Kentucky looking to round out 2025-26 roster with one more portal piece

Mark Pope is quickly putting together his 2025-26 Kentucky roster.

As things currently stand, Pope has built a 12-man team. With seven outgoing pieces (six of them without any eligibility remaining), an overhaul was expected. Not to the extent Pope had to deal with this time last season, but several new pieces would need to be brought in. He’s done an excellent job of that thus far by adding Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State), Jaland Lowe (Pitt), Mouhamed Dioubate (Alabama), and Kam Williams (Tulane) — a collection of transfers that ranks second in the country, according to On3.

Mix in those four transfers with five returning pieces from last season, led by All-SEC performer Otega Oweh, plus a trio of four-star freshmen, and Pope has Kentucky in great shape for next season and beyond. But he’s not done just yet filling out the roster for this fall.

“I am told Kentucky is gonna get one more shooter,” KSR’s Matt Jones posted to social media Tuesday afternoon, shortly after Quaintance committed to UK. “If they get that, I think the roster is going to have pretty much everything you can ask for.”

I am told Kentucky is gonna get one more shooter. If they get that, I think the roster is going to have pretty much everything you can ask for

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) April 8, 2025

Let’s break down the current roster by position, assuming all five eligible players from the 2024-25 roster return:

• Guard: Otega Oweh (Sr.), Jaland Lowe (Jr.), Collin Chandler (So.), Kam Williams (So.), Jasper Johnson (Fr.), Acaden Lewis (Fr.), Travis Perry (So.), Trent Noah (So.)
• Forward: Mouhamed Dioubate (Jr.), Jayden Quiantance (So.)
• Center: Brandon Garrison (Jr.), Malachi Moreno (Fr.)

Pope has certainly loaded up on guards with varying skill sets. The likes of Williams and Noah are capable of playing down a position or two in small-ball lineups, but overall, the backcourt will be plenty deep. That being said, none of them are what we consider elite outside college shooters. Perry and Noah flashed some of that potential as true freshmen, but they expect to take on smaller roles going into their sophomore seasons.

Johnson has held a reputation as a talented shot-maker since high school but will have to prove it at the next level. Lowe and Chandler will also have to prove they can consistently knock down outside shots. But some of that potential worry can be taken away by adding someone who has earned the title of sharpshooter.

An obvious target would be Southern California transfer guard Wesley Yates, a 6-foot-4 freshman who shot 43.9 percent from deep last season on 3.7 attempts per outing. UK is heavily involved with Yates and he fits the mold of what Pope appears to be looking for. Jacksonville State guard Jaron Pierre Jr. is also on the radar. Other viable options could easily jump into the portal between now and the April 22 deadline.

In the event Kentucky lands Yates (or another top-end shooter), the roster might be as close to complete as possible at this stage in the offseason. There is still a chance Pope looks for another big man option, Robert Morris’ Alvaro Folgueiras being near the top of the Big Board, but there’s a clear need for a marksman.

This time last year, Pope was still four days away from being hired. Just a couple weeks after his first season came to an end, he’s nearly built an entire team ready to contend.