“We Keep the Hoops, the Hoops”: Inside Kentucky Basketball’s $20 Million Roster and NIL Revolution 💰
How much does it really cost to build a college basketball powerhouse in 2025? If you’re Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats, the answer whispered in back rooms and splashed across social media might be somewhere near $20 million.
And if it is?
Nobody in Lexington seems bothered. Least of all the players.
💸 The $20 Million Buzz
The internet exploded earlier this spring when rumors swirled that Kentucky’s 2025-26 men’s basketball roster carried a valuation of up to $20 million in NIL agreements. Some saw it as a symbol of power, others a glimpse into the chaos of the new college basketball economy. But when Mark Pope was asked directly? He played it cool with a little sarcasm.
“It’s close to $200 million,” Pope quipped in May.
No breakdowns. No confirmations. No apologies.
“This is the University of Kentucky,” Pope continued. “I never forget that. We should be the best at everything… NIL, the portal put it all on the list. Our job is to go be the best.”
👑 The $20 Million Man?
No single player defines this new era of Kentucky hoops more than Otega Oweh. Projected by many to be a second-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Oweh shocked the basketball world by returning for another season in Lexington.
How did Pope and Co. convince him?
It wasn’t just about the hardwood.
Although details of Oweh’s NIL deal are kept strictly confidential, insiders suggest he could be among the highest-paid players in college basketball next season. And he’s not complaining.
“They paying us, so that’s a great thing,” Oweh said with a smile. “As long as we’re getting paid, that’s good for me. Anything extra, that’s cool.”
He’s not alone. The 2025-26 roster is loaded with big-time transfers and five-star talent Jayden Quaintance, Mo Dioubate, Andrija Jelavić, and Malachi Moreno all of whom likely command hefty compensation.
🧊 Calm in the Chaos
You’d expect locker-room tension. Jealousy. Ego. Pocket-watching.
But that’s not what’s happening inside the Joe Craft Center.
“There’s always stuff on social media that you see,” Oweh said. “But we really don’t talk about it
because it’s a weird conversation to have. Like, ‘Oh, how much you making?’ That’s kind of strange.”
It’s part of the culture Pope has created in just over a year on the job. While other programs might splinter under the weight of million-dollar personalities, Kentucky’s stars are keeping their focus where it belongs.
“We keep the hoops, the hoops,” Oweh said.
The New Business of College Basketball
College basketball has officially entered its pro-am era, and Kentucky is at the front of the line. With revenue sharing, NIL clearinghouses, and players switching schools with unprecedented frequency, the Wildcats have leaned into the future rather than run from it.
From an outsider’s view, this looks like a roster bought at a high price. From the inside? It’s just business as usual.
“You just can’t always believe social media,” Oweh said. “I mean, it could be [$20 million], you know? A lot of other teams, I’m seeing similar things. But we just don’t talk about it.”
The Goal Remains
At the end of the day, for Pope and his players, this isn’t about flashy numbers it’s about banners. Legacy. Winning.
And if it costs $20 million to hang #9 in the rafters of Rupp Arena?
So be it.
Because no matter how much the checks say, Oweh speaks for everyone in Kentucky blue:
“We keep the hoops, the hoops.”
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