Former Kentucky players give Mark Pope’s Kentucky seal of approval following offseason practice sessions
Just when it looked like John Calipari’s exit would affect the Kentucky Wildcats, Mark Pope set a new benchmark. As Pope continued his search to fill the coaching void in his staff, he dabbled heavily into the transfer portal to find suitable players. Nine transfers found common ground with his basketball vision: five guards, three forwards and one center.
Pope not only earned the active roster’s trust but also the respect of several former Kentucky players behind his new regime. In a Wednesday morning update by Kentucky Sports Radio, former Kentucky players competing in the TBT showed their appreciation for Pope’s recruiting acumen and energetic approach. They also cited a high ceiling for the new roster that they witnessed during their joint practice.
When Calipari left, five of the Wildcats’ core players transitioned to the NBA: Rob Dillingham, Reed Sheppard, Antonio Reeves, Justin Edwards and Tre Mitchell.
Pope was then handed the Wildcats’ ropes with no scholarship players returning to the program for the first time in school history. However, he saw it as an opportunity to hand-pick his entire roster.
Not only was Pope able to establish one of the deepest rosters in the SEC, the 2024-25 Kentucky Wildcats might also be one of the most experienced teams.
Each of the nine transfers has started at least 20 games for their former programs. Meanwhile, five of them flaunt over 60 such games.
Who are the best players in Mark Pope's 2024-25 Kentucky?
Andrew Carr and Kerr Kriisa are expected to benefit the most from Pope’s three-point heavy and quick game style. Carr has 112 starts while Kriisa has 93.
Carr is a 6-foot-11 big man who can let it fly from anywhere on the court. The former Wake Forest forward averaged 13.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks while making more than 50% of his shots last season.
Carr could be Kentucky’s most monumental pull from the portal due to his consistent role on both ends of the floor along with his floor spacing qualities.
Kriisa, the former West Virginia guard, can shun the opposing crowd with his outside scoring. He is an elite three-point shooter who can maintain an above 40% high-volume efficiency while averaging 11 points and 4.7 assists last season.