Kentucky Basketball Roster Tracker: Transfer Portal Movement

There are some big decisions still looming, but the past several days have provided much-needed clarity on Kentucky’s 2022-23 roster.

On Sunday, Sahvir Wheeler announced he will return for a senior season alongside Oscar Tshiebwe and Daimion Collins. Based on John Calipari’s remarks on Friday, Jacob Toppin and Lance Ware are expected back in Lexington as well. The jury’s still out on Shaedon Sharpe and Keion Brooks, but Kentucky is now pursuing the most coveted player in the transfer portal yet, South Dakota State star Baylor Scheierman. Illinois State guard Antonio Reeves was set to commit to Kentucky this past weekend but held off, suggesting a potential change of heart.

We may have added a name to our big board, but we were able to take two off. After sending out initial feelers, Kentucky is no longer involved with Detroit Mercy’s Antoine Davis or Texas guard Courtney Ramey. The deadline for players to enter the portal is this Sunday, May 1, so the biggest fish may not even be in the sea yet.

To catch you up, we’ve updated our roster tracker. Here is where we stand with Kentucky’s 2022-23 roster as of April 26, and the latest that Jack Pilgrim is hearing behind the scenes. New information will be marked with the date in red.

Important Dates/Deadlines

• May 1: Transfer Portal deadline (Date by which players must tell their school they’re leaving)
• May 16-22: NBA Draft Combine
• May 17: NBA Draft Lottery
• June 1: NCAA “Stay or Go” Deadline
• June 23: 2022 NBA Draft

Staying

Oscar Tshiebwe (C, Jr.) – Oscar won all six National Player of the Year awards, making him the first unanimous POY in Kentucky Basketball history. He led Kentucky in scoring (17.4), rebounding (15.1), steals (1.8), and blocks (1.6). On April 20, Oscar announced he is returning to Kentucky for his senior season.

Oscar’s return is the best thing that could happen to Kentucky’s 2022-23 roster. He was responsible for 37.8% of Kentucky’s rebounds last year, 41.2% if you take away team rebounds. He also accounted for 21.8% of the team’s scoring. John Calipari has a machine in the middle to build around, fans have a beloved player to cheer for, and the path is clearing for Oscar to make boatloads of NIL money. Win-win-win.

• 2021-22 season: 17.4 PPG, 15.1 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 1.6 BPG, 31.9 MPG

Sahvir Wheeler (PG, Jr.) – After transferring in from Georgia, Wheeler became Kentucky’s primary point guard, ranking third in the country in assists (6.9). Like Washington, he missed time due to injuries, initially to his neck vs. LSU and later his wrist at Tennessee. On April 24, he made it official that he’s returning for a senior season. Calipari spoke at length about Wheeler on April 22, noting that he wasn’t the same after his neck injury but once healthy, will be a key piece of the 2022-23 puzzle.

• 2021-22 season: 10.1 PPG, 6.9 APG, 2.6 RPG, 31.2 MPG

Pilgrim’s Insider Notes: Thanks to NIL, Sahvir Wheeler’s return to Kentucky was a no-brainer for the 5-foot-9 guard. It was a decision the school expected from the start, one the staff embraces. With the right pieces around him, Wheeler has proven to be among the best playmakers in college basketball. Kentucky is working to add those pieces right now to go with the complementary players already in the fold. Ball security and improved shooting will need to come from Wheeler during his senior campaign — a valid concern — but the staff believes he can lead the team to a Final Four.

Daimion Collins (F, Fr.) – Following initial reports after the season indicating Daimion Collins would return to Kentucky for a sophomore season, the 6-foot-9 forward announced his return to Lexington on April 23. On his final radio show of the season, John Calipari said he believes Collins can be “one of the best players in the country” next year because “the things he does, normal players can’t do.”

• 2021-22 season: 2.9 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 0.7 BPG, 7.5 MPG

CJ Fredrick (SG, R. Jr.) – Fredrick underwent surgery to repair a left hamstring injury in November and spent the 2021-22 season rehabbing. By the end of the season, he was occasionally seen shooting threes during Kentucky’s warm-ups. On April 16, Fredrick announced he will return to Kentucky for the 2022-23 season and could be in Lexington for three more seasons if the NCAA grants him a medical waiver.

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Leaving

TyTy Washington (G, Fr.) – TyTy Washington shined in his freshman season in Lexington, even breaking John Wall’s single-season record with 17 assists, but was hampered by a leg injury throughout the second half of the year. On April 6, TyTy announced he is declaring for the NBA Draft and signing with an agent, ending his time as a Kentucky Wildcat. He is currently projected to go No. 17 in ESPN’s latest NBA Mock Draft.

• 2021-22 season: 12.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 29.2 MPG

Dontaie Allen (G, R So.) – Allen announced he was entering the transfer portal on March 24, ending his career at Kentucky. He committed to Western Kentucky on April 13. In two seasons, he averaged 3.9 points off 35.8% shooting and 1.4 rebounds in 10.5 minutes per game.

• 2021-22 season: 2.2 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 6.4 MPG
• 2020-21 season: 5.4 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 14.0 MPG

Bryce Hopkins (F, Fr.) – Hopkins played in 28 of Kentucky’s 34 games this season. His best performance came against LSU when he scored 13 points and pulled down 4 rebounds in 16 minutes to help the Cats beat the Tigers without TyTy Washington or Sahvir Wheeler. On April 7, Hopkins announced he is entering the transfer portal. On April 25, he committed to Providence.

• 2021-22 season: 2.1 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 6.4 MPG

Davion Mintz (G, Gr.) – Mintz used his sixth year of eligibility to return to Kentucky for the 2021-22 season. From here, he will explore professional options.

• 2021-22 season: 8.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 24.7 MPG
• 2020-21 season: 11.5 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 3.1 APG, 30.7 MPG

Kellan Grady (G, Gr.) – Grady was a grad transfer this season and has no eligibility remaining. Kentucky’s third-leading scorer will now pursue his professional options.

• 2021-22 season: 11.4 PPG (44.6% FG, 41.7% 3PT FG) , 2.1 RPG, 1.3 APG, 32.9 MPG

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Testing The Waters

Keion Brooks (F, Jr.) – In his junior season, Brooks was Kentucky’s fourth-leading scorer and started 33 games. Brooks announced on March 28 that he would be testing the draft waters while maintaining his college eligibility. For what it’s worth, John Calipari did not mention Brooks when discussing next season’s roster on April 22.

• 2021-22 season: 10.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 24.5 MPG
• 2020-21 season: 10.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 23.6 MPG
• 2019-20 season: 4.5 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 15.1 MPG

Pilgrim’s Insider Notes: Brooks weighed a potential transfer last offseason before ultimately deciding to return to Kentucky. A potential break-up is again on the table this offseason should he decide to pull his name out of the draft, though no final decision has been made. There are mixed reviews in basketball circles regarding Brooks’ status.

Jacob Toppin (F, Jr.) – Toppin was Kentucky’s seventh man this season, appearing in all but five games. He transferred to Kentucky from Rhode Island in 2020 and received a waiver to play immediately. On April 12, Toppin announced he will enter the 2022 NBA Draft but left the option to return to school open. At under 20 minutes a game in his second season as a Wildcat, Toppin stands to see an increased role next year once he receives NBA feedback from the draft process. He is not considered a legitimate NBA Draft prospect for this upcoming draft.

During his radio appearance on April 22, John Calipari mentioned Toppin today discussing next season’s roster, furthering the buzz he is testing the waters simply to receive feedback on what to work on for next year.

• 2021-22 season: 6.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 17.7 MPG
• 2020-21 season: 5.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 17.1 MPG

Pilgrim’s Insider Notes: An intriguing prospect with phenomenal upside, the school expects Toppin to return in 2022-23, building on a solid junior season in Lexington.

Shaedon Sharpe (SG, Fr.) – Sharpe enrolled at Kentucky in January. Prior to reclassifying, he was the No. 1 recruit in the 2022 class. When he arrived in Lexington, Sharpe said his plan was to practice with the team this season and play next season. In February, John Calipari ended speculation that Sharpe would play in 2021-22 but doubled down on him being on next year’s squad. On his final radio show of the season, Calipari said he sat down with Sharpe and his family and they decided it would be in his best interest to test the NBA Draft waters to receive feedback. On April 21, Sharpe did just that, although there were reports earlier in the day that he would stay in the draft. He is currently No. 6 in ESPN’s latest NBA Mock Draft.

Although it seems the writing is on the wall regarding Sharpe’s future at Kentucky, John Calipari insisted it’s not over yet in his radio appearance last Friday. Sharpe and Calipari were both at the Nike EYBL event in Indianapolis this past weekend and he is enrolled in summer and fall classes at Kentucky. On Sunday, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony watched Sharpe in a private one-on-one workout and claimed that in that setting, he looked like the No. 1 draft pick.

Questions about Sharpe’s draft eligibility linger, so for now, his future is still up in the air. He has until June 1 to remove his name from the draft if he wants to return to school.

Pilgrim’s Insider Notes: Sharpe is testing the draft waters, where the national agenda-pushing has been clear. John Calipari is maintaining regular contact with the five-star freshman and his parents, discussing a potential return to Lexington while also acknowledging a top-10 draft grade would be difficult to pass up. On the other end, Sharpe’s advisor continues to push for the draft, as has been the case behind the scenes for months.

What’s his draft grade right now? Depends on who you ask. Some will tell you he’s late-lottery (12-14), with teams worried about his motor and lack of film. Others are certain he’s a top-five pick. Out of dozens of conversations with knowledgable people in the basketball world this past weekend at Nike EYBL Session II in Indianapolis, no one seemed to know for certain — a consistent theme with Sharpe on most things.

There is also tension on the NBA’s side of things, with agents and teams voicing their frustrations about the information made available to them regarding Sharpe’s decision and the way it’s been presented throughout the process. Skepticism regarding his eligibility remains prominent and pushback is coming.

Should he be declared eligible and a top-10 guarantee is made, the expectation is that he ultimately goes. It’s a messy process, though, with countless hurdles to clear before the chaos comes to a close.

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Expected to Return

Lance Ware (F, So.) – In his second season at Kentucky, Ware took a backseat to Oscar Tshiebwe in the frontcourt but flourished as the Cats’ enforcer. He has yet to announce any plans regarding his future but was among the players Calipari mentioned while discussing next year’s roster.

• 2021-22 season: 1.5 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 6.3 MPG
• 2020-21 season: 2.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 12.1 MPG

Pilgrim’s Insider Notes: Barring an influx of frontcourt talent via the transfer portal, Ware is expected to return to Kentucky for the 2022-23 season.

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High School Signees

Chris Livingston (SF, Oak Hill Academy) – The five-star small forward committed to Kentucky on Sept. 15, 2021, and signed on Nov. 11. At the McDonald’s All-American Game, Livingston scored 13 points on 5-9 shooting and 2-4 from three to go with six rebounds, five assists, and one block (you can read our scouting report here). At the Jordan Brand Classic, Livingston was one of the top performers, finishing with 21 points (8-16 FG, 2-5 3PT, 3-7 FT), eight rebounds, three steals, and five turnovers. He and Wallace will also represent Kentucky at the Iverson Classic on April 30.

• 2021-22 season (high school): 18.2 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.9 SPG
• KSR Film Breakdown

Cason Wallace (CG, Richardson HS) – The five-star combo guard from Dallas, TX committed to Kentucky on Nov. 10, 2021, and signed on Nov. 11. In the McDonald’s All-American Game, he scored seven points on 3-10 shooting and 1-2 from three to go with six assists, five rebounds, and one steal (you can read our scouting report here). He shined at the Jordan Brand Classic, putting up 15 points (6-11 FG, 3-3 FT), four rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. He and Livingston will also represent Kentucky at the Iverson Classic on April 30.

• 2021-22 season (high school): 19.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 6.1 APG
• KSR Film Breakdown

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High School Recruits

Adou Thiero (G) – On March 26, Calipari publicly extended a scholarship offer to 6’5″ guard Adou Thiero, whose father, Almamy, played for Calipari at Memphis. Thiero also holds offers from Cincinnati, Maryland, Pitt, Duquesne, and UC Santa Barbara and has garnered interest from Indiana, Marquette, Ohio State, and West Virginia, among others. Thiero will visit Kentucky April 27-28. He has previously visited Pittsburgh, Maryland, and Xavier.

• 2021-22 Season: 23.3 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 5.9 APG, 3.9 SPG, 2.3 BPG

Pilgrim’s Insider Notes: Thiero’s announcement of a Kentucky offer opened the floodgates for other high-major offers and interest, most notably scholarships from Xavier, Maryland, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati. The previous expectation was that the unranked guard would ultimately sign somewhere he could be an immediate contributor, but his visit to Lexington is intriguing. There remains confusion regarding Thiero’s offer status — full-ride, preferred walk-on, or a committable roster spot in general — but this week’s trip to Kentucky indicates mutual interest one way or another.

Leonard Miller (F) – On March 25, members of Kentucky’s staff visited Miller, a 6’10” power forward from Ontario, Canada, who plays for Fort Erie International Academy. Miller is considered a five-star recruit and the No. 11 overall prospect in the 2022 class by On3 and his stock is on the rise following a six-inch growth spurt. He is down to Kentucky, Arizona, and the NBA’s G League Ignite, and has visited all three, stopping in Lexington April 15-17. Miller is also testing the draft waters while maintaining his college eligibility, entering on April 23.

Pilgrim’s Insider Notes: Miller is down to the G League, Kentucky and Arizona, taking a trip to all three options in April. He’s also testing the draft waters, an expected development. The pro route has long been seen as the favorite, with college seen as a secondary option. John Calipari and Chin Coleman took a trip to Fort Erie on March 25 to see the five-star prospect in person, with contact ramping up ever since. Miller’s official visit to Kentucky went fine, but talk of avoiding school remains prominent.

NBA teams still expect the 6-foot-11 wing to turn pro, going straight to the draft or signing with the G League. A decision is expected within the next two weeks.

Adrame Diongue (C) – In March, the 7-foot center out of Chandler, Arizona, and a native of Senegal narrowed his list to Kentucky, Kansas, UNLV, Washington State, and Texas Tech. At the GEICO Nationals, he told On3 that he’s working with Kentucky’s staff to set up a visit. He is ranked No. 36 overall and No. 6 at his position in the 2022 On3 Player Rankings.

Pilgrim’s Insider Notes: Brand new to the sport, Diongue is looking for a school that will develop his game over time. The Kentucky connections are also there, as he’s a former teammate of TyTy Washington at AZ Compass Prep. He’s an intriguing multi-year prospect if he’s comfortable waiting his turn.

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Transfer Portal Targets

BACKCOURT

Adam Miller, LSU (PG, Soph.) – Miller entered the transfer portal on March 29. The 6’2″ point guard transferred to LSU from Illinois last year but should receive a waiver due to Will Wade’s firing. Last summer, there was buzz Miller could follow Orlando Antigua and Chin Coleman to Kentucky, but he went with the Tigers instead, and unfortunately, tore his ACL in the preseason. As Kentucky looks to rebuild its backcourt, he could be an option once again.

• 2020-21 season (Illinois): 8.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.8 APG
• Highlights

WING

Terrence Shannon Jr., Texas Tech (G, Jr.) – Shannon entered the transfer portal on March 25, the day after his team’s loss to Duke in the Sweet 16. So far, he has heard from Kentucky, UConn, Illinois, and Michigan. He’s a Chicago native and also played for Mac Irvin Fire, which was once coached by current Kentucky assistant Chin Coleman. Shannon is known as arguably the best perimeter defender in the portal and shot 38.4% from three as a junior. He’s considered one of the top available players on the transfer market.

• 2021-22 season: 10.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, 25.0 MPG
• Highlights

UPDATED 4/26: Shannon visited Michigan last weekend and word leaked out that he committed, but he quickly shot it down on Twitter.

Pilgrim’s Insider Notes: Enrollment issues have made Michigan an unlikely option. Shannon is now exploring Illinois again after the two sides previously agreed to move on from one another, but enrollment issues are present there, as well. It’s a Big 10 issue regarding transferring credits, putting him in a difficult position. A return to Texas Tech could be on the table, though Kentucky was once seen as a potential option when he initially entered the portal. Shannon’s camp is intrigued with the NIL opportunities that could come in Lexington. His case has been among the most interesting during this transfer cycle.

Antonio Reeves, Illinois State (SG/SF, Jr.) – Reeves entered the transfer portal on March 21 after a stellar junior season with the Redbirds. He led Illinois State in scoring at 20.1 points per game, the most in the Missouri Valley Conference and top 20 in all of Division I. So far, he has visited Nebraska and Kentucky. On April 26, he released a top five of Kentucky, Nebraska, DePaul, Oregon, and Xavier.

Standing 6-6 and knocking down 39% of his 3-point attempts, Reeves scored in double figures in 31 of 33 games this season, including 18 20-point performances. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

• 2021-22 Season: 20.1 PPG (46.9% FG, 39.0% 3PT FG), 3.5 RPG, 1.1 SPG
• Highlights

UPDATED 4/26: Reeves was set to commit to Kentucky over the weekend but held off, only placing the Cats in his top five today along with Nebraska, DePaul, Oregon, and Xavier.

Pilgrim’s Insider Notes: The Kentucky staff was operating under the assumption that Reeves was going to commit this past weekend, a cut-and-dry announcement with zero drama. As concerns regarding playing time and role crept in, he then decided to reevaluate his options, instead deciding to release a top five. Reeves is looking for a star role at his next stop, something he’s concerned will not be available in Lexington. Oregon has crept in as a real threat, with NIL making Eugene a strong option.

Kentucky is not out of the picture and he could come back to the program he privately committed to last week, but Reeves has decided to hit pause on a final decision for the time being.

Baylor Scheierman, South Dakota State (SG, Soph.) — ADDED 4/27 — Scheierman entered the transfer portal on April 25 and quickly became one of the most coveted players in the country. The Summit League Player of the Year is also testing the NBA Draft waters and since entering the portal on Monday, has heard from more than 20 programs, including Kentucky. His stats are impressive. Not only did he average 16.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game as a sophomore last season, he shot 46.9% from three, averaging 2.4 makes and 5.1 attempts per game. That’s exactly the kind of plug-and-play scorer Kentucky could use following the departures of TyTy Washington, Kellan Grady, Davion Mintz, and possibly Shaedon Sharpe.

Scheierman’s agent confirmed to Kyle Tucker that Kentucky was quick to reach out, with Orlando Antigua looking to arrange a meeting in the coming days. Practically every major program is pursuing the 6’6′” guard, but Kentucky’s history of putting players in the pros and roster for next season should give the Cats a good shot.

• 2021-22 Season: 16.2 PPG (50.8% FG, 46.9% 3PT FG), 7.8 RPG, 4.5 APG
• Highlights