Former Kentucky forward Ansel Almonor is proving that success after college basketball can take many different paths — and Mark Pope is clearly proud of what his former player has accomplished.
After finishing his college career in Lexington, Almonor took his talents overseas and joined Salon Vilpas in Finland’s top professional basketball league, Korisliiga. The move quickly paid off, as the former Wildcat helped guide the team to a league championship during his first season abroad.
As celebrations erupted after the title win, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope took to social media with a short but powerful message for his former player.
“Cats winning EVERYWHERE Congrats! @ansleyalmonor,” Pope posted.
The message immediately caught the attention of Big Blue Nation as Pope once again showed support for a former Wildcat thriving beyond Kentucky basketball.
Almonor’s path to professional success has been unique. Before arriving at Kentucky, he spent three seasons at Fairleigh Dickinson and became nationally recognized during the 2023 NCAA Tournament when FDU stunned Purdue in one of the biggest upsets in tournament history.
Following that unforgettable run, Almonor transferred to Kentucky for his final college season. Though he played a smaller role in Lexington, he still contributed valuable experience and depth to the Wildcats roster. During his lone season at Kentucky, he averaged 5.2 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game.
After his college eligibility expired, Almonor chose to begin his professional basketball career overseas rather than pursue an NBA opportunity immediately. So far, the decision appears to be paying off in a major way.
Adjusting to European basketball can be difficult for American players because of differences in style of play, culture, and language. However, Almonor adapted quickly and became part of a championship-winning team in Finland.
During the celebration after winning the Korisliiga title, Almonor shared videos dancing and celebrating with his Finnish teammates. Even though he admitted he did not fully understand the language being spoken around him, he clearly embraced the moment and enjoyed every second of the championship atmosphere.
For some players, overseas basketball serves as a stepping stone toward the NBA. For others, it becomes the start of a long and successful international career. No matter what comes next for Almonor, his professional journey is already off to a strong start.
And based on Mark Pope’s reaction, Kentucky will continue supporting him wherever basketball takes him next.
