified Mark Pope‘s offseason roster build. Aside from Otega Oweh‘s NBA Draft decision, we know what the 2025-26 Kentucky basketball team will look like.

Over the next seven months, Big Blue Nation will learn everything it can about these new guys. We’ve got a head start with bio blasts and incoming film breakdowns, but at Kentucky Sports Radio, we’re here to cover the Cats in the most ridiculous manner possible. Therefore, it is my job to find the most ridiculous fun facts about the best transfer portal class in college basketball. Enjoy.

Denzel Aberdeen’s Father Doesn’t Watch Games Live

Some folks can’t handle the anxiety of watching their favorite team play. A close family friend was a college punter. His Dad never watched him kick the ball live. Instead, he closed his eyes and prayed. Matt Jones will leave the arena to watch the game in a more stress-free environment. Ian Aberdeen can relate.

In a feature following his sophomore season, Denzel’s Dad admitted that if he is not attending the games, he doesn’t like to watch them in real-time. He catches up on the DVR.

In the 2024 SEC Tournament, Denzel only played 19 seconds against Georgia. That’s why he was shocked when his phone started blowing up with text messages in the middle of the next game. “What’s happening?” He found out later in the day on the DVR that Denzel had 20 points off the bench in an SEC Tournament Semifinal win over Texas A&M.

Jaland Lowe has a Famous Godfather

Jaland Lowe is no stranger to high-level basketball. His godfather is John Lucas II, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1976 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. That is just the top billing on his extensive basketball resume.

He was an All-American in basketball and tennis at Maryland. Lucas II spent 14 years playing in the NBA, but his career was nearly completely derailed by drug and alcohol abuse. His road to recovery led him to become a mentor for other athletes who struggled with substance abuse.

Lucas II spent three decades coaching in the professional ranks, including stints as the head coach of the Spurs, Sixers, and Cavaliers. He was most recently an assistant for the Rockets back in 2023. His older son, John Lucas III, was a star at Oklahoma State, and his son Jai Lucas was recently named the head coach at Miami.

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Kentucky Goes Cajun

Kam Williams will become just the fourth player from the state of Louisiana to play for Kentucky. The Tulane transfer is from Lafayette, Perry Stevenson‘s hometown. The other two Louisiana natives to suit up for the Cats were All-Americans, Cotton Nash and Rick Robey.

Kentucky Adds National Champion Pedigree

You might be thinking that I’m talking about Denzel Aberdeen’s experience in this year’s National Championship Game. I’m actually talking about another player who participated in the 2024 Final Four.

Before committing to Alabama, Mouhamed Dioubate was the MVP of a National Championship team. The elite forward earned those honors after leading Putnam Science Academy to the National Prep Championship title. If the Putnam name sounds familiar, that’s the same prep school Hamidou Diallo attended. His commitment ceremony at the school was one of the funniest events we’ve ever covered. The one reporter at the event who was live streaming sent BBN into a frenzy because his phone died before Diallo officially committed to Kentucky.

The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree

Jayden Quaintance is an exceptional rebounder with all of the desirable tools you want to see from an elite interior defender. He had a good example to follow.

His father, Haminn Quaintance, was quite the hooper in the 2000s. He was a two-time All-Atlantic Sun player at Jacksonville State before he transferred to Kent State. In 2008, the 6-foot-8 forward averaged 10 points, 7.5 rebounds, and two blocks per game to lead the MAC. He was the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and MAC Tournament MVP after propelling the Golden Flash to the NCAA Tournament. The No. 9 seed fell to UNLV in the opening round of the Big Dance.