There’s a clear problem hovering over Kentucky basketball right now—and it’s one Mark Pope can’t ignore much longer.
Last season exposed a major weakness in the Wildcats’ offense: shooting.
Kentucky struggled to find consistency from beyond the arc, finishing the year at just 34 percent from three-point range. That lack of perimeter efficiency made the offense predictable, easier to defend, and at times completely stagnant.
Now, with the transfer portal open, there’s growing concern about the direction of Pope’s early targets. Many of the guards and wings Kentucky is pursuing haven’t exactly built their reputations as reliable shooters. That raises a serious question—how does this offense improve if the shooting doesn’t?
But there is one name that stands out from the rest.
Robert Morris transfer DeSean Goode isn’t just a good shooter—he’s an outlier. At 6-foot-8, Goode brings size and elite efficiency, coming off a sophomore season where he shot an incredible 57.1 percent from three-point range and nearly 63 percent from the field overall. Those numbers aren’t just impressive—they’re rare.
Of course, numbers like that are hard to sustain, especially against SEC competition. Some regression is expected. But even with that in mind, Goode still projects as a high-level perimeter threat, likely hovering above 40 percent from deep. That alone would instantly make him one of Kentucky’s most dangerous shooters.
To understand how valuable that is, consider this: only one Kentucky player shot above 37 percent from three last season—and even his return isn’t guaranteed.
Adding a player like Goode wouldn’t just boost scoring—it would completely reshape how defenses approach Kentucky.
In their season-ending loss to Iowa State, the Wildcats were overwhelmed by defensive pressure. Without consistent shooters to stretch the floor, opponents were free to collapse on ball handlers, clog driving lanes, and force mistakes. The result? A chaotic offensive performance that included 20 turnovers.
That’s where Goode changes everything.
A player with his shooting ability forces defenders to stay honest. Help defense becomes riskier. Double teams are harder to execute. Spacing improves. Driving lanes open up. The entire offensive system starts to breathe.
It’s not just about adding points—it’s about unlocking the offense.
Mark Pope reportedly has a key meeting lined up with Goode, and it could end up being one of the most important recruiting moments of this portal cycle. He may not be the flashiest name available, but his impact could be massive.
