Mark Pope’s second season as Kentucky’s head coach ended in disappointment. Despite assembling the most expensive roster in college basketball history and raising high expectations, the Wildcats finished 22-14, with their hopes crushed by an 82-63 loss to Iowa State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
With the transfer portal opening on Tuesday, player movement has begun, with some players announcing they are leaving Lexington while others have exhausted their eligibility. The good news is that at least two players will be returning to the team next season.
Kentucky Wildcats 2026 Transfer Portal Tracker
Exhausted College Eligibility
- Otega Oweh
- Zach Tow
- Walker Horn
Oklahoma transfer Oweh spent his last two seasons at Kentucky and was a key player for the Wildcats. In 72 games under coach Pope, he led the team in scoring, averaging 17.4 points per game on 47.7% shooting from the field and 75.2% from the free-throw line.
Tow, a walk-on, appeared in nine games over his two seasons with Kentucky and averaged 0.4 points per game. Horn, meanwhile, played 20 games across four seasons with the Wildcats and totaled three points, two rebounds, and three assists.
MORE: North Carolina Transfer Portal News: Full List of Players Leaving and Joining Tar Heels
Expected Departures
- Jayden Quaintance
Quaintance, a former five-star high school prospect, played only four games for Kentucky this past season due to knee swelling and soreness. He averaged 5.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 16.5 minutes per game for the Wildcats.
Unless he changes his mind about returning for another season with the Wildcats or transferring to a different school, the 6’9″ forward is likely to leave Lexington and pursue opportunities in the 2026 NBA Draft. He is considered a potential first-round pick because of his wide wingspan and athleticism.
Entering Transfer Portal
- Jaland Lowe
- Denzel Aberdeen
- Jasper Johnson
- Brandon Garrison
- Mo Dioubate
- Andrija Jelavic
- Collin Chandler
Lowe announced he is entering the transfer portal on March 28 after playing nine games at Kentucky. The 6’1″ guard, who initially played two seasons at Pittsburgh, averaged 8.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game this past season. His time with the Wildcats was cut short due to multiple shoulder dislocations that required surgery on his right shoulder. He is expected to recover this summer.
Meanwhile, Aberdeen made a strong impact during his only season at Kentucky. The Florida transfer averaged 13.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists over 36 games for the Wildcats. On Tuesday morning, Aberdeen added his name to the transfer portal, but he will need an NCAA waiver to retain his fifth year of eligibility.
Johnson was Pope’s top recruit but didn’t meet expectations. His freshman season was a rollercoaster, averaging 4.9 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists across 35 games for Kentucky. He announced plans to transfer on April 3.
Garrison revealed his plans to transfer after playing two seasons with the Wildcats as a backup center. In 36 games, with five starts, the 6’10” forward averaged 4.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.
Dioubate played in 10 of 31 games for Kentucky during the 2025-26 season, averaging 8.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 54.2% from the field. The 6’7″ forward provided physicality and toughness to the Wildcats but struggled to fit into the offensive scheme.
Jelavic was the latest Wildcat to enter the transfer portal, submitting his name on Tuesday. The 6’11” Croatian sophomore earned a starting spot during SEC play by providing stretch-four skills for Kentucky. He played 32 games and averaged 5.5 points and 4.0 rebounds last season.
Chandler is the most recent player to announce his decision to transfer. Last season, the sophomore guard averaged 9.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 3-pointers, and 1.2 steals, while shooting 43.5% from the field, 41.0% from 3-point range, and 83.3% from the free-throw line.
SEE ALSO: Arkansas Transfer Portal News: Full List of Players Leaving and Joining John Calipari’s Razorbacks
Undecided
- Trent Noah
Noah, meanwhile, played 27 games for the Wildcats last season, averaging 3.0 points and 2.3 rebounds. Although early projections from college basketball websites suggest he might return to Lexington, the 6’5″ forward has not yet announced his decision.
Returning for the 2026-27 Season
- Kam Williams
- Malachi Moreno
- Reece Potter
- Braydon Hawthorne
Williams, a rising junior, agreed to return to Lexington on Tuesday. The 6’8″ Tulane transfer played 24 games for the Wildcats, averaging 6.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists.
Moreno had an excellent freshman season at Kentucky, playing in all 36 games and averaging 7.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. The 7’0″ big man, who shot 58.2% from the field, pleased fans by announcing his return to the Wildcats for his sophomore year while testing the NBA Draft waters.
Lexington native Reece Potter announced he will return for another season with the Wildcats. The 7’1″ Miami-Ohio transfer did not play last season for Kentucky due to a chronic health issue and has declared his intention to come back as a redshirt junior.
Hawthorne, a 6’8″ freshman from Huntington Prep, spent his 2025-26 season as a redshirt, focusing on physical development and learning Pope’s system. This development period helped Hawthorne add bulk, raising his weight to about 192 pounds from 173 during his full freshman season. He is expected to return for the 2026-27 season.
High School Signees
- Mason Williams
The four-star point guard is the son of new Kentucky assistant coach and NBA veteran Mo Williams. Currently, the 6’2″ Tennessee Collegiate Academy prospect is the only confirmed freshman commitment for the Wildcats in the 2026-27 season.
