When Mark Pope took over as head coach at Kentucky last offseason, he faced a challenging situation: the Wildcats had no returning scholarship athletes for the 2024-25 season following John Calipari’s departure to Arkansas. Swiftly addressing the need for players, Pope primarily utilized the transfer portal, leading Kentucky to the Sweet 16 in his inaugural season.
The offseason for Pope and his team in Year 2 is expected to be less hectic than the last, yet it remains a crucial period as Kentucky aims for another significant run in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Earlier this month, Kentucky made a notable acquisition in the transfer portal by securing former five-star big man Jayden Quaintance. Although Quaintance initially committed to Kentucky, he withdrew his commitment shortly after Calipari’s exit.
Last season, Quaintance played at Arizona State, where he is anticipated to be a top-five pick in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft.
All attention will focus on star guard Otega Oweh in the coming month. Oweh has declared for the 2025 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility. Having transferred from Oklahoma to Kentucky, he emerged as one of Pope’s standout players in the recent season.
Overview of Kentucky’s Roster Changes
CBS Sports is keeping track of Kentucky’s roster and incoming recruits in real time. The current status of each Kentucky player and commitment is regularly updated.
New Additions from Transfers
Jayden Quaintance | F/C | Fr. (Transferred from Arizona State)
GP: 24 | PPG: 9.4 | RPG: 7.9 | APG: 1.5
Initially committed to play for Calipari, Quaintance rescinded his pledge when Calipari joined Arkansas. Last season, Quaintance became a historic recruit for Arizona State, ranking ninth overall in 2024 recruiting by 247Sports, and is projected as a top-five NBA Draft pick for 2026.
Mouhamed Dioubate | F | So. (Transferred from Alabama)
GP: 37 | PPG: 7.2 | RPG: 5.9 | APG: 1.1
Dioubate served as a key contributor at Alabama last season and will likely be a significant asset for Pope moving forward.
Jaland Lowe | G | Soph. (Transferred from Pitt)
GP: 31 | PPG: 16.8 | RPG: 4.2 | APG: 5.5
The former Pitt standout committed to Kentucky and is highly ranked at 30th in the 247Sports Transfer Portal Rankings.
Kam Williams | G | Fr. (Transferred from Tulane)
GP: 33 | PPG: 9.3 | RPG: 4.5 | APG: 1.3
Williams, who started 28 games at Tulane, brings backcourt depth along with accurate shooting from beyond the arc.
