Kentucky basketball briefly found itself connected to one of the more unusual names circulating in college basketball rumor mills this week — but that connection has already been put to rest.
On Sunday, On3’s Joe Tipton reported that the Wildcats were among several high-major programs monitoring Trentyn Flowers, a former five-star prospect currently on a two-way NBA contract with the Chicago Bulls. Michigan, Florida, and Kansas were also listed as programs keeping an eye on the situation, fueling speculation about a possible return to college basketball.
That report, however, did not hold up under further scrutiny.
Later that day, On3 CEO Shannon Terry publicly apologized for the report, stating it fell short of the outlet’s standards and was inaccurate. Terry noted that the issue was addressed internally and corrective measures were taken.
Soon after, veteran college basketball reporter Adam Zagoria added further clarification, reporting that Kentucky was not expected to be involved in any pursuit of Flowers — effectively shutting the door on the rumor.
Flowers, now 20, has taken a nontraditional route since high school. A member of the 2023 recruiting class and ESPN’s No. 18 overall prospect, he decommitted from Louisville before ever playing a college game. Instead, Flowers chose the professional path, signing with the Adelaide 36ers in Australia’s NBL through the league’s Next Stars program, citing long-term development and professional experience as key factors.
That decision eventually led to NBA opportunities. Flowers has appeared in eight total NBA games between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Chicago Bulls, averaging 1.9 points in limited minutes while continuing to develop physically and skill-wise.
Even as college basketball continues to test the limits of eligibility rules in the NIL era, players with prior NBA experience remain a gray area. Given that uncertainty — and Kentucky’s current roster-building approach — this was never a realistic fit.
Flowers’ size, versatility, and pedigree will keep his name circulating as the sport evolves, but this particular storyline ends here.
Kentucky is not recruiting Trentyn Flowers.
