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Men's Basketball

Rob Dillingham Responds After Summer Struggles

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Kentucky Wildcats guard Rob Dillingham (0) handles the ball during Big Blue Madness at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center.
© Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

The GLOBL JAM event that took place in Toronto this past July served as a time for a lot of Kentucky Wildcats to show off what they can do on the court. A lot of players saw great success that gave them momentum heading into the rest of the summer. Rob Dillingham was not one of those players, however. After averaging just 5.5 points per contest while shooting 31% from the field, Dillingham decided to get to work in the gym and the weight room, and his work has clearly paid off.

Gaining Over Twenty Pounds of Muscle

One of the issues with Dillingham when he came in was that he lacked much of a frame physically. Being 6’1, he already lacked the stature that some of his competition will have. Then, at 155 lbs, Dillingham was set up to be bullied around, especially by those tough SEC guards.

Around the beginning of September, the BBN got an update from Strength and Condition Coach Brady Welsh on Dillingham’s physical transformation. He had added 17 lbs of muscle, putting him at 172 lbs.

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However, after the Blue-White game, John Calipari said, “He’s gained 22 pounds because he got beat up in Toronto. Was he making layups in Toronto? No, because he got bumped and now all the sudden he’s the one creating the bump and playing through.” If that number is accurate, that would mean Dillingham is up to 177 lbs.

Impressive Showing at UK Pro Day

When all eyes were on Dillingham at GLOBL JAM, he struggled, but that wasn’t the case when he took that the floor at UK Pro Day. Dillingham saw improvement in basically every aspect of his game. With 52 scouts from all 30 NBA teams in attendance, Dillingham shined bright.

Throughout summer practice, Dillingham’s name was the one that received the most praise, and we saw why at UK Pro Day. Dillingham was stronger, faster, and even more shiftier than he was even as recent as GLOBL JAM.

His on-ball defense has also taken a huge leap. He caused a good amount of disruption, no matter who he was matched up against. Dillingham proved that he has a ton of versatility on defense, which will be invaluable for this team.

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Scoring Forty Points in the Blue-White Game

The Blue-White game was yet another chance for Rob Dillingham to show why he was brought to Kentucky. Five players managed to score twenty points of more, and Dillingham took it to another level by doubling that. He had forty points on 14-23 shooting.

Buckets weren’t the only way that Dillingham made in impact on the floor either. He filled up the stat sheet across the board. Along with his forty points, he also had five rebounds, seven assists, and four steals on the night.

If there was a Blue-White game MVP award, it would have gone to Dillingham without any doubt. All game long, he was a difference maker. It didn’t matter if it was offense or defense, he was always doing something positive on the floor.


Rob Dillingham is a completely different person and player from July, when the Cats went to Toronto and won GLOBL JAM gold. He has not only revamped his game on the floor, but he has remade himself physically and mentally. The Rob Dillingham of old was one of the best guards in high school ball, but the new Rob Dillingham has the potential to be one of the best guards in college basketball.

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Men's Basketball

Amari Williams Picked 46th by the Boston Celtics in the 2025 NBA Draft

Amari Williams is the second Kentucky player selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, as Boston takes the big man with their second round pick.

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Amari Williams is drafted by the Boston Celtics.
Wesley Hale | Imagn Images

Fan-favorite big man (and official Weetabix sponsor) Amari Williams has officially made it to the big leagues, taken by the Boston Celtics with the 46th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, via a trade with the Orlando Magic.

The selection makes Williams the second Wildcat to be scooped up from this year’s pool, following Koby Brea being picked by the Phoenix Suns just five picks earlier at the 41st spot. From Mark Pope’s first Kentucky team, two transfer athletes (thus far) in their last year of eligibility have achieved next-level dreams by way of the blue and white.

Williams, who averaged 11 points, nine rebounds, and three assists per game during his lone season in Lexington, will look to aid Boston in filling their recently vacant five-spot, left by the recently traded Kristaps Porzingis.

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As Wildcat fans surely know, not only can Williams battle with the best of them in the paint, but he can run the floor as efficiently as just about any guard, too. His versatility and sizable frame ensure a high ceiling in the NBA and, despite not every draft board seeing him selected, the league champions two years removed made the call when it mattered.

Hailing overseas from Nottingham, England, and spending his first four years of college basketball at the University of Drexel, Williams’ success is a testament not only to Kentucky Basketball’s immaculate tradition, but to his own incredible work ethic and intangible ability.

Cats fans will be sure to follow and support their point-center to the next level, as they always do. Go be great, Amari – all of BBN has your back.

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Men's Basketball

Koby Brea Selected to the Phoenix Suns With the No. 41 Overall Pick in the 2025 NBA Draft

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Tristan Pharis | KY Insider

Koby Brea arrived at Kentucky last season as one of the nation’s deadliest shooters, lived up to the billing, and reaped his rewards on Thursday night at the NBA Draft. The former Kentucky star is heading to the Phoenix Suns with the No. 41 overall pick

As a 6-foot-7 wing, Brea entered the 2025 NBA Draft as one of the most experienced prospects after spending four years at Dayton and a fifth at Kentucky during Mark Pope’s successful first season as head coach, where he became one of the best three-point shooters in all of college basketball.

Last season at Kentucky, the Bronx native averaged 11.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game while shooting 43.5% from beyond the arc on nearly six attempts per game in 36 games, 16 of which were starts, showcasing his scoring ability in transition, off the catch, and via handoffs and screens.

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Not only did Brea achieve his own dreams of playing at the next level, but becomes a piece of history for Pope, becoming the first player drafted out of Kentucky during the Pope era.

Brea joins a rebuilding franchise with a notorious background for drafting Kentucky guards. Eric Bledsoe rings the bell, Tyler Ulis of course, and the Suns’ all-time leading scorer, Devin Booker obviously leads the pack.

Go be great Fuego!

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Men's Basketball

How a Call with Mark Pope Led Denzel Aberdeen to Kentucky

After winning a national title at Florida, Denzel Aberdeen committed to Kentucky without ever visiting campus—thanks to a revealing three-hour call with head coach Mark Pope.

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Chet White | UK Athletics

As a junior, Denzel Aberdeen was a key part of Florida’s national title run. But a certain phone conversation convinced him to leave his home state and head north to Lexington in hopes of experiencing that feeling once again.

He had never set foot in Lexington before deciding to become a Kentucky Wildcat — and he didn’t need to. All it took was one phone call — three hours long, on Easter Sunday — with head coach Mark Pope to convince him that he belonged in blue and white.

“Our phone call lasted about three hours, to be honest,” Aberdeen said, meeting with the media in Lexington for the first time earlier this week. “A lot of it was just getting to know me and getting to know the school, the university, getting to know him (Pope), how their style was, a lot of film. Once I saw that, I was like this looks like a great guy to play for.”

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The two went on to discuss Aberdeen’s role at Kentucky in more depth, including how Pope envisions him fitting into Kentucky’s new system — a system that, according to Aberdeen, is very similar, if not better than the one he just left.

“We had a lot of great players at Florida, especially the tall bigs. Bigs that love to run there, and we have just as much here; our bigs love to run, they play defense, and they play at a fast pace. So I think the things that we’ve got here are just as good, or even better,” Aberdeen said.

Averaging 7.7 points and nearly 20 minutes per game off the bench for the Gators last year, it’s clear to see what Aberdeen brings to the team: experience, versatility, calmness in the backcourt, and championship pedigree. Pope’s phone conversation with Aberdeen wasn’t just impactful on the court — it also speaks volumes to what he is doing off the court in pursuit of the goal he laid out in his introductory press conference: to hang banners.

This phone call wasn’t just about Denzel Aberdeen. It was a glimpse into Pope’s player-first, transparent coaching approach, which could define his era at Kentucky — and potentially make this season a special one, with Aberdeen playing another key role in a deep NCAA Tournament run.

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“I know the goal is to win No. 9,” he said. “I know the fans want that, we want that, all the staff and coaches want that. That pushes us. We know what we gotta do when we come here and put on that Kentucky jersey. Just playing for the University of Kentucky is a big thing. Being here is a blessing, and I can’t look back.”

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