Kentucky WBB losing 3 critical pieces to transfer portal

After a midseason resurrection that saw Kentucky go from a 9-11 record to a 10-game winning streak, three critical pieces from that magical run are on the move.

According to multiple reports and later confirmed by UK Athletics, Dre’Una Edwards, Treasure Hunt, and Jazmine Massengill have all put their name in the transfer portal. The loss of these three is a massive hit to the future of the program, as all of them were expected to play pivotal roles in the 2022-23 season. Edwards was the team’s second-leading scorer at 16.5 points per game in 2021-22 behind All-American Rhyne Howard, who will enter the 2022 WNBA Draft.

Edwards is set to be a redshirt senior, Massengill a fifth-year senior, and Hunt a true junior next season.

#Breaking: #Kentucky stars Jazmine Massengill, Dre'Una Edwards, and Treasure Hunt plan on transferring, will enter the portal, sources tell @theballoutmedia @TheBallOutSport #ncaawbb #MarchMadness #SEC https://t.co/kj1DGRZq68

— The Ball Out (@theballoutmedia) March 25, 2022

It’s tough to overstate the magnitude of these losses for a team coming off arguably the most impressive end-of-season run in program history, culminating with the first SEC Championship title in 40 years. Edwards and Hunt were both playing the best basketball of their careers during the second half of the season while Massengill has continually performed as one of the country’s steadiest point guards. Unfortunately, the season came to an untimely end with a first-round exit to Princeton in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

2021-22 per-game averages

Dre’Una Edwards: 16.5 pts, 8.4 rebs, 1.7 asts, 1.1 stls, 1.0 blks – 52.1/34.5/74.6 shooting split
Jazmine Massengill: 7.0 pts, 3.6 rebs, 4.7 asts, 1.1 stls, 0.8 blks – 40.6/29.5/54.1 shooting split
Treasure Hunt: 6.9 pts, 4.6 rebs, 1.4 asts, 0.7 blks – 35.4/25.8/53.2 shooting split

While Edwards didn’t start the second half of the season, she finished games for the ‘Cats. Remember, she was also suspended for a total of five games this past season, including a four-game stretch during the middle of the schedule. However, she went on to play incredible basketball once she returned to the floor.

Head coach Kyra Elzy is effectively losing three starting-caliber players with one announcement. Add in the loss of Howard and it’s fair to question where the team goes from here. Expect Kentucky to be active in the portal in its own regard.