Kentucky walk-on Grant Darbyshire enters Transfer Portal

Denzel Aberdeen‘s commitment isn’t the only piece of Kentucky Basketball roster news today. Junior walk-on Grant Darbyshire has entered the transfer portal, On3’s Pete Nakos confirms to KSR.

Darbyshire spent three seasons at Kentucky, appearing in six games. During the 2023-24 season, he saw action in wins over Marshall, Louisville, Illinois State, and on the road at Vanderbilt. This past season, he appeared in Kentucky’s final home game vs. LSU and the NCAA Tournament opening win vs. Troy. Darbyshire hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, where he served as a captain for Sycamore High School as a senior and helped lead the team to the Greater Miami Conference championship.

Darbyshire is a two-time SEC Academic team selection and made the Dean’s List every semester. Last month, he was inducted into the Frank G. Ham Society of Character, the highest honor a University of Kentucky athlete can earn. He is a Social Entrepreneurship Pathway Scholar at UK’s Gatton College of Business and Economics and has 70 hours of community service work, while also serving as a member of SAAC.

The news of Darbyshire’s departure comes as we wait to hear if US District Court Senior Judge Claudia Wilken will approve the House Settlement, which will change how schools and the NCAA handle name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights. If approved, the settlement will impose roster limits on all sports, which will essentially eliminate walk-ons. The proposed limit for basketball is 15 scholarship players per team. Kentucky had 12 scholarship players and three walk-ons this past season: Darbyshire, Walker Horn, and Zach Tow. The transfer portal closes tomorrow, so Darbyshire can now explore his options elsewhere.

Best of luck to Captain America at his next stop.

Kentucky Basketball 2025-26 Roster Tracker

Kentucky has 13 scholarship players on next season’s roster following Denzel Aberdeen’s commitment. As mentioned, the transfer portal closes tomorrow, but players who are already in will have as long as they like to commit to a school. Otega Oweh is testing the NBA Draft waters and has until June 15 to decide whether or not to return to school.

COMMITS (6)

• Kam Williams – G – Tulane – 9.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 48.5% FG, 41.2% 3PT | Committed 3/28
• Jaland Lowe – G – Pittsburgh – 16.8 PPG, 5.5 APG, 4.2 RPG, 37.6% FG, 26.6% 3PT | Committed 4/5
• Mouhamed Dioubate – F – Alabama – 7.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.1 APG, 61.7% FG, 46.2% 3PT | Committed 4/7
• Jayden Quaintance – F – Arizona State – 9.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.6 BPG, 52.5 FG% | Committed 4/8
• Andrija Jelavic – C – Mega Basket — 10.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.4 APG, 50.3% FG, 32.3% 3PT | – Committed 4/12
• Denzel Aberdeen – G – Florida – 7.7 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 41.8 FG%, 35 3PT% | Committed 4/21

RETURNING / INCOMING (7)

• Otega Oweh – G – Rising Senior – 16.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 49.2% FG, 35.5% 3PT | Going through NBA Draft process
• Brandon Garrison – C – Rising Junior – 5.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.9 APG, 50.9% | Confirmed return on 4/12
• Collin Chandler – C- Rising Sophomore – 2.7 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.7 APG, 36.1% FG, 34.7% 3PT | Confirmed return on 4/17
• 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 | Confirmed return on 4/18
• Malachi Moreno – C – Incoming Freshman – Great Crossing (Georgetown, KY)
• Jasper Johnson – SG – Incoming Freshman – Overtime Elite (Lexington, KY)