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Men's Basketball

What We Learned From Kentucky’s Gold Medal Performance at GLOBL JAM

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UK Athletics

Last week, Kentucky participated in GLOBL JAM in Toronto where the Cats went 4-0 en route to a Gold Medal.

GLOBL JAM gave us our first look at the 2023-24 Kentucky basketball team, and there is plenty to get excited about. Here are some observations and takeaways from the event.

“Big Brother” Reeves

Getting Antonio Reeves to return for another season was significant, but his performance last week displayed just how significant. Averaging 23 points and shooting an unreal 58 percent from three through four games, Reeves took home GLOBL Jam MVP honors.

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An effortless scorer, Reeves has the ability to get hot in a hurry, especially on Saturday when he made a staggering eight threes against Team Africa. One reason he was so successful was the roster he has around him. With multiple players that can beat their man off the dribble and improved spacing, Reeves has the opportunity to improve on his SEC Sixth Man of the Year season.

It wasn’t just Reeves’ play that was impressive, but also his leadership. He spoke on that on Saturday: “That’s what I’m here for – to be big bro.”

Multiple Scoring Threats

Something that was made clear at GLOBL JAM is that Kentucky will have no shortage of scoring threats. Of course, Antonio Reeves led the way for the Wildcats, but behind him, different players stepped up in each game.

Looking at Kentucky’s backcourt with DJ Wagner, Rob Dillingham, and Reed Sheppard, they are all capable scorers, both inside and out, but striving at getting to the rim. On the wing, Justin Edwards and Adou Thiero showed their all-around skillsets, with Edwards being the Wildcats’ second-leading scorer behind Reeves.

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As for the bigs, Kentucky is notably without Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso. This led John Calipari to play Tre Mitchell at the five, which spread out the floor due to his shooting ability, something he liked. Even more promising, when asked how the offense will change when Bradshaw and Onyenso ultimately return, “No different. We’re doing the same stuff.

Glue Guys: Adou Thiero And Reed Sheppard

One of the most surprising and intriguing parts of GLOBL JAM was seeing the progression of Adou Thiero since last season. Thiero is much more confident and comfortable, no longer just showing flashes.

Thiero looks stronger, and he showed his all-around improvement this week.

Another guy who will demand playing time is freshman guard Reed Sheppard. One of the most surprising developments from last week was Sheppard’s play. He showed his ability to make the right play, and an all-around solid player, with a high IQ.

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Sheppard and Thiero may not be the most talented players or have the highest potential, but they are the most intelligent and have the versatility to play with any lineup. Due to that, they both will have more playing time than anticipated after their impressive play.


Kentucky fans have plenty to be excited about, and anticipation for Big Blue Madness is growing.

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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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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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