KSR Today: Transfer portal updates, spring practice, and bad weather

ZGeogheganKSR

Photos of Mark Pope (left) and Mark Stoops by Mont Dawson, Kentucky Sports Radio

Good morning, folks! I hope everyone woke up safe and sound this morning. Storms/tornados ripped through most of Kentucky (and the Ohio Valley) last night. The 2:00 a.m. sirens and alarms that blasted through downtown Lexington for over 30 minutes were ones I had never heard before. Severe weather is likely here to stay throughout the weekend, too. Make sure to stay safe over the next few days, BBN.

Bad weather or not, that won’t slow down Mark Pope in the transfer portal.

What will the portal bring today?

Compared to the days beforehand, Wednesday was awfully quiet on the transfer portal front. We didn’t have a half-dozen new names surface as possible Kentucky targets. No new commitments (or surprise commitments elsewhere) or priority visits publicly announced. The only major update was the arrival of Indiana forward Mackenzie Mgbako on UK’s campus. Mgbako and Florida State forward Taylor Bol Bowen were the two portal visitors of the week.

Kentucky already has one transfer on board in Tulane guard Kam Wiliams. Remember, it’s still very early in the process. This time last year, Pope was nine days away from being hired. But yesterday was strangely quiet… TOO quiet… Will that change today? If/when it does, KSR will have you covered from every angle.

Keep in mind that today is the start of a week-long recruiting dead period. From now until the end of the day on April 10, coaches will not be allowed to make in-person contact with prospects, which includes hosting them for visits. The phones will still be busy though. That could mean we see an influx of commitments in the next 24-48 hours. Below is a list of UK portal targets.

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

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Spring Practice updates from Mark Stoops

It was an extra windy day at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility, but that didn’t stop Mark Stoops from allowing the media to come watch his team compete during spring practice. KSR had boots on the ground to watch plenty of football and talk with several Wildcats, including Stoops and new quarterback Zach Calzada.

Nick Roush broke down his top takeaways from everything he saw, including what he liked about the offensive line, how the defensive line looks different, who shined catching the ball, and much more. We also have some practice footage to share. You can find it all below.

[6 Lessons Learned from Kentucky Football Spring Practice]

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Severe weather pushes back Keeneland Opening Day

The aforementioned storms, which are expected all weekend, have already made an impact on Keeneland’s first weekend of the year. Friday and Saturday were scheduled to kick off the 2025 Spring Meet, but those races have been pushed to Monday and Tuesday. The decision was made soon after Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency across the state on Wednesday.

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As of right now, Sunday will serve as Opening Day. You can find more information on tickets and races by clicking the link here.

NEWS: Keeneland Reschedules Opening Friday and Saturday Races Due to Forecast of Severe Weather and Significant Flooding. Learn more → https://t.co/MtiVK0b6yI pic.twitter.com/2i9Md4aHan
— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) April 2, 2025

Bat Cats set to host Ole Miss this week (for now)

But with all this weather talked, we’re just wondering if that series will even happen. Kentucky and No. 9 Ole Miss are scheduled for a three-game series running Thursday, Friday, and Saturday over at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington. First pitch for tonight’s opener is set for 7:00 p.m. ET on the SEC Network. As of the time this post went up, there have been no updates on the status of the series.

Just in case it does go on as planned though, here is the schedule for the next three days.

Thursday, April 3 vs. #9 Ole Miss

7 p.m. ET; Lexington, Ky. (Kentucky Proud Park)
Radio: UK Sports Network, UKathletics.com (630 AM Lexington); TV: SEC Network
UK – TBD; MISS – LHP Hunter Elliott

Friday, April 4 vs. #9 Ole Miss

6:30 p.m. ET; Lexington, Ky. (Kentucky Proud Park)
Radio: UK Sports Network, UKathletics.com (630 AM Lexington); TV: SECN+
UK – RHP Scott Rouse; MISS – RHP Riley Maddux

Saturday, April 5 vs. #9 Ole Miss

2 p.m. ET; Lexington, Ky. (Kentucky Proud Park)
Radio: UK Sports Network, UKathletics.com (630 AM Lexington); TV: SECN+
UK – LHP Ben Cleaver; MISS – RHP Mason Nichols

Softball takes down Louisville

Trailing all the way until the seventh inning, Kentucky softball caught fire and burnt the Louisville Cardinals last night on their own diamond. The Wildcats were able to tie the game 3-3 in the fifth before unloading five runs in the seventh en route to an 8-3 win. A three-run triple from Emory Donaldson in the top of the seventh pushed the ‘Cats to victory.

Emory Donaldson gets a HUGE 3 RBI TRIPLE in her hometown to put the Cats up by five!!

8-3, Top 7th pic.twitter.com/eGOiGBu412
— Eleanor Beavin (@EBeavinKSR) April 3, 2025

With the win, Kentucky moves to 22-15 on the season. Just like the baseball team, UK is scheduled to host a three-game series this weekend against Auburn. We’ll be at the mercy of Mother Nature. For a full recap of yesterday’s win, click here.