Mark Pope has officially landed his third transfer commitment for the 2025-26′ season in the form of junior forward Mouhamed Dioubate.

The commitment was announced on X (Twitter) by Dioubate himself, along with a graphic and a blue and white heart:

Dioubate, who spent the last two seasons playing for Nate Oats and the Alabama Crimson Tide, entered the portal less than a week before his commitment to Kentucky. Coach Pope and staff clearly had a circle around his name from day one.

The 6’7″ forward averaged seven points, six rebounds, and a block, steal and an assist per game in his sophomore season, scoring with an incredibly efficient 62%/46% shooting split. His three-point percentage, the latter of the two, rose an astronomical 37% between his first and second seasons. Dioubate can do it all and is why he is ranked as five-star transfer prospect by EvanMiya.

He’ll bring a much-needed brand of physicality and aggression to a roster that desperately needed it this past year, too, specializing in dunking would-be layups and giving nightmares to opposing offenses.

Dioubate will join forward Kam Williams and guard Jaland Lowe in what is shaping up to become one of the highest ranked classes in the country, and with more than two weeks of the portal remaining, he likely won’t be the last.

It’s been a rollercoaster week in the transfer portal for Kentucky. We have seen San Diego State Magoon Gwath change his mind at the last minute at stay with the Aztecs, and top target Yaxel Lendeborg commit to Michigan while remaining in the draft.

On Saturday morning, the Wildcats got their second commit of the portal season, Pitt transfer Jaland Lowe.

KY Insider reported on Thursday that the staff was recruiting other players with the prospect of playing with Lowe.

Lowe was a top 100 recruit out of high school, committing to Jeff Capel and the Panthers. After two successful seasons in Pittsburgh, Lowe is a 4-star, top-20 transfer prospect (EvanMiya). He becomes the highest ranked commit for the Cats thus far.

In Lowe’s sophomore campaign last season, he averaged 16.8 PPG, 5.5 APG, and 4.2 RPG. As a playmaker, there are not many better, with an assist percentage of 31.2 percent. Some might see his shooting slits of 37.6% FG and 26.6% 3P and worry. While they are not great, he had to carry a lot of the burden on offense, with a usage rate of 30%.

Lowe will come to Kentucky with two years of eligibility remaining and will join Kam Williams in the ‘Cats portal class thus far.

Scouting Report (Sports Illustrated)

He has natural lead skills as a game manager and passer, with the ability to be a primary point guard for an NBA team, even if it’s off the bench. He’s also a reliable 3-point and free throw shooter, boasting a smooth jumper with fluid mechanics and the ability to play off-ball. His overall offensive game needs to become more efficient during his sophomore season, but Lowe is a legitimate offensive engine as a combo guard. 

Although he’s not the biggest or strongest guard relative to his future peers at the NBA level, Lowe is crafty and has ways to combat that. He’s a smooth lefty who knows how to get to his spots and leverage any advantage he can create on the offensive end. His deep range as a shooter from beyond the arc extends the defense which allows him to create space for himself and teammates. 

On the defensive end, Lowe will need to show NBA scouts that he can play within a scheme and prove to be a good team defender. He lacks size, but has quick hands and can be pesky on the perimeter at times. That’s the side of the ball in which Lowe has the most to prove when it comes to draft stock. 

After a week of near radio silence following Kam Williams’ commitment to Kentucky, blue smoke is finally rising once more with an official crystal ball prediction being logged for a forward out of Robert Morris.

Now, that may not set the player’s allegiance in stone, as the BBN learned painstakingly just a few days ago, but few signs bode better for a player’s final decision than a crystal ball from a reputed insider.

This time, it came by way of On3’s Pete Nakos, who logged a prediction for Kentucky to land Alvaro Folgueiras. The 6’9″ sophomore forward nearly averaged a double-double this past season, posting an impressive 14/9/3 panel on 55%/41% shooting splits. He’s a high-level scorer who posted a career-high 35 against Northern Kentucky this season, a performance that undoubtedly caught the eye of power-five programs everywhere.

Folgueiras was also the recipient of the Horizon League Player of the Year award. Clearly, Mark Pope has a knack for recruiting guys with hardware.

As far as his fit at Kentucky goes, he’d presumably slot into the starting power forward slot in lieu of Andrew Carr. His stretch four capabilities and special offensive proficiency paint a fitting picture within the Pope offense, and with two years of eligibility remaining, he has the potential to be one of the most reliable cogs in the machine going forward.

That is, assuming he commits. ‘Cats fans will follow along closer than ever as the portal continues to push forward, losing names by the day. Folgueiras would be a fantastic addition for Pope and his staff, patching a crucial opening left by his first-year roster full of seniors.