Jemarl Baker expected to enter the transfer portal (again)

Former Kentucky guard Jemarl Baker is expected to explore his transfer options once again this offseason, leaving the Arizona basketball program after two seasons.

According to Bruce Pascoe of the Arizona Daily Star, Baker is “expected to transfer from the Wildcats after graduating the spring.”

Baker, who averaged 12.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 12 games this past season before missing the remainder of the year with a broken wrist. He also shot 40.3% from the field overall and 34.3% from three, with his biggest performances coming in a 33-point outing vs. NAU on Dec. 7, along with another 29-point performance at Stanford on Dec. 19.

Pascoe reports that Baker is hoping to play point guard full-time at his next stop.

During his time at Kentucky, Baker suffered a torn meniscus as a freshman, forcing him to miss the entirety of his first season in Lexington. He also dealt with a lingering hip injury his first season at Arizona in 2019-20.

Baker, who announced his transfer to Arizona on May 14, 2019, averaged 2.3 points and shot 31% from three in 9.1 minutes per game at Kentucky in 2018-19.

“I want to thank the Big Blue Nation for supporting me during my two years at Kentucky,” Baker said in a press release at the time of his decision to enter the transfer portal the first time around. “You are truly the best fans in the country and I’ve enjoyed my time here wearing the Blue and White.”

Considered a consensus four-star prospect and ranked as high as No. 66 out of high school by ESPN, Baker chose Kentucky over offers from California, Nevada, Oklahoma State, Providence, San Diego State and USC.