With Kentucky star freshman Reed Sheppard declaring for the NBA Draft and Joey Hart transferring to Ball State on Thursday, new coach Mark Pope will be facing a roster with limited returning experience for the 2024-25 season. The Wildcats’ recruiting class took a hit when four-star guard Billy Richmond decommitted, but they gained a commitment from four-star guard Collin Chandler, their first under Pope. Chandler, who spent two years on a Mormon mission, is set to begin his freshman year after being ranked as a top-40 prospect in the Class of 2022.
Following coach John Calipari’s departure to Arkansas, several members of Kentucky’s 2024 recruiting class reopened their recruitments. Travis Perry remains committed, but four top-50 prospects are now looking elsewhere. Mark Pope, a former UK player and coach at BYU, is tasked with building a roster for next season with most of Kentucky’s previous players either graduating, in the transfer portal, or going to the NBA Draft.
Key players such as Reed Sheppard, Zvonimir Ivišić, Ugonna Onyenso, D.J. Wagner, Rob Dillingham, Aaron Bradshaw, Adou Thiero, Joey Hart, Justin Edwards, Antonio Reeves, Tre Mitchell, and Jordan Burks are all making moves or have moved on from the program through transfers, declaring for the draft, or exhausting eligibility.
Collin Chandler and Travis Perry are the main highlights of Kentucky’s incoming recruiting class under Pope, aiming to bring back the program’s tradition of top recruiting classes. With a shift away from relying heavily on one-and-done prospects, Kentucky looks to build a competitive and experienced team for the upcoming season.
