Across the nation, and now for some time, multiple A-list programs around the country have utilized general managers to oversee NIL affairs, roster construction and agent relations.

Kentucky, while fans have been curiously watching other programs with a head honcho build championship-capable rosters, has a different system running in its front office.

During his marathon of answering questions from the Big Blue Nation, Mark Pope was asked by a fan: “Why have you and the staff not hired an actual GM?”

Fair question to ask, and Pope answered with complete transparency in response.

“In this ever changing, dynamic college basketball environment, everyone is trying a different solution,” said Pope. “For us, instead of hiring a singular GM, we’ve gone with a more comprehensive general management team approach.”

Keegan Brown is mentioned first, labeled as Kentucky’s roster analyst. Nick Robinson handles salary cap situations, Kevin Sergent deals with the legal language of contracts as the compliance officer and Kim Shelton is tasked with NIL duties, JMI and corporate sponsorship.

Brown spoke out on social media to further expand on his role, sharing how grateful he is for his position and opportunity to work with Pope once again.

“The analytics is just the foundation for me,” said Brown. “Every day I’m talking to agents, building player projection models, running cap models with Nick (Robinson), managing contracts start to finish, grinding film, and building the systems that power our front office.”

This is quite a different approach, and with integrity this new team is very open on where they have their hands busy, but a true experienced agent regulator would still be a nice addition when considering any future positions for this team.

Dealing with players and recruiting is quite difficult, and having one position to utilize one’s former experience and make it their sole focus would help the Wildcats future more than it would hurt it.

It’s to note that two of these hires would be there without Pope (Sergent and Shelton), but regardless, we have an answer to the long-awaited “where’s our GM question?”

This is a one of a kind team in the current field of college ball, and as time goes on, it’ll be interesting to see if it remains successful for the team.

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.

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.

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.

You could make a case that Kentucky has upgraded its roster in several areas, but one area where they haven’t to this point, which has drawn criticism from Big Blue Nation, is the lack of a clear-cut star.

Of course, Kentucky fell short in the Tyran Stokes sweepstakes last week, but a new target has emerged, Iowa State transfer and the second-ranked player in the portal, Milan Momcilovic. Per sources, Kentucky held a Zoom meeting with Momcilovic and his representatives on Wednesday.

If that name sounds familiar, it should. Momcilovic torched Kentucky for 20 points, including four three-pointers, in March, sending the Wildcats home in the NCAA Tournament.

The 6-foot-8, 210-pound power forward is currently testing the NBA Draft waters, but is projected as an early-mid second-round selection. Meaning, there is a strong chance he would earn more money with a return to college than by keeping his name in the draft. Especially so, if the NCAA passes the “5-in-5 rule” later this month, which could give him two more seasons of eligibility.

The numbers on Momcilovic are hard to ignore. He was one of the most lethal three-point shooters in the country last season, connecting at a 48.7% clip from beyond the arc. He averaged 16.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, earning Second Team All-Big 12 honors.

The Wildcats may not get that highly ranked player they have been in pursuit of, but it won’t be without effort.