In a shocking, late at night turn of events, four-star freshman Acaden Lewis has decommitted from Kentucky.

Lewis, a 6’3” point guard out of Washington, D.C. first committed to the blue and white in November of last year, following an in-person visit with Mark Pope in his hometown.

Since then, he’s made multiple appearances in Rupp Arena, been featured in photo shoots with his fellow incoming recruits, and spoken on multiple occasions about his excitement to join the team for the 2025-26’ season.

To say this development is surprising would be a serious understatement.

Lewis released a statement following the announcement, “This was an incredibly difficult decision, but I have to do what’s best for my future,” he said. “Thank you to Coach Pope and the whole Kentucky staff for all they’ve done for me so far.”

While the loss of Lewis is certainly disappointing, there is still much to look forward to next season for Kentucky, who maintain one of the highest rated transfer classes in the nation – and it likely isn’t finished.

To that point, if any reason can be derived immediately for Lewis’ decommitment, it may be found in the same place that Mark Pope and staff will be going to look for answers: the transfer portal.

Now with four transfers committed and national praise coming in from all angles, things are starting to take shape for Mark Pope’s 2025-26′ Kentucky team. But in traditional Coach Pope fashion, he isn’t done moving just yet.

Rumors have swirled since the transfer portal opened that Pope and staff were looking to add a shooter, among other things, to next year’s roster. With just about every other box checked, all eyes have shifted to the three point line, and one name has risen above the rest: Lamar Wilkerson.

Wilkerson, a senior guard for the Sam Houston Bearkats, has become one of the most prolific remaining names in the portal for his rare shooting prowess. This past season, on a 48%/45% shooting split, Wilkerson put up 21 points per game, in addition to four rebounds and two assists.

Those numbers are impressive on their own, but when you consider the fact that he was attempting nearly eight threes a game on average, his reputation as one of the best scorers on the market looks like an understatement.

According to his representatives, Wilkerson will visit four schools: Kentucky, Indiana, Auburn and Ole Miss, in no particular order. As things currently stand, he’ll make a decision once he’s completed all four visits – but if we’ve learned anything about the transfer portal, it’s to expect the unexpected. The only thing we know is that each of these teams will want to put pen to paper on Wilkerson as soon as possible, Kentucky included.

As Mark Pope tears his way through the transfer portal and dominos begin to fall, many folks forget that the commitments he secures aren’t official until the player’s pens hit paper. For three new Kentucky transfers, doubling down took no time at all.

Kam Williams, a sophomore forward from Tulane, Jaland Lowe, a junior guard out of Pittsburgh, and Mouhamed Dioubate, a junior forward formerly with Alabama, all made their commitments to the ‘Cats official in the waning days of this week, as reported first by On3’s Pete Nakos on X (Twitter).

The tri-signing took place in the wake of Jayden Quaintance’s (a five star center out of Arizona State) commitment to Kentucky just days before, becoming Mark Pope’s fourth transfer add-on in a transfer class that is currently listed as the best in the nation on On3’s ongoing ranking – for reference, Louisville is in the fifth spot, and Tennessee the eighth.

Between the Lines

Williams, in his lone season with the Green Wave averaged nine points and five rebounds on 49% shooting, boasting high offensive upside and athletic ability. He has the potential to develop into an Otega Oweh-like prototype, perhaps furthered by the fact that he could follow him off the bench next season. An invaluable long-term signing for Kentucky.

Lowe, on the other hand, is a do-it-all point guard who put up 17/4/5 on average for the Panthers last season. At 6’3″, 175, he’s built for the unmatched athleticism of the SEC, bringing an average two steals per game to a role that was left open by one of the best defensive guards in college basketball in Lamont Butler. Pope got his PG1 replacement with Lowe.

Last but certainly not least, Dioubate shot upwards of 62% from the field last season, scoring 10 points per game and adding six boards, one block and one steal to boot. In just one offseason at Alabama, he managed to improve his percentage from long range from 9% to 46%; he’s a problem on both ends, and provides the Wildcats with a new brand of physicality unlike anything Pope’s first team had on hand.

With the aforementioned Quaintance set to sign next and multiple targets remaining on the board, Mark Pope is off to as hot a start as anyone could’ve expected in his sophomore year at the helm.

The best part of it all? This is only the beginning.