The NCAA transfer portal is officially open, and Kentucky is already deep in the mix as Mark Pope begins what could be one of the most important roster rebuilds of his tenure.
The portal opened at midnight Tuesday—just hours after Michigan’s national championship win over UConn—and more than 1,000 players have already entered. With that surge of available talent, Kentucky wasted no time reaching out to both familiar targets and new names.
Kentucky contacts top portal guards
Among the most notable players Kentucky connected with on day one are LSU guard Dedan Thomas Jr. and Butler standout Finley Bizjack.
Thomas, a 6-foot-1 point guard, is one of the highest-ranked players currently in the portal. He averaged 15.3 points and 6.5 assists this season for LSU but appeared in only 16 games before undergoing foot surgery in February. Despite that setback, his production and playmaking have kept him in high demand, with programs like Alabama, Louisville, and Texas also showing interest.
Bizjack offers a different kind of appeal—experience and consistency. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 17.1 points per game at Butler this past season and has shot over 36% from three across his career. He earned All-Big East third-team honors and is viewed as one of the more polished scorers available.
Kentucky is also expected to remain involved with previously linked targets such as San Diego State’s Miles Byrd and San Francisco’s Tyrone Riley IV, though both are drawing heavy interest elsewhere.
New names emerge on Kentucky’s radar
Pope and his staff also reached out to several new prospects as they widen their search.
Florida Atlantic’s Devin Vanterpool is coming off a breakout campaign, averaging 15.8 points per game while contributing in rebounds, assists, and steals. His development earned him AAC Most Improved Player honors.
Utah guard Terrence Brown is another major name to watch. He averaged 19.9 points per game this season and has already had a FaceTime conversation with Pope. His scoring ability makes him one of the more attractive options in the portal.
Washington’s Zoom Diallo, a former McDonald’s All-American, is also in the mix. He averaged 15.7 points this season and showed major improvement as a shooter. Kentucky had prior interest in him during his high school recruitment.
Former Kentucky ties scattered across the portal
Several players with Kentucky connections are also on the move.
Acaden Lewis—who originally signed with Kentucky before reopening his recruitment—is back in the portal after a strong freshman season at Villanova, where he averaged 12.2 points and 5.3 assists. Early interest is coming from Miami and Texas.
Somto Cyril, a former UK signee under John Calipari, is also available after two productive seasons at Georgia. However, his “do not contact” tag suggests he may already have a destination in mind.
Other familiar names include Karter Knox and D.J. Wagner, both of whom were tied to Kentucky during the Calipari era and are now exploring new opportunities.
Major roster turnover underway in Lexington
Back in Lexington, Kentucky is facing significant roster changes.
At least 10 players from last season’s team are expected to depart. Otega Oweh has exhausted his eligibility, while Jayden Quaintance is projected to stay in the NBA Draft after appearing in just four games.
Multiple players have entered the transfer portal, including Mouhamed Dioubate, Brandon Garrison, Jaland Lowe, Andrija Jelavic, and Jasper Johnson. Denzel Aberdeen also entered but would need an NCAA waiver to return for another season.
Malachi Moreno is testing the NBA Draft process but could still return depending on how things play out.
There are still pending decisions from Collin Chandler, Trent Noah, Braydon Hawthorne, and Reece Potter, adding more uncertainty to the roster outlook.
One positive development came with Kam Williams announcing his return. The forward showed promise before a foot injury sidelined him and now gives Kentucky a key piece moving forward.
What comes next
The next major date is April 11, when coaches can begin in-person meetings and official visits with portal players. The portal remains open for new entries until April 21.
With heavy roster turnover and limited returning players, Kentucky is clearly in full rebuild mode—and what happens over the next few weeks will shape the entire direction of the program.
