The Kentucky Wildcats’ season came to an end in the Sweet 16, and now the team is focused on reshaping a roster that will experience significant turnover.
While this past roster was made up of numerous transfer portal players and a few freshmen—thanks to the shake-up following John Calipari’s departure—coach Mark Pope is looking ahead to a better balance next season, with players like Jasper Johnson joining the squad.
As the NCAA landscape continues to evolve, the key to success is striking the right balance between strong transfer players and emerging prospects.
One name flying under the radar is Monmouth shooting guard Abdi Bashir Jr., who Kentucky recently reached out to, as reported by KSR’s Jacob Polacheck.
At 6-foot-7, Bashir brings added size to Kentucky’s backcourt, which will also feature Overtime Elite’s Jasper Johnson next season. In his sophomore year at Monmouth, Bashir averaged 20.1 points per game, shooting 37.7% from the field and an impressive 38.3% from beyond the arc on 10.1 three-point attempts per game. He also contributed 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Bashir has two years of eligibility remaining.
On a less positive note, one of Kentucky’s top point guard targets, Silas Demary Jr., has committed to UConn. Demary, who Kentucky had been in contact with and even met in person, will head to the Huskies instead. This is a tough blow for Kentucky, as Demary was one of the top point guard prospects available in the transfer portal. With him off the board, Kentucky will now turn their attention to other options like Jaron Pierre from Jacksonville State and Jaland Lowe from Pittsburgh.
On a brighter note, the Wildcats secured a commitment from Kam Williams, a former Tulane guard known as one of the top shooters in the portal. Expect Kentucky to continue strengthening their backcourt with these solid mid-major talents.
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