The freshman from Lyon County looks to make an impact in Lexington. Will that happen in Year 1?
After an all-time career in the high school ranks, Travis Perry will now look to be part of a resurgence for the Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball program.
What should we expect from the true freshman in his first season under new head coach Mark Pope?
Travis Perry
- Height: 6-foot-1
- Weight: 185 lbs.
- Class: Freshman
- Hometown: Eddyville, KY
- Position: Guard
- Recruiting Ranking: 4-star recruit ranked No. 78 overall and No. 7 among point guards in the class of 2024 via 247 Sports Composite.
Background
Travis Perry, from Eddyville, KY, lit up the Rupp Arena floor in March, leading Lyon County to a state championship, which included a 27-point performance in the state championship game.
It was the perfect ending to one of the most storied careers in Kentucky High School athletics, as Perry broke the state’s all-time scoring record, finishing his career with 5,381 points which ranks 7th nationally all-time, according to the MaxPreps National High School Basketball Record Book.
Perry also finished 2nd all-time in state history with 712 made 3-pointers and 9th all-time in steals with 650.
After an illustrious high school career, many hoped Perry would land at the University of Kentucky for his college career, and while other schools like Cincinnati, Alabama, and Ole Miss were considered possible options, Perry ultimately decided to stay home and play at Kentucky, announcing his commitment in November.
Of course, big changes occurred in the spring, as John Calipari left Kentucky to coach the Arkansas Razorbacks and Mark Pope came in as the new coach at Kentucky.
While every other recruit in Kentucky’s 2024 class decommitted and current players hit the portal, Perry opted to stick with his commitment to Kentucky, even making an appearance at Mark Pope’s introductory press conference, where Pope gave him a shoutout.
All-time moment. Mark Pope asks Travis Perry to stand up and Rupp Arena goes insane.
“Well, there’s a good chance that Travis isn’t going to jump in the portal guys.” pic.twitter.com/4GcMPCrH8a
— Tres Terrell (@TerrellTres) April 15, 2024
The response from the massive crowd at the press conference showed just how loved Perry is, and the fan base is excited to have him in blue and white.
But what kind of impact will Perry have at Kentucky in his freshman season?
Projected Role
Earning minutes will be no small task. With a whole new roster, every guard is competing for minutes. Transfers Lamont Butler (San Diego St.), Kerr Kriisa (West Virginia), Otega Oweh (Oklahoma), Koby Brea (Dayton), and Jaxson Robinson (BYU) all have skill sets that will make it hard to keep them off the floor.
However, Perry has certainly been making a name for himself in the preseason, showcasing his shooting ability. His teammate, Wake Forest transfer Andrew Carr, said he hit 59 consecutive corner 3s in practice.
Andrew Carr says Travis Perry hit 59 straight corner threes in practice. pic.twitter.com/xZKCSTiWt0
— KSR (@KSRonX) July 11, 2024
Perry’s teammates have also spoken highly of his work ethic, saying he’s in the gym all the time.
That kind of work ethic and shooting ability will make it hard for Mark Pope to keep him off the floor when the season starts.
For what it’s worth, Perry struggled to make an impact in the exhibition season. In UK’s wins over Kentucky Wesleyan and Minnesota State, Perry shot a combined 2/8 from the field (1/6 from 3) in about 21 minutes of action. He did dish out three assists with no turnovers while grabbing three steals, so Perry did show he can make an impact without making shots.
There’s certainly a lot to like about Perry and what he brings to the table. He’s a guy who can come in and make an impact right away, but adjusting to the college game can be difficult, and he may need some time to make that adjustment.
For now, the expectation should be that Perry gets sparse minutes off the bench in non-blowout games and will likely have games he doesn’t appear in throughout the season, barring injuries to other guys.
Either way, I’m confident he’s going to have a great career at Kentucky, and I think I can speak for most of the Big Blue Nation when I say we’re looking forward to seeing him on the Rupp Arena floor again.
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