Kentucky reportedly plans to meet with Jacksonville State's Jaron Pierre Jr.

Jacksonville State transfer Jaron Pierre Jr. is on Kentucky’s radar.

Interest from the Wildcats first spawned Tuesday and appears to be gaining momentum. Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reported Wednesday night that the Wildcats have “plans to meet” with Pierre “in the near future.”

During his redshirt senior season at Jacksonville State in 2024-25, Pierre averaged 21.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 37.6 minutes per outing while shooting 42.4 percent overall, 38.2 percent from deep, and 81 percent from the free-throw line. Also expected to test the NBA Draft waters, he was named CUSA Player of the Year for his production.

Rothstein reports that Pierre was on a visit to SMU Wednesday, adding that Ole Miss also expects to meet with the 6-foot-5 guard sometime soon. Of note, the week-long recruiting dead period began today (Thursday, April 3) and will continue until the end of the day on April 10, meaning coaches can have no in-person contact or host prospects on visits during this time.

There’s a non-zero chance Mark Pope met with Pierre late Wednesday night.

Sources: Jacksonville State transfer Jaron Pierre Jr. is currently visiting SMU.

Also plans to meet with Ole Miss and Kentucky in the near future.

Averaged 21.6 PPG.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 3, 2025

Pierre, who has one year of eligibility remaining, is searching for his fourth school in six seasons. He’s able to play one more year of college ball due to his first season happening in 2020-21, which did not count toward a player’s eligibility as a result of the pandemic.

The New Orleans native was a three-star prospect out of St. Augustine (LA) High School before starting his college career at Southern Miss for two seasons (2020-22). Pierre then played one season at Wichita State before transferring again to Jacksonville State and redshirting the 2023-24 season. He developed into one of the nation’s top scoring guards in 2024-25 while also playing the second-most minutes of anyone in all of Division I.

Kentucky Basketball 2025-26 Roster Tracker

Here is a running list of who’s coming, going, or being contacted by the staff as the 2025-26 roster comes together.

PORTAL TARGETS (16)

• Yaxel Lendeborg – UAB – 17.7 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 4.2 APG, 52.2 FG%, 35.7 3PT%
• Alvaro Folgueiras – Robert Morris – 13.8 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, 54.4 FG%, 41.5 3PT%
• Mackenzie Mgbako – F – Indiana – 12.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 1.1 APG, 43.7% FG, 32.9% 3PT
• Taylor Bol Bowen – F – Florida State – 8.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 0.8 APG, 47.7% FG, 41.4% 3PT
• Jaron Pierre – Jacksonville State – 21.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.8 APG, 42.4 FG%, 38.2 3PT%
• Vyctorius Miller – G – LSU – 8.9 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.2 APG, 44.7 FG%, 31.8 3PT
• Silas Demary Jr. – G – Georgia – 13.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.1 APG, 39.6% FG, 37.4% 3PT
• Ja’Kobi Gillespie – Maryland – 14.7 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 4.8 APG, 45.3% FG, 40.7% 3PT
• Reed Bailey – Davidson – 18.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 3.8 APG, 47.7 FG%, 41.5 3PT%
• Rodney Rice – Maryland – 13.8 PGG, 2.2 RPG, 1.2 APG, 43.4 FG%, 37.4 3PT%
• Abdi Bashir Jr. – G – Monmouth – 20.1 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.2 APG, 37.7% FG, 38.3% 3PT
• Elijah Moore – G – Syracuse – 5.2 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 6.4 APG, 39.1% FG, 31.5% 3PT
• Elyjah Freeman – F – Lincoln Memorial (DII) – 19.3 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 57.8% FG, 46.3% 3PT
• Frankie Collins – G – TCU – 11.2 PGG, 4.4 RPG, 4.4 APG, 42.2% FG, 26.1% 3PT
• Lamar Wilkerson – G – Sam Houston – 20.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.1 APG, 47.7% FG, 44.5% 3PT
• Alex Steen – F – Florida Southern (DII) – 17.9 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.5 BPG, 56.2 FG%, 28.6 3PT

COMMITS (1)

• Kam Williams – G – Tulane – 9.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 48.5% FG, 41.2% 3PT | Committed 3/28

RETURNING / INCOMING (8)

• Otega Oweh – G – Rising Senior – 16.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 49.2% FG, 35.5% 3PT
• Brandon Garrison – C – Rising Junior – 5.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.9 APG, 50.9%
• Collin Chandler – C- Rising Sophomore – 2.7 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.7 APG, 36.1% FG, 34.7% 3PT
• Travis Perry – PG – Rising Sophomore – 2.7 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.6 APG, 31.3% FG, 32.1% 3PT
• Trent Noah – F – Rising Sophomore – 2.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.4 APG, 45.1% FG, 33.3% 3PT
• Malachi Moreno – C – Incoming Freshman – Great Crossing (Georgetown, KY)
• Jasper Johnson – SG – Incoming Freshman – Overtime Elite (Lexington, KY)
• Acaden Lewis – PG – Incoming Freshman – Sidwell Friends (Washington DC)

DEPARTURES (1)

• Kerr Kriisa – G – Senior – 4.4 PPG, 3.8 APG, 2.4 RPG, 27.9% FG | Entered Portal 3/31