College basketball’s new reality continues to stretch the boundaries of what once felt impossible, and Kentucky may be the latest program to lean into it.
With NIL reshaping the sport and the NCAA offering little resistance, a growing trend has emerged: players with professional experience — even active contracts — finding pathways back to college basketball. Now, according to a report from Recruits News, Mark Pope and the Kentucky coaching staff have expressed interest in Chicago Bulls two-way contract wing Trentyn Flowers.
Yes, that Trentyn Flowers — the former five-star prospect who bypassed college, played professionally overseas, and is currently affiliated with an NBA roster. The idea still feels surreal, but it’s quickly becoming part of the sport’s new normal.
How Kentucky Entered the Picture
Flowers, a 6-foot-8 wing, was once committed to Louisville before choosing a professional route out of high school, beginning his career in Australia’s NBL. He later worked his way into the NBA ecosystem, earning a two-way deal with Chicago and appearing in eight NBA games.
There’s also a Kentucky connection behind the scenes. Wildcats assistant Jason Hart was involved in Flowers’ recruitment during his time with G League Ignite, creating familiarity that could matter if this interest progresses beyond the exploratory stage.
Kentucky isn’t alone, either. Flowers is reportedly drawing interest from a long list of high-major programs, including Michigan, Kansas, Florida, BYU, Indiana, USC, Texas Tech, and Washington.
A Trend That’s Moving Faster Than the Rulebook
The Wildcats’ involvement reflects a broader shift happening across college basketball right now. Baylor recently landed former first-round NBA draft pick James Nnaji, while other programs — including Louisville — have pursued professional players with eligibility aimed at future seasons.
The common thread? A lack of clear NCAA guardrails.
Coaches are openly navigating gray areas as they look to add experienced, physically mature players during the winter enrollment window. With roster turnover constant and the transfer portal already reshaping teams annually, this feels like the next frontier.
Not everyone is thrilled. Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo recently voiced frustration with the direction things are heading, questioning both the NCAA and coaches for allowing drafted NBA players to re-enter the college game.
The Eligibility Question Still Looms
For now, Flowers has not yet been granted NCAA eligibility, which remains the biggest hurdle. But given the NCAA’s recent willingness to bend — or outright remove — longstanding restrictions, skepticism around approval is fading.
What makes this situation especially notable is that Flowers has already logged NBA minutes, a step beyond most recent examples of pros returning to college. That raises inevitable questions about where the line actually exists — if it exists at all.
If this trend continues, it’s not hard to imagine fans dreaming even bigger. Former college stars returning for encore seasons? Once-unthinkable scenarios suddenly feel less absurd.
What It Means for Kentucky
At the very least, Kentucky’s reported interest signals that Mark Pope is willing to operate in the same evolving space as the rest of the sport’s power programs. Whether this pursuit gains traction or fizzles out, the message is clear: the Wildcats aren’t sitting on the sidelines while college basketball rewrites its own rules.
Where this goes next remains to be seen. But one thing is certain — the definition of “college basketball player” is changing fast, and Kentucky is clearly paying attention.
