For a brief moment, it appeared Mark Pope had his Kentucky starting five figured out.
Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins looked set to handle the backcourt, Milan Momcilovic was expected to occupy one forward position, and sophomore center Malachi Moreno seemed destined to return to the starting lineup. Mitchell, meanwhile, was viewed as the obvious choice at power forward.
Then everything changed.
Mitchell’s decision to leave Kentucky and return to Missouri has reopened one of the biggest questions surrounding the Wildcats heading into the 2026-27 season: Who will step into the starting power forward role?
Kentucky is currently back to 14 players, and there are three realistic candidates who could make a push for the job — Ousmane N’Diaye, Justin McBride and Trent Noah.
Ousmane N’Diaye Has the Highest Upside
N’Diaye may be the most intriguing option.
The 7-foot Senegalese forward brings an unusual combination of size, athleticism and perimeter skill. He has a reported 7-foot-3 wingspan and spent three seasons playing professionally in Europe before arriving in Lexington.
His ability to run the floor, attack the rim, protect the basket and stretch defenses makes him an intriguing fit alongside Moreno and Momcilovic.
There is, however, a significant amount of development still required.
N’Diaye has shown flashes of tremendous ability but has also struggled with consistency. He shot just 30.5% from three-point range last season and has occasionally been prone to driving into difficult situations. Defensively, he still has to become more comfortable with positioning and Kentucky’s concepts.
Still, Pope believes N’Diaye has the tools to become an elite player.
“He’s got a chance to be an elite-level player,” Pope said during the summer. “He has a lot of work he has to do to get there, but he has some skill sets that are special.”
If N’Diaye can make significant progress during fall practices, he could emerge as the favorite.
Justin McBride Could Bring the Physicality Kentucky Needs
McBride offers something very different.
At 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds, the James Madison transfer is arguably Kentucky’s most physical option at the position. After averaging 15.3 points and 5.6 rebounds last season, he enters Lexington with experience and a willingness to battle inside.
His rebounding could be particularly valuable.
Kentucky already has concerns about its overall physicality, especially with Momcilovic not being known as a dominant rebounder. McBride could help address that weakness.
He also shot 40% from three on 95 attempts last season, giving Pope another potential floor-spacing option.
Pope has been particularly complimentary of McBride’s approach.
“He’s got a big body, and he’s got an inherent physicality that’s going to be really important for us this year,” Pope said.
The biggest questions are on defense and against higher-level competition. McBride also missed several weeks of summer practice because of a serious viral illness, limiting the amount of time Pope had to evaluate him.
Don’t Count Out Trent Noah
Noah might not be the favorite, but dismissing him could be a mistake.
The Harlan native is entering his third season with Pope and is the only player remaining on Kentucky’s roster who has been with the coach throughout his entire tenure.
Noah has developed a reputation as one of Kentucky’s most reliable and team-oriented players. He can shoot from outside, plays physically and understands what Pope expects on both ends of the floor.
His career three-point percentage remains modest at 33.3%, but Pope has argued that Noah’s opportunities were affected by Kentucky’s lack of consistent creation last season.
When healthy, Noah has also shown that he can contribute on the glass. In fact, he posted Kentucky’s best defensive rebounding percentage last season.
His experience could become especially valuable if N’Diaye struggles with consistency or McBride has difficulty adjusting defensively.
The Battle Could Go Down to the Wire
With Mitchell no longer in Lexington, Pope suddenly has a major decision to make.
N’Diaye appears to have the greatest long-term upside. McBride could provide the size and toughness Kentucky desperately needs. Noah offers experience, reliability and a proven understanding of Pope’s system.
There is also the possibility of Kentucky adding another player, although with the semester already underway and few comparable options available, that currently appears unlikely.
That means the starting power forward job is likely to be decided internally.
And that could make Kentucky’s fall practices extremely important.
The Wildcats entered the offseason believing their roster had a clear identity. Mitchell’s unexpected departure has changed that equation, and now Pope must find another player capable of filling one of the most important roles on the team.
Whoever wins the battle will need to do more than simply score.
Kentucky will need that player to rebound, defend, communicate and provide enough consistency to complement Diallo, Wilkins, Momcilovic and Moreno.
For now, N’Diaye may have the inside track.
But McBride and Noah have a chance to change the conversation once fall practice begins.
The race for Kentucky’s final starting spot is officially wide open.
