Kentucky Basketball gets significant NIL donation following Mark Pope hire

Here’s some great news to start the morning: Mark Pope is already getting big-time support from Kentucky’s boosters. According to Matt Jones, two donors have already pledged a combined $4 million for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) funds to help build Pope’s program. As NIL more and more becomes the name of the game in college sports, that is a significant start.

Pope’s hire took the fanbase by surprise last night, coming on the heels of the program being turned down by two big names, Scott Drew and Dan Hurley. Just hours after Hurley turned down what was reported to be a staggering offer from Kentucky, Pope’s name was floated as a serious candidate. Just hours after that, the news became all but official, broken by every major outlet. The deal is reported to be for five years for $5.5 million per season before incentives and is expected to be announced today.

As fans try to wrap their minds around the hire, it’s worth noting that Pope’s former teammates and others from the Rick Pitino and Tubby Smith eras are all in. Last night, Nazr Mohammed, who won a title with Pope under Rick Pitino and went on to a lengthy career in the NBA, voiced his support. Mohammed is now the general manager for the Oklahoma City Bue and a scout for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Not sure what’s going on, I’m getting excited if it’s true that Mark Pope is in consideration for @KentuckyMBB HC position. Amazing coach, great person… battled w him daily as a Freshman & he taught me the level of intensity that the game needs to be played at. #BBN #GoBigBlue

— Nazr Mohammed (@NazrMohammed) April 12, 2024

Fellow NBA vet Chuck Hayes didn’t play with Pope at Kentucky but the former Cat likes that the program is keeping the hire in the family.

Great hire…..like the fact we kept it “Kentucky” #BBN

— Chuck (@c_hayes44) April 12, 2024

Rex Chapman came before Pope, Mohammed, and Hayes at Kentucky but is also on board, sharing his support for the hire throughout the night.

Dude was freshman of the year in the PAC-10 for Washington, transferred to Kentucky and won a title as a player. As a player he would beat the shit out of you in the nicest way possible. Relentless work ethic. Played 6 years in the NBA. Has earned it., https://t.co/It951BFywp

— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) April 12, 2024

That pocket of BBN doesn’t realize that “BBN” wasn’t called BBN until Mark and those teams coached by Rick became a thing at the advent of the internet. That’s when it was shortened to BBN. Mark Pope and his teammates literally started BBN. https://t.co/DlOv71Kacq

— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) April 12, 2024

Mark Pope. Relentless… https://t.co/KOZrvF4GV7

— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) April 12, 2024

Another player we haven’t heard from who is very close with Pope is Jeff Sheppard. The two were roommates at Kentucky. I’m sure the Sheppard family will advise Reed, the National Freshman of the Year and a projected top-ten draft pick, to choose wisely in the coming weeks, but having a member of the 1996 family as the new head coach doesn’t hurt, nor does the influx of NIL money or his very modern, fun style of basketball.