Kentucky Reloads and Rises: Wildcats Crack Top 10 in 247Sports’ Preseason Rankings
The buzz is real in Lexington as the Kentucky Wildcats officially kick off their summer practices with championship dreams in full swing. After welcoming 10 new faces to campus earlier this month, Mark Pope’s squad begins its serious push toward what could be the program’s ninth national title.
According to 247Sports, Kentucky comes in at No. 7 in the preseason rankings—fueled by one of the most impressive offseason roster builds in the country.
Per NCAA rules, teams are allowed up to eight weeks of summer practices, capped at eight hours of on-court instruction per week. And Pope isn’t wasting a second.
Following a standout debut season that saw Kentucky go 24-12, reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019, and tie an NCAA record with eight wins over top-15 opponents, Pope returns just four scholarship players—but what he’s added might be even more important.
Otega Oweh, the team’s leading scorer and starting shooting guard, is back alongside key reserves Brandon Garrison, Collin Chandler, and Trent Noah. But the real headliner is Kentucky’s nationally elite haul of 10 newcomers: six transfers, three high school stars, and one international gem.
For the second year in a row, Pope landed a top-five transfer portal class. The group features five top-65 prospects, including:
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Jayden Quaintance (No. 12) – Arizona State center
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Jaland Lowe (No. 38) – Pittsburgh point guard
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Kam Williams (No. 44) – Tulane forward
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Denzel Aberdeen (No. 56) – Florida combo guard
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Mouhamed Dioubate (No. 63) – Alabama forward
Also joining the mix is local product Reece Potter from Miami (Ohio), who rounds out a transfer class valued by some estimates at nearly $20 million in NIL.
Pope also reeled in a top-15 high school recruiting class, featuring:
- Jasper Johnson (No. 24) – 4-star combo guard
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Malachi Moreno (No. 28) – McDonald’s All-American center
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Braydon Hawthorne (No. 33) – 4-star wing
And internationally, Kentucky added Croatian forward Andrija Jelavic, a highly touted talent even though he’s yet to be ranked by major services.
When combining transfers and high school talent, Kentucky’s 2025 class ranks No. 4 overall, behind only Duke, Houston, and BYU.
Coach Pope couldn’t be more energized by the new roster.
“We’re deep, competitive, and skilled,” Pope said. “These guys are hungry. They want to push themselves and each other. It’s a special group, and I’m excited about what’s ahead.”
Kentucky’s non-conference schedule will put the team’s depth to the test immediately, with high-profile games on deck against Purdue, Georgetown, Louisville, Michigan State (Champions Classic), North Carolina (ACC-SEC Challenge), Gonzaga, Indiana, and St. John’s (CBS Classic).
247Sports’ Isaac Trotter, who ranks the Wildcats seventh, hinted he nearly placed them at No. 1.
“This team is so deep,” Trotter said. “With the super-senior era fading out, Kentucky’s balance and versatility really stand out. They have options everywhere—defensively, offensively, in the halfcourt, or in transition. Mark Pope has built a team that looks ready to compete for a national championship.”
Loaded with talent, motivated by tradition, and driven by a second-year head coach with a championship pedigree, Kentucky basketball isn’t just back—it’s ready to make serious noise.
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