Transfer Portal Bio Blast: Lamar Wilkerson

Kentucky’s 2025-26 roster is coming together nicely, but the Cats could use another shooter. There are quite a few candidates currently in the transfer portal, which doesn’t close until April 22. One name that’s picked up steam in the last 24 hours is Lamar Wilkerson. As we wait for further developments, let’s get to know the Sam Houston State guard.

Wilkerson is coming off his senior season, during which he averaged 20.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. He was the best three-point shooter in Conference USA, shooting 44.5% from beyond the arc, which ranked seventh nationally (for comparison, Koby Brea was ninth). Mark Pope loves volume shooters, and Wilkerson fits the bill. He averaged 3.4 made threes per game, which ranked sixth nationally, on 7.7 attempts. He totaled 109 made threes, which ranked 13th nationally.

Wilkerson scored in double figures in all 32 games this season and 20-plus points in 17 games. He hit five threes in Sam Houston State’s loss to Baylor in November, scored 18 points against Indiana in Assembly Hall in December, and hit eight threes (on 13 attempts) in a win over Texas Southern. Wilkerson is the first player in Sam Houston State history to average more than 20 points in a season since the Bearkats moved up to Division I in 1987. He’s a two-time First-Team All-CUSA selection.

Wilkerson, a native of Ashdown, Arkansas, was not ranked coming out of high school in the 2020 class. He started his college career at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and transferred to Sam Houston State in 2022. He has one more season of eligibility remaining thanks to the recent ruling that junior college seasons don’t count against eligibility. Wilkerson is the No. 34 player in On3’s Transfer Portal rankings.

Big names in pursuit

Wilkerson entered the transfer portal on March 24 and immediately drew interest from some of the top programs in the country. According to Jonathan Givony, Kentucky, Alabama, Duke, Arkansas, Louisville, Kansas, and SMU were among the programs to initially reach out. Earlier this week, On3’s Pete Nakos put in a prediction for Indiana with a medium confidence level but said Florida is another team to watch.

We didn’t hear much buzz about Wilkerson and Kentucky until last night, when word spread that the Cats were once again involved. Kentucky has also been in contact with USC guard Wesley Yates III, although Washington remains the favorite in that recruitment. Jacksonville State guard Jaron Pierre Jr. is also on the board and visited with Mark Pope and Alvin Brooks III in Dallas before the dead period began. The dead period lasts through Thursday, meaning that on Friday morning, on-campus and at-home visits can resume.

Advanced Stat Profile

At 6’5″ 205 lbs., Lamar Wilkerson is capable of driving the lane, making 54% of his shots at the rim, 23% of his field-goal attempts. That said, his strength is shooting. Over 76% of his three-pointers were assisted. Wilkerson is especially good from deep. This past season, 20 of his 109 made threes were from 25+ feet.

Stat	Finish	Ranking
3PT percentage	44.49	7th nationally
True Shooting percentage	60.4	184th nationally
Spot Up	1.2 points per possession	87th percentile nationally
Transition	1.32 points per possession	85th percentile nationally

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 (12)

• Wesley Yates III – Southern California – 14.1 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.8 APG, 47.8 FG%, 43.9 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
• Jaron Pierre Jr. – Jacksonville State – 21.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.8 APG, 42.4 FG%, 38.2 3PT%
• Rodney Rice – Maryland – 13.8 PGG, 2.2 RPG, 1.2 APG, 43.4 FG%, 37.4 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
• Xaivian Lee – G – Princeton – 16.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 5.5 APG, 43.9 FG%, 36.6 3PT%

COMMITS (4)

• 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

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, Committed to Cincinnati