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Kenny Payne Ghosts Louisville Signee After Last Second Decision to Play Overseas

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Louisville head coach Kenny Payne looked for answers on the bench
© Jeff Faughender/Courier Journal and USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK

Five-star forward Trentyn Flowers committed to the Louisville Cardinals on March 17th, and not even five months later, Flowers is no longer a part of the Louisville program. On August 14th, Flowers told ESPN that he was leaving Louisville to go play in the NBL (National Basketball League) in Australia for the Adelaide 36ers.

Flowers also intended on telling Louisville Head Coach Kenny Payne as well, calling him 7-8 times, but to Flowers’ surprise, Payne has yet to reach back to him.

Several Phone Calls Made But To No Avail

Trentyn Flowers and his father, Travis, spoke about the situation in an interview with Jeff Lightsy of 35KYSports. Together, they explained their side of the story. To begin, Travis had his own input that he wanted to share.

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“We had a long relationship. He’s a great guy, great coach, great recruiter, he’s the one that introduced us to Louisville. We were recruited by him at another school. We’ve been building a relationship. We had already informed Nolan [Smith], we met face-to-face with him. We tried to reach out to KP. We couldn’t get in touch with him.

Then, Trentyn provided some of the extra details and specifics of the situation, including a tweet he published shortly after which said, “I’m a point guard from now on let’s get this right.”

“I still haven’t gotten a chance to speak with him. He hasn’t even spoke. I’ve given him about 7-8 calls, and he still hasn’t returned one of them back.”

He added, “So, you know, my one thing was like I said, we try to inform everybody prior. We told the coaches. It was like 36 hours before. It was almost two days before. This opportunity came about recently. So, this was new news to us as a family.”

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Kenny Payne’s Side of the Story

On Monday, Kenny Payne released the following statement:

“Earlier today, Trentyn and his family informed me of his decision to pursue a professional career overseas. We’re certainly disappointed in his decision and the timing. We fully believe in the University of Louisville’s ability to help student-athletes reach their goals, including to play at the highest levels of professional basketball – and we’re confident that Trentyn could have achieved his dreams by making Louisville his home. However, we wish Trentyn and his family well in all of their future endeavors.”

It seems that Flowers’ decision caught Payne off-guard, and considering that things seemed to be trending well, it makes sense where Payne is coming from. Especially so when considering Flowers left on the first date of classes, leaving Payne scrambling to find options.


All around, this is a very confusing and concerning situation. The sudden departure of a “program changer” like Trentyn Flowers will have a significant impact on Kenny Payne and the Louisville Cardinals.

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Evidently, Flowers and his family informed most of the coaching staff, and tried to tell Payne what the plan was moving forward. Do you blame Kenny Payne for not getting back to Flowers? Who’s in the right? Who’s in the wrong? Let us know in the comments!

Men's Basketball

Kentucky Basketball’s Practice Facility Sees Major Makeover

The Joe Craft Center, after years of casual criticism from Wildcats fans, has finally been given an upgrade.

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UK Athletics

Maybe the weirdest qualm of many that plagued John Calipari’s tenure at Kentucky were the consistent complaints about the team’s practice facility, the Joe Craft Center.

From exaggerated rumors about leaks in the ceiling to general observations made about the court and facilities, fans, especially towards the end of that era, pointed to the Craft Center’s age as one of many signs of the times. Even in spite of occasional, supposed changes now and again.

In only his second year, Mark Pope has seemingly already addressed that complaint — at least to an extent.

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The official Kentucky men’s basketball account recently posted a video across all social media platforms of the team during summer practice, featuring and obviously removed Craft Center court.

The court itself has been redone, in addition to the graphics and banners on the wall. Alongside the hanging threads celebrating the program’s eight national championships, a ninth one has been tacked onto the end.

It simply reads: “#9 – The Assignment.” If fans weren’t already excited enough for Coach Pope’s sophomore season, a ninth title banner being fixed in the renovation’s spotlight should send folks through the roof.

It may seem like a small thing, but given the program’s track record in the last few years, it’s the small things that feel the biggest. Mark Pope not only understands the assignment, but he’s making sure his team does, too.

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Men's Basketball

Jasper Johnson Makes Final U19 USA Roster Under Coach Mark Pope

Jasper Johnson has advanced in the U19 USA camp for the second time alongside the nation’s best recruits, and under Mark Pope’s wing.

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Jasper Johnson advances at U19 camp.
Instagram: @bruhjasperj (UK Athletics)

In a surprisingly relevant development smack dab in the middle of the offseason, Jasper Johnson has yet again advanced in the pool of players participating in the USA U19 camp.

The program, which could be a described as a sort of extension of the Team USA that just took home the gold in 2024, is comprised of some of the nation’s most anticipated talents set to take collegiate courts in the next couple of seasons.

Blue Gets In

Among them is Kentucky native and commit Johnson, and was also incoming Cat Malachi Moreno, before the latter was cut as a result of a mild injury he obtained throughout the camp’s course. Despite Moreno’s exit, his future teammate continues to impress.

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Under the wing of Coach Mark Pope, who’s helmed the team in the camp up to this point, Johnson has now made the final cut after multiple roster slashes – he and only 11 other players remain in the minority that will go forward to actually compete for the team in the 2025 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup, which will take place June 28 through July 6 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The pre-competition camp serves not only as a trial of play before these athletes disperse to their own respective rosters this fall and next, but for Johnson, as a preview of what it’s like to play under Coach Pope. If his current success is any indicator, Kentucky fans may be in for something special when the pair tackle opposing teams together for the blue and white.

In similar noteworthy news, also attending the event are Taylen Kinney and Tyran Stokes, two Kentucky-born athletes with ties to Kentucky that the program is heavily recruiting. Jasper’s strong performance, combined with Coach Pope’s presence, can only help the Wildcats’ chances on that front, too.

To say the least, Mark Pope has found a way to facilitate Kentucky’s influence far beyond the boundaries of Lexington. He and Johnson, for the time being, will continue to press turn heads on the national stage, and it’s very likely that fans aren’t the only ones paying attention.

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Men's Basketball

Archie Goodwin and Kahlil Whitney Set to Join La Familia This Summer

La Familia continues to add more firepower to the 2025 roster.

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James Crisp (Left), Adam Hunger (Right) | Associated Press

As the start of the 2025 TBT Tournament inches closer, La Familia has been slowly but surely adding star Wildcats to the roster.

Usually, we see announcements for new additions to the squad roll out on social media in some form, whether it be a post from La Familia’s official accounts or in form of Ansley Almonor’s announcement, which took place on BBN Tonight.

However, this time, Archie Goodwin and Kahlil “The Dragon” Whitney were added to the roster on the TBT website without any announcement, surprising Big Blue Nation as the news leaked and began to circulate.

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They were removed from the website afterwards, but as of Thursday, June 19, appear on the website as listed members of the roster.

Goodwin has been an active member for years, highlighted by his semifinals appearance last year where he averaged 13.8 points per game en route.

Whitney is a name that may cause some to shed a tear, with so much potential surrounding the former five-star leading up to his debut. Ultimately, he left the program after appearing in just 18 games for Kentucky.

La Familia is competitive as all get out, shown by chippy play with guys who have nothing to lose but everything to win for the place they call home. Goodwin and Whitney, now added to that list of guys, will look to redeem themselves with one goal in mind. Win.

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The official La Familia roster as of June 19:

– Willie Cauley-Stein (2012-15)

– Doron Lamb (2010-12)

– DeAndre Liggins (2008-11)

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– Aaron Harrison (2013-15)

– Andrew Harrison (2013-15)

– Ansley Almonor (2024-25)

– Archie Goodwin (2012-13)

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– Kahlil Whitney (2019-20)

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