Mark Pope said in a video this past week that the staff was working hard to shore up the frontcourt. They have done that, making the frontcourt a whole lot more physical with their latest addition.
Washington transfer center Franck Kepnang has signed with the Kentucky Wildcats, KYInsider has learned.
The 6-foot-11, 250-pound bruiser out of Cameroon is set to bring a skillset that has been missing from Mark Pope’s roster: a physical defensive enforcer who can protect the paint and rebound at a high level, a critical archetype for SEC play.
Advertisement
Kentucky first held a Zoom call with Kepnang on Tuesday, per KYInsider sources, and it didn’t take long for the Wildcats to close the deal.
Kepnang arrives in Lexington as one of the most experienced players in college basketball. Currently 24 years old, turning 25 this October, he has played four seasons at Washington, following two at Oregon. He also brings one of the most unique eligibility situations as well.
Three knee injuries cut short three of his four seasons with the Huskies, but he is expected to receive an NCAA medical hardship waiver to compete in a seventh college season. His length injury history will certainly create some worry given Kentucky’s injury luck in recent seasons, but Kepnang is expected to play between 15-20 minutes per game in a reduced role from his time at Washington.
This past season for the Huskies, Kepnang averaged 7.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game, ranking second in the Big Ten in blocks. His 9.9% block rate ranked 14th nationally, and EvanMiya rated him as Washington’s most efficient defender.
Advertisement
He is not a volume scorer, and he doesn’t need to be with this roster.
Formerly a top-50 recruit in the 2020 class, John Calipari briefly recruited Kepnang when he was still at Kentucky. Six years later, he joins the program, along with his teammate of two seasons, Zoom Diallo, who is expected to be the starting point guard.
It’s been an exciting weekend for Kentucky basketball. In addition to Mark Pope getting a commitment from his highest-ranked prospect in his career, 2027 top-10-ranked wing Ryan Hampton, this coming season’s roster arrived on campus this weekend.
As they prepare to get their first workouts in the Joe Craft practice facility, with practice set to start later this month, player lockers are ready for them. In a social media video posted by assistant coach Mo Williams, player numbers were revealed for this upcoming season.
Of the returnees, Braydon Hawthorne is the sole player to make a change in number, choosing #2, the number he wore in high school and was taken by Jasper Johnson last season.
Advertisement
As for the incoming players, the majority of them are wearing numbers that have been worn in recent seasons. However, Ousmane N’Diaye is choosing #19 and will be the first player since Willie Rouse in 1954 to sport the number.
How about a Sunday boom in the recruiting world for you BBN?
Ryan Hampton, the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2027 class, has officially committed to the University of Kentucky! This is Mark Pope’s first top-10 prospect that he’s earned a commitment from.
Hailing from Rockwall, Texas, Hampton recently took an official visit to campus with his family, which began on Friday, June 5 and spilled into Sunday, June 7, his commitment day.
Advertisement
The five-star wing averaged 21.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during the most recent EYBL Circuit, playing for LivOn and Nightrydas.
Hampton was the first recruit in the 2027 to officially visit with the Wildcats, and now he’s the first to call their shot early and choose the blue and white.
Pope has signed Milan Momcilovic, the No. 2 ranked transfer, and Hampton, his first top-10 high school prospect just in the past week.
It’s been a crazy week for recruiting, with the narrative around Pope’s ability slowing fading as the top guys continue to be attracted to the Kentucky brand.
Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats have been a hot topic of debate this college basketball offseason.
Things didn’t start off great, as Kentucky only had two commitments for the first three weeks of the portal period and missed on multiple targets, including Rob Wright and Donnie Freeman. That gave opportunity for critics to voice their opinion on Mark Pope and his roster building, including the national media.
There are certainly valid criticisms, such as the pursuit of Tyran Stokes, despite all signs pointing to him signing with Kansas, which he ultimately did, for months. In the weeks since, Kentucky has recovered to build a roster that has even upgraded in some areas from last season. They retained Malachi Moreno and finished with the second-ranked portal class, which features Milan Momcilovic, one of the best players in the portal.
Advertisement
Let’s see where the national media has the Wildcats at this point in the offseason.
Milan Momcilovic completes Mark Pope's roster, an absolutely massive add. Kentucky should now be around a top-10 roster in the preseason according to https://t.co/cegyfz96ax.
Momcilovic’s commitment dramatically changes the Wildcats’ 2026-27 outlook, giving them the best shooter in the country and a legitimate focal point on offense. Transfer guards Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins are both dynamic off the dribble, and Momcilovic’s gravity and spacing will make them far more effective. Malachi Moreno‘s decision to withdraw from the NBA draft was another massive boost for Pope; Moreno is a potential first-round pick at this time next season. International prospect Ousmane N’Diaye and returnee Kam Williams should battle for a starting spot. The offensive potential of this group is as high as any team in the country.
Projected starting lineup
Advertisement
Zoom Diallo (15.7 PPG at Washington) Alex Wilkins (17.8 PPG at Furman) Milan Momcilovic (16.9 PPG at Iowa State) Ousmane N’Diaye (9.8 PPG for Cremona in Serie A) Malachi Moreno (7.8 PPG)
This ranking is based on the Wildcats returning one of the top six scorers — specifically Malachi Moreno — from a team that finished 22-14 and advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That core will be joined by a recruiting class highlighted by Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic, Washington transfers Zoom Diallo and Franck Kepnang, Washington State transfer Jerone Morton, James Madison transfer Justin McBride, Providence transfer Alex Wilkins, four-star prospect Mason Williams, and international prospect Ousmane N’Diaye.
Big Blue Nation was starting to worry that Kentucky wouldn’t have a top-25 roster. The late addition of Iowa State transfer Milan Momcilovic changes that. He was the top-ranked transfer available in May, and Kentucky landed him.
The retention of Malachi Moreno, who averaged 8 points and 6 rebounds per game last season, is also huge. He’s due for a breakout year. A projected starting five of Zoom Diallo, Alex Wilkins, Momcilovic, Ousmane N’Diaye, and Moreno looks very solid and should have Kentucky firmly in the top-25 conversation.
It took Mark Pope a little longer to finalize his roster than anyone (including Mark Pope) would’ve hoped. But he has his team, and I’ve got to say: I think it has a chance to be really good. And transparently, the pieces fit much better than they did a year ago.
Advertisement
The big splash was the most recent one, as the Wildcats added transfer star Milan Momcilovic. The former Iowa State star averaged 16.9 points on nearly 49 percent three-point shooting this year and should be able to continue to put up big stats in Pope’s system. Malachi Moreno could be a national breakout star after a productive freshman season and a very productive NBA Draft cycle where he was talked about as a buzzy, fringe first-round pick. And I personally believe the transfer backcourt of Zoom Diallo (Washington) and Alex Wilkins (Furman) fits better than most.
Finally, don’t sleep on returnees Kam Williams and Braydon Hawthorne (who redshirted this past year) as high-upside wings that can knock down shots.
For all the criticism of Pope this off-season — including by me
Other Sports2 weeks ago
Other Sports2 weeks ago