Mark Pope has added another experienced big man to Kentucky’s frontcourt — and this one brings elite rim protection with him.
Kentucky basketball officially landed Washington transfer Franck Kepnang on Saturday, giving the Wildcats a veteran center with years of college experience and proven defensive production. The commitment was first announced by the UK Sports Network on X.
Kepnang, a 6-foot-11 center originally from Cameroon, is set to enter his seventh college season in 2026-27 after spending time at both Oregon and Washington during his NCAA career.
He began his college journey with the Ducks in 2020-21 during the COVID eligibility waiver season. After appearing in 35 games and making five starts for Oregon in 2021-22, Kepnang transferred to Washington looking for a bigger role.
His career was slowed by injuries over the next few seasons. He suffered a season-ending injury after just eight games in 2022-23, and availability remained an issue over the following two years as he appeared in only 24 combined games during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
But last season marked a major turnaround.
Kepnang delivered the best year of his career in 2025-26, starting 25 of the 27 games he played for the Huskies while becoming one of the top defensive players in the Big Ten. He averaged 6.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.07 blocks per game in nearly 23 minutes per contest.
His 55 total blocks ranked third in the conference, and his ability to protect the rim instantly fills a major need for Kentucky heading into next season.
Mark Pope has continued to aggressively reshape the Wildcats roster through the transfer portal, and Kepnang adds another layer of size, experience, and defensive toughness to the lineup.
Kentucky fans will now be eager to see how Pope uses Kepnang alongside the rest of the Wildcats’ revamped frontcourt as expectations continue to rise in Lexington.
