Mark Pope praises Kerr Kriisa's "competitive spirit," "bold personality"

What a week it’s been for the Kentucky Basketball roster. On Wednesday, Mark Pope added two players, Dayton sharpshooter Koby Brea and West Virginia guard Kerr Kriisa. In a press release yesterday, Mark Pope called Brea, the nation’s top three-point shooter, a “dangerous, dangerous man.” Today’s quotes about Kriisa, a 6’3″ 185-pound Estonia native, didn’t disappoint either.

“Kerr Kriisa is one of the best shooters in the country,” Pope said in UK’s press release. “I feel like I’ve been recruiting him for the last five or six years since he was a prep player. He is one of the most experienced guards in all of college basketball.

“Kerr played on some great Arizona teams and then, last year, in the hallowed halls of West Virginia. He has a competitive spirit that overflows in every way conceivable. Kerr will have a massive impact on our team on the court and in the locker room. Kentucky fans are going to love his bold personality.”

Kriisa transferred to West Virginia last year after three seasons at Arizona. With the Mountaineers, he averaged 11.0 points, 4.7 assists, and 2.5 rebounds per game on 42.9% shooting, a career-high 42.4% from three. He made an average of 2.7 threes per game on 6.3 attempts.

Over his four-year career, Kriisa started 92 games, hitting 237 threes and playing a key role on the 2021-22 Arizona team that won the Pac-12 and was a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. At Kentucky, he will have one season of eligibility remaining. After browsing his social media, I can tell you it will not be boring.

Kerr Kriisa will not be boring. pic.twitter.com/3f7a4KfjBC

— Tyler Thompson (@MrsTylerKSR) May 1, 2024

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Mark Pope’s comments about each new Kentucky player

With the additions of Brea and Kriisa, Kentucky now has nine scholarship players on the roster. Here’s what Mark Pope said about each.

Travis Perry (at Pope’s introductory press conference): “I don’t know if he is here right now, but Travis Perry next year. Are you here? Stand up. What are you doing? (Cheers). There is a good chance he will not jump into the portal, guys. But before Richie and after Travis and everybody in-between that is an instate Kentucky kid, these young men that grow up in Kentucky, they bring a spirit to the team that cannot be fabricated or replaced. And it helps us to win, and we will continue to recruit them.”

Collin Chandler: “Collin Chandler is one of the most talented high school players in the country. He has a silky-smooth jumper, a slippery ability to get to the rim, an explosive burst and the most impressive of all, he has incredible processing speed as he reads space and time and makes plays on pure instinct.

“Collin is the definition of a servant leader. He, on his own desire and expense, chose to leave basketball and his life to go and serve people in Africa and Europe for two years. It won’t take long for every Kentucky fan to feel his heart and his love for others. I absolutely cannot wait to coach a man and player like him.”

Amari Williams (Drexel): “At times, Amari Williams looks like a man among boys on the court. He is a three-time conference defensive player of the year, which is incredibly hard to do. He is bringing a big presence to the game and is going to serve as a rim-protector and rebounder. Amari is a gifted defensive player who can switch onto any position, one through five, which will add security to how everybody else feels on the court.

“Offensively, he is dangerous at the rim and he’s one of the special passers in college basketball. Amari can make all of the reads, all of the passes, all of the plays and he fits into exactly what we want to do on either end of the court.”

Lamont Butler (San Diego State): “Lamont Butler is the definition of a winner. He might be the best perimeter defensive player in all of college basketball. Lamont has helped lead championship teams for the last four years and hit one of the most epic shots in the NCAA Tournament to send his team to the championship game.

“He is an elite student who takes his academics seriously. He cares about the community and will embrace the power of wearing ‘Kentucky’ across the front of his chest. I’m extremely excited to coach Lamont and to see the influence he’s going to have on this team.”

Otega Oweh (Oklahoma): “Otega shot 37 percent from the 3-point line last year. He’s elite at earning trips to the free-throw line and he brings a special physicality and intensity to the game. Otega spent his entire season last year picking up the point guard full court in the Big 12. His tenacity on the court is contagious and his humility off the court is going to endear himself to Big Blue Nation.”

Andrew Carr (Wake Forest): “Andrew Carr is the prototypical college and NBA power forward. He’s incredibly skilled and an elite level decision maker. He shoots the ball with terrific range and is a force inside shooting 66 percent on 2-point field goal attempts. Andrew understands what it means to wear this jersey and he understands the assignment and why he is coming to Lexington. He’s been a captain of every team he’s ever been associated with. He’s a steadying force and a great leader who Kentucky fans are going to love.”

Brandon Garrison (Oklahoma State): “Brandon’s a McDonald’s All-American and a FIBA U18 Americas gold medalist with Team USA who crushed me at BYU last year and crushed Coach [Alvin] Brooks at Baylor last year. We’re unbelievably glad he’s on our team now. He’s an incredible person with a brilliant, joyful smile that BBN will fall in love with. We’re really excited about our front line and Brandon will be a key piece to it.”

Koby Brea (Dayton): “By the numbers, Koby Brea is the most efficient mid-to-high major player in college basketball in the last decade. He’s the best returning shooter in college basketball next year. Koby is a dangerous, dangerous man who is a great human with an incredible family. He will be key in allowing us to play the style of basketball that we love the most. Koby and this group are going to take Big Blue Nation on an incredible ride.”

Kerr Kriisa (West Virginia): “Kerr Kriisa is one of the best shooters in the country. I feel like I’ve been recruiting him for the last five or six years since he was a prep player. He is one of the most experienced guards in all of college basketball. Kerr played on some great Arizona teams and then, last year, in the hallowed halls of West Virginia. He has a competitive spirit that overflows in every way conceivable. Kerr will have a massive impact on our team on the court and in the locker room. Kentucky fans are going to love his bold personality.”