The college basketball offseason is here, and like always, the transfer portal is kind of a mess… in a good and bad way. Rosters are basically getting rebuilt overnight, and for a program like Kentucky, this is where you either fix things fast or fall behind.
After the way last season went, going 22-14 with a second-round exit from the NCAA Tournament, there’s going to be pressure on Mark Pope to produce next season. That’s just how it is at Kentucky. The expectations don’t really reset just because there’s a new staff.
The good news is the program still has everything you need to attract big-time players: money, exposure, and a chance to win. If they’re going to take a jump next year, these are a few guys that make a lot of sense to go after.
3 Players the Kentucky Wildcats Should Target In Transfer Portal
Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
Milan Momcilovic is probably the biggest swing. He’s got legit size at 6’8”, can play either forward spot, and has already proven he can contribute on a winning team at Iowa State.
What makes him interesting is that he’s testing the NBA Draft waters while in the portal. He’s right on that fringe where coming back to school might actually help him more from a financial standpoint, and Kentucky could sell both development and NIL pretty easily. If you’re trying to land a real difference-maker, this is the type of player you go all-in on.
John Blackwell, Wisconsin
John Blackwell is a different kind of pickup but just as important. Kentucky is going to need guard production in a big way, and he’s coming off a season where he averaged a little over 19 points a game at Wisconsin.
He’s got good size for a guard at 6-foot-4 and 203 pounds, plays through contact well, and can create his own offense. Wisconsin going out early in the tournament might’ve pushed him to look for something bigger to elevate his own game, and Kentucky obviously checks that box. He’d step in right away and take pressure off everyone else offensively while being one of the main contributors from Day 1.
Robert Wright III, BYU
Then there’s Robert Wright III, who feels like the most practical move. With roster turnover, Kentucky needs someone who can actually run the team from the point, not just score.
Wright showed a lot of growth at BYU this past year, especially when he had to take on more responsibility down the stretch when veteran Richie Saunders went down with a season-ending injury. He can score, he can pass, and he competes defensively, averaging 1.2 steals per game this past season.
He’s not as flashy as some other names, but he fills a real need, and those guys matter.
Kentucky doesn’t need to completely reinvent itself, but it does need the right pieces in place. These three would be a pretty strong start.
