Just when you thought you had too much transfer portal, prepare for more transfer portal. The portal was portaling as hard as it’s ever portaled, and now we’re going to portal some more. Hold onto your portals, because this is going to be one heck of a portal.
In the weeks following the Kentucky basketball season, roster-building through the transfer portal has taken up most of the oxygen around Big Blue Nation. Things took a hard left turn on Tuesday.
Kentucky fans were in the batter’s box, ready to tee off and send Lamar Wilkerson on a home run trot back to Lexington. After cancelling his remaining visits, all indications were that Mark Pope was in a good place to snag a scoring guard right from under Indiana’s nose. Then Darian DeVries flew to see Wilkerson in person. The competing financial terms, as is the case in the NIL world, are unclear, but we do know the Hoosiers had one thing Kentucky did not.
“It was a pleasure to be recruited by Kentucky,” Wilkerson told the Field of 68. “But I didn’t want to go to Kentucky and just be another guy.”
Indiana made him the focal point of DeVries’ roster rebuild. That’s an opportunity that was too much for Wilkerson to turn down.
Big Blue Nation was ready to celebrate the final missing piece of the transfer portal. Now another window is open for football, and we’ve got more roster news.
Otega Oweh Tests NBA Draft Waters
Indiana does not have an Otega Oweh on its roster. There’s a chance that’s the case for the Cats. Kentucky’s leading scorer broke his silence Tuesday night by announcing that he will enter the NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility.
This decision was the most likely option for Oweh, and the best one for UK. In the transfer portal era, often a player will double-dip by declaring for the draft while also submitting their paperwork to play elsewhere. If Oweh returns for another year of college basketball, Kentucky is the likely destination.
Unlike many of the players who went through this process in the John Calipari era, Oweh is not considered a lock to be drafted. He’s a Top 100 prospect, outside of the projected two rounds. He’ll be able to participate in the Combine and receive feedback from NBA teams before decided if he will stay or go by June 15.
The Football Transfer Portal Opens
The second college football transfer portal window officially opened at midnight. One big name is already off the board. Cal running back Jaydn Ott is transferring to Oklahoma. Nico Iamaleava is looking for a new home, and his list of suitors appears to be shrinking.
The window to enter the transfer portal runs through Friday, April 23. Expect more noteworthy names to enter the fray today. One thing to remember: SEC players cannot transfer to other SEC schools and receive immediate eligibility during the spring portal window.
Kentucky Players Planning to Enter the Transfer Portal
Mark Stoops said on Saturday that he is looking to add some depth at a few positions that are a little thin. That could be at safety, tight end, running back, or wide receiver. That requires some players to move on from the program. Attrition began early, with five reserves throwing their names into free agency before the transfer portal officially opened.
- DL Kendrick Gilbert
- OL Daniel Mincey
- OL Anfernee Crease
- CB Jiquavious “Quavo” Marshall
- IOL Marc Nave
To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. Keep closer tabs on the Cats with at KSBoard. Not a KSR+ member? Try it out today.
11 Personnel Transfer Portal Special
The portal is portaling so hard it can be difficult to keep up with. That’s where 11 Personnel enters the picture. Tonight, Adam Luckett and I will recap the spring season and break down what’s happening with the Kentucky football roster. Tune in on the KSR YouTube Channel at 8 PM EST.
You Should Watch This
While most folks already have their eyes on next season, take a moment to relive and enjoy what Mark Pope accomplished during his first season at Kentucky. Steven Peake has created what amounts to a documentary about it all and it’s worth your time.
Another Walk-Off Bunt for Kentucky Baseball
The last two wins for the Kentucky baseball team were won with walk-off bunts. Ah, the power of small-ball.
Kentucky went four innings without a hit until the bottom of the ninth in a tie ballgame with Miami (Oh.). After a couple of singles, Ethan Hindle brought home the game-winning run with a bunt. The Bat Cats snapped a three-game losing streak in midweek contests with the 4-3 victory. In the last 19 games, 14 have been decided by three runs or less (5-9).
Things were a lot easier for the Kentucky softball team. They blasted four home runs in a 9-1 victory over Western Kentucky.
A Spectacular Cincinnati Reds Debut
Austin Hays looked good in a Reds uniform. The outfielder made his debut for Cincinnati by going 3-4 from the plate. He drove in four runs in the first five innings, including a three-run bomb that gave the Reds the lead. They would go on to take down the Mariners 8-4.
NBA Play-In Tournament Continues
The Orlando Magic easily dispatched the Atlanta Hawks with a 120-95 win to secure the No. 7 seed in the East, setting up a date with the Celtics. Atlanta is not yet eliminated, and neither is Memphis after their 5-point loss to the Warriors. The Hawks and the Grizzlies will face elimination against the winner of tonight’s games.
Heat (+1) at Bulls, 7:30, ESPN
Mavericks (+4.5) at Kings, 10:00, ESPN
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