Kentucky Basketball Roster Tracker: Kerr Kriisa out, Kam Williams in

Mark Pope‘s debut season has come to a close, racking up eight top-15 wins to tie an all-time college basketball record while leading Kentucky to its first Sweet 16 since 2019. It wasn’t a perfect year, but the Wildcats checked off a lot of boxes — they beat two of the four teams in the Final Four — while taking down rivals and the sport’s heaviest hitters. The first-year coach dreamt big at the podium during his introductory press conference this time a year ago, and through countless injury hurdles and lineup changes, they still managed to make history together with the future even brighter in Lexington.

It’s time to turn the page on a beloved group, though, as seven seniors depart the program and a new batch takes over with that same banner-hanging mindset in year two under Pope.

What does 2025-26 have in store for the Wildcats? There has been plenty of movement to open the offseason — and we’re just getting started. KSR is tracking the latest on additions and departures as we dig into Pope’s first full cycle as head coach.

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GRADUATED: Lamont Butler, Jaxson Robinson, Koby Brea, Andrew Carr, Ansley Almonor, Amari Williams

PORTAL DEPARTURES: Kerr Kriisa

REMAINING ELIGIBILITY: Otega Oweh, Brandon Garrison, Collin Chandler, Trent Noah, Travis Perry

HS SIGNEES: Jasper Johnson, Malachi Moreno, Acaden Lewis

PORTAL ADDITIONS: Kam Williams

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IMPORTANT DATES

• April 22: Transfer Portal Closes
• April 26: NBA Early Entry Eligibility Deadline (11:59 p.m. ET)
• May 12: NBA Draft Lottery
• May 11-18: NBA Combine
• May 28: NCAA Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline (11:59 pm ET)
• June 15: NBA Draft Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline (5 p.m. ET)
• June 25: NBA Draft 2025 First Round
• June 26: NBA Draft 2025 Second Round

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UPDATES

March 31: Mark Pope comments on Travis Perry, Trent Noah

During his final call-in radio show of the season, Pope shared brief updates on Kentucky’s in-state freshmen and their futures in blue and white — a sign both will be back for their sophomore seasons.

• “Travis Perry is really special, man. What an unbelievable young man. He is going to carry this Kentucky banner,” he said. “He’s pretty extraordinary.”
• “Trent and I met for a long time (Sunday). Man, he’s just special. He is special,” Pope said of Noah.
  “… That’s an incredible transformation as a freshman at this level, playing against the teams he played against with the players he played against, with the stakes so high. I expect him to continue to get better and better. … He’s going to be a tremendous player.”

March 31: Kerr Kriisa enters the transfer portal

• “To Coach Pope and the UK coaching staff — it has been an absolute dream to play for the University of Kentucky. Thank you for your continued support,” Kriisa wrote on social media. “I will always cherish my time in the Blue Grass State, and I wish Kentucky Basketball all the best in the future.”
• The 6-3 guard averaged 4.4 points and 3.8 assists in 17.4 minutes per contest in nine games as a Wildcat
• Kriisa underwent season-ending foot surgery following Kentucky’s win over Gonzaga on Dec. 7
• He will apply for a medical redshirt, giving him a sixth and final season of eligibility

March 28: Kentucky players with remaining eligibility discuss future plans

Immediately after the team’s loss to Tennessee in the Sweet 16, the Wildcats with remaining eligibility shared their first updates on their respective futures at Kentucky.

• Otega Oweh: “I haven’t thought about none of that.”
• Brandon Garrison: “I’m gonna talk to Coach Pope and the staff and see what’s next for me, my family and my agent and stuff.”
• Collin Chandler: “Yeah, I haven’t thought about that whatsoever. I know it’s probably chaos out there right now, but we’ve been focused on what we’re doing and being present with this group, focusing on the goal that we’ve had.”
• Travis Perry: “Yeah, certainly (I’m planning to return). Certainly.”
• Trent Noah: “I love playing for Coach Pope, he’s such an incredible person, as well. That’s what makes this so special, the bond that we have. He’s a great basketball coach, but you can put that part aside because he’s a great human being. He’s someone you want to play for.”

March 28: Tulane transfer Kam Williams commits to Kentucky

• Picked Kentucky over Florida, Louisville, Baylor, Texas, LSU, Texas Tech, Arkansas and USC
• “With opportunities like that, regardless of whether I’ve seen it or not, that caliber of school is something you can’t pass on. It was really the culture, the play style, and the background they have. They’ve sent multiple players to the NBA, and my goal is to make the NBA. It was really a no-brainer,” he told Jacob Polacheck of KSR+.
• Averaged 9.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.3 APG on 48.5% FG and 41.2% 3PT in ’24-25