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CJ Fredrick Announces Transfer from Kentucky, Considering Professional Options

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© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Another decision has been made to give a better idea of Kentucky’s roster next season. This time it is from CJ Fredrick, who announced on Friday morning that he will be entering his name into the transfer portal and evaluating professional options, mostly overseas.

With three freshman guards coming in to play alongside Adou Thiero and likely Antonio Reeves, there was no clear role or minutes available for Fredrick next season. Given where he is at in his career, this does not come as a surprise and was even predicted by KY Insider at the end of the season.

After two seasons at Iowa, creating the reputation as one of the best three-point shooters in the country with a career 47% three-point percentage at the time, CJ Fredrick elected to transfer. From Covington (KY) Fredrick transferred to Kentucky in the summer of 2021, looking to fulfilling his dream of playing for his homeschool.

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However, his two seasons at Kentucky were from ideal. While he said he was living “his dream” by playing in a Kentucky uniform, that dream has come with a lot of unexpected baggage.

After suffering a foot injury in the summer of 2021, followed by a hamstring injury in the fall, Fredrick did not play a single minute at Kentucky in his first year. He watched from the sidelines as Kentucky’s season ended in an upset loss to Saint Peter’s.

Rather than looking at the situation as a negative, he turned it into an opportunity to get into the best shape of his life, which he did this past summer. Fredrick’s hard work paid off, starting in 12 of Kentucky’s first 20 games, Fredrick provided 7.7 points and was valuable as a leader.

Then the injury bug hit once again, putting Fredrick out for several weeks toward the end of the season with a cracked rib in a freak accident after falling on camera on a fastbreak. Upon his return, he was just never comfortable, averaging just 1.6 points per game and hitting only two threes in his final seven games.

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Fredrick does have one year of eligibility remaining, and potentially two if he wishes to apply for a medical waiver. However, he has played his last game in a Kentucky uniform, and following the loss to Kansas State, he told KY Insider he wouldn’t change anything. “All the injuries, everything, I wouldn’t change it. It’s made me a better person,” he said.

In December, Fredrick did get engaged to Kentucky women’s basketball player Blair Green who is looking to attend graduate school, so expect that to hold some weight in his decision.

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Men's Basketball

CBS Sports: Kentucky Has “ended pursuits” in Transfer Portal Following Aberdeen Commitment

In the wake of yet another addition to Kentucky’s incoming roster, CBS Sports reports that Coach Pope and staff may have closed the portal.

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Mark Pope and staff may have everything they need from the transfer portal.
Chet White | UK Athletics

Following another flurry of transfer portal additions in his second year at the helm, it appears that Mark Pope and staff are satisfied with their sophomore haul. The portal in Lexington may be officially closed for the 2025-26′ season.

Right after Kentucky received the surprising commitment of Denzel Aberdeen, Matt Norlander, an analyst for CBS Sports, posted the following on X (Twitter):

“Barring any portal defections, Kentucky has ended its pursuits of all other portal targets, sources told CBS Sports. Getting Aberdeen today [April 21] meant they’ve moved off Andrej Stojakovic, Rylan Griffen, etc. Otega Oweh going through pre-draft process-but I expect him back in Lex”.

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With the addition of Aberdeen, the Wildcats’ roster ballooned to near-max capacity for next season. Seeing two of the team’s walk-on players, Grant Darbyshire and Walker Horn, enter the transfer portal seemed to all but confirm this suspicion, too.

Losing One of Our Own

That is, until last night. With less than two hours remaining for players to do so, Travis Perry shocked much of the Big Blue Nation by throwing his name into the hat. This came just weeks after a string of comments from the Kentucky-native point guard seemed to confirm his return for a sophomore season.

Though all the same, given Kentucky’s bulk of back-court additions this offseason, his departure makes sense for the sake of playing time alone. The Lyon King will be sorely missed.

So while the Kentucky staff may still be very much content with their current roster, with hundreds of players remaining in the portal and an unexpected spot on the roster coming open, another grab is far from out of the question.

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Who Coach Pope and company would go after is entirely unclear, as that potential player would likely have to accept a minimized role off the bench for a stretch of his time in Lexington. If anything, the logical replacement would be a direct fill-in at the PG2/PG3 spot in Perry’s absence.

Either way, the ‘Cats are set to come into next season as one of the most exciting teams in college basketball with a ceiling far out of view. Mark Pope continues to prove his prowess in the transfer market, too, easing the worries of Wildcats fans and closing the door on many supposed “insiders” who’ve spent the last month suggesting otherwise.

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Men's Basketball

REPORT: Travis Perry Enters Transfer Portal

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Kentucky basketball Travis Perry talks about growing more comfortable on the court.
Jordan Prather | IMAGN

The transfer portal has been kind to Kentucky in the Mark Pope era. Last season, the staff was able to build a Sweet Sixteen roster almost exclusively from the portal, and this offseason have put together a top-five portal class.

While the portal giveth, it also taketh. Just hours before the deadline to enter, Kentucky native and fan favorite Travis Perry has entered the transfer portal, per multiple reports.

Coming to Kentucky as the state’s all-time high-school scoring record holder, fans were excited to see how his career would unfold in Lexington.

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Not expecting to play much freshman, he was called upon due to injuries and played some key minutes for the Wildcats into the postseason. He averaged 2.7 PPG and .6 APG on 32% shooting from three.

Looking at the depth chart, it was difficult to see where Perry would get much playing time next season, leading to his decision to enter the portal.

Perry has yet to release an official statement, but all the best to him in his future.

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Men's Basketball

Top Transfer Guard Denzel Aberdeen Commits to Kentucky

Former Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen commits to Kentucky, likely closing the transfer portal for next year’s roster.

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Denzel Aberdeen commits to Kentucky.
UF Athletics

Another day, another “boom.” Denzel Aberdeen has officially committed to Kentucky for the 2025-26’ season.

A soon-to-be senior guard fresh off his championship win with Florida, Aberdeen spent his first three years of eligibility in Gainesville. Now, following an apparent conflict in the Gators’ rotation, he’s swapped teams in the southeast.

At 6 ‘5”, 190, Aberdeen spent much of this past season beating defenders off the dribble and making them pay at the rim. His speed and size made him a nightmare off the bench for opposing teams, and for the short stretch of play that he started during the year, Florida didn’t miss a beat. 

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In 19 minutes, Aberdeen averaged 8 points, two rebounds and one assist per game. His consistent contribution to the Gators’ title run made him one of the most coveted transfers in the cycle this season, and given his big blue commitment just days after entering the portal, Mark Pope clearly wasted no time in Kentucky’s pursuit.

Aberdeen slots in as yet another addition to what was already one of the strongest portal classes going into next season. His SEC experience and combo-guard intangibles make Aberdeen one of the most exciting portal players to come through Lexington in a long while, reinforcing Kentucky’s back court to what may be the final degree.

Whether or not Mark Pope is officially done for next season, nobody is sure, but this commitment only further cements the fact that he knows exactly what he’s doing. Just like the  fanbase behind him, Coach Pope seems to never sleep.

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