Latest news with #KentuckyBasketball
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former UK guys Butler, Carr, Robinson all get free agent contracts
Former Kentucky basketball players Lamont Butler, Jaxson Robinson and Andrew Carr all signed free agent contracts with NBA teams late last week. LAMONT BUTLER Following a record-breaking season with Kentucky, Butler signed with the Atlanta Hawks for the next step of his basketball career. Advertisement Butler, who came to Kentucky having hit one of the most memorable shots in Final Four history at San Diego State, averaged 11.4 points, 4.3 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game in 2024-25. 'I'm so proud of Lamont Butler,' UK coach Mark Pope said. 'He came and set records at Kentucky, while battling through injury and improving in just about every area of his game. Lamont has absolutely earned this opportunity.' Butler started in all 27 games in which he appeared and was among the midseason finalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and was a part of the Sporting News' Midseason All-America Second Team. Butler reached career highs in field goal percentage (49.8%) and from 3-point range (39.1%). The 6-foot-2 guard scored in double figures in 14 games, including one of the most impressive individual performances in program history. Butler erupted for a career-high 33 points and was a perfect 10-of-10 from the field in a win over Louisville. That included making a career-high six 3-pointers. It was the second-most points scored by a Kentucky player against the Cardinals and his 10 made shots from the field tied for the third most without a miss in program history. Advertisement For his efforts, he was named the Bluegrass Sports Commission MVP, the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week and a United States Basketball Writers Association National Player of the Week. JAXSON ROBINSON Robinson was knocked out over halfway through of his only Kentucky season because of injury. Robinson agreed to a free-agent contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers the organization announced Thursday. Robinson was a finalist for the Julius Erving Award honoring the nation's best small forward in 2024-25. He started all 24 games in which he appeared and averaged 13 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game, while shooting 43.2% from the field and 37.6% from distance. He set career highs in rebounds per game, assists per game, field-goal percentage and 3-point field-goal percentage. Advertisement Robinson is the fourth Wildcat to earn an NBA opportunity. He joins Koby Brea and Amari Williams who were second-round picks and Lamont Butler who also signed a free-agent contract. 'It has been one of the highlights of my coaching career to spend the last three seasons with Jaxson Robinson,' Pope said. 'He was playing the best basketball of his career before his season was cut short and I'm ecstatic that he has earned this very well-deserved opportunity.' The 6-foot-6 guard scored in double figures in 17 games and paced the team in scoring four times before missing the final eight games of the season and 12 of the final 13 overall. Robinson drained at least three 3s in nine games and finished the year having made 62 long-range shots which ranked second on the squad. He played the best basketball of his career against Southeastern Conference competition, where he averaged 14.4 points across 11 games while shooting 46.2% from the field and 45.7% from 3-point range. Advertisement Robinson topped the 20-point plateau on four occasions, including scoring 27 points and sinking seven 3-pointers in a win at Mississippi State. He also topped the 20-point mark with 22 and five 3s against Texas A&M. In a historic come-from-behind win against Gonzaga, Robinson logged 18 points and five assists. Robinson was tabbed the Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year in 2023-24 and was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honoree at BYU. He was the first bench player in BYU history to lead the team in scoring, averaging 14.2 points per game. ANDREW CARR Carr will get an NBA opportunity after signing with the Portland Trail Blazers it was announced on Friday. Carr averaged 10.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game for the Kentucky in 2024-25. Advertisement Carr is the fifth Wildcat from its Sweet 16 team to earn his way on to an NBA roster. He joins Koby Brea and Amari Williams, who were second-round picks, as well as Robinson and Butler, who also signed free-agent contracts. The 6-foot-11 forward was a team leader for the Cats and earned Southeastern Conference Community Service Team accolades. On the court, he reached double-figure scoring in 21 games and connected on 54.4% from the field. Carr generated three double-double efforts, including notching 16 points and a season-high 12 rebounds in a top-15 win at Missouri. 'Andrew's leadership was an invaluable part of our success last season,' UK coach Mark Pope said. 'I'm so excited for him to take this next step because he is going to be an asset to any team both on the court and inside of the locker room.' He was at his best against some of the nation's best. The West Chester, Pennsylvania, native charted a season-high 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting against No. 1 Auburn. He had 17 points, six boards, two assists and two steals at Alabama. Carr logged a team-high 19 points on 8-of-12 from the field in the come-from-behind win over Gonzaga. He also chipped in seven boards and three assists, while playing the final 9:55 of the game with four fouls. Carr came to Kentucky from Wake Forest.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kentucky Basketball Reacts to First NBA Draft Class Under Mark Pope
Kentucky Basketball Reacts to First NBA Draft Class Under Mark Pope originally appeared on Athlon Sports. When it comes to turning college players into NBA stars, few schools do it quite like Kentucky. Just look around the league. You don't have to squint to spot a former Wildcat lighting it up on the biggest stage. Reigning MVP and champ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the perfect example of that Wildcat pipeline paying off. Advertisement But Kentucky's legacy isn't just about the past; it's alive and well under Mark Pope. This year's draft was his first shot at keeping that tradition going, and let's just say five new names heading to the league is one heck of a statement. The Wildcats took to X to flex their players who recently turned pro. 'NBA Class of 2025,' the caption read. Koby Brea was Kentucky's go-to shooter last season, and his smooth stroke is exactly what today's NBA teams love. The Phoenix Suns clearly thought so, too, that they snapped him up with the 41st pick in the second round, making him the highest-drafted Wildcat this year. He'll probably come off the bench at first but could carve out a nice role in their rotation. Advertisement Then there's Amari Williams, who went 46th overall to the Celtics. Boston needs some extra size, so he might get more minutes than people expect right out of the gate. As for the other guys, Lamont Butler didn't hear his name on draft night, but he landed a two-way deal with the Hawks, which means he'll bounce between the G-League and Atlanta's roster this year. Kentucky Wildcats guard Koby Brea (4) reacts after defeating the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Fiserv Sieu-Imagn Images Andrew Carr and Jaxson Robinson also went undrafted but both picked up Exhibit 10 deals Carr with the Trail Blazers and Robinson with the Cavs. They'll probably spend most of their time with each team's G-League affiliate but have a chance to work their way up. Advertisement Related: Kentucky Gets a Bailout as Hogs Call Calipari This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kentucky Basketball Spending Big in NIL Era
Kentucky Basketball Spending Big in NIL Era originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In today's college basketball, talent wins games, but money, specifically NIL money, wins recruiting battles. And nobody is playing that game more aggressively than the Kentucky Wildcats. Advertisement Led by head coach Mark Pope, Kentucky is making headlines, not just for the talent it's acquiring but for the cash it's investing in that talent. At the center of it all, quite literally, is 6-foot-10 Jayden Quaintance, a teenage phenom with a $1.9 million NIL valuation who's quickly becoming the face of the Wildcats' new era. Mar 13, 2025; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope gives instructions to his team against the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images© Steve Roberts-Imagn Images According to Fox Sports, Quaintance is the sixth-highest valued player in college basketball based on NIL earnings. He's also the youngest on the list, as he he won't turn 18 until later this July, making his financial standing all the more impressive. After a standout freshman season at Arizona State, where he earned Big 12 All-Defensive and All-Freshman honors, Quaintance hit the transfer portal. Kentucky, reportedly one of the top three NIL spenders in the nation, wasted no time locking him in. The big man now holds NIL deals with PSD Underwear and Panini America, brands that rarely throw endorsement money behind unproven prospects. But Quaintance isn't just any recruit. Jan 21, 2025; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils forward Jayden Quaintance (21) dunks the ball during the second half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images © Ben Queen-Imagn Images This is a calculated risk for Kentucky. Quaintance is currently rehabbing from an ACL tear but is expected to return early in the 2025–26 season. If healthy, he's projected to be a top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Pope and the Wildcats are betting big on that upside, and paying accordingly. Advertisement But Quaintance isn't the only major investment. Kentucky's entire transfer class is drawing attention for the NIL dollars flowing into Lexington. Also, rumors continue to circulate that wing Otega Oweh, who withdrew from the NBA Draft and chose to return to Kentucky received a lucrative offer, though exact figures remain under wraps. It's clear Kentucky's strategy is shifting. They're no longer just betting on blue blood tradition and NBA pipelines, they're leveraging NIL capital to build a roster that can compete right now. For fans of the new NIL era, this is the drama they signed up for. Schools aren't just building programs, they're building brands. And few are doing it as boldly as Kentucky. As the 2025–26 season approaches, all eyes will be on Lexington. If Quaintance lives up to the hype, and the price tag, he could become the poster child of NIL success. For Kentucky, this could be the beginning of a new dynasty, funded by dollars and driven by dreams. Related: How NIL Spending Is Reshaping College Football's Competitive Landscape This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kentucky Reacts to Jasper Johnson Announcement on Friday
Kentucky Reacts to Jasper Johnson Announcement on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Mark Pope-coached Kentucky Wildcats celebrated one of their incoming freshman's latest achievements. Four-star guard Jasper Johnson was selected to play for the U19 USA men's basketball team, which will compete in the FIBA U19 Men's World Cup from June 28 to July 6 in Lausanne, Switzerland. Advertisement 'Congratulations, @BruhJasperJ on being selected for the @usabasketball U19 National Team,' Kentucky posted on its X account Friday. Johnson will join a 12-man final roster selected by the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team Committee, according to On3 writer Chris Fisher. The Versailles, Kentucky, native out of the Overtime Elite program will join a roster composed of fellow finalists Caleb Holt, Brandon McCoy Jr., Jordan Smith and Tyran Stokes. Kentucky freshman center Malachi Moreno also took part in the camp alongside Pope, who served as an assistant coach during the national team's camp. The U19 team is led by Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd and Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland, who will work as his assistant coach alongside Notre Dame's Micah Shrewsberry. Advertisement Johnson's scoring ability impressed scouts throughout camp in Colorado Springs. 'He put on a show on Monday morning, not just with his shooting, but with his total scoring,' 247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein wrote. 'There were tough angled finishes at the rim and high-arching pull-ups alike.' Kentucky Wildcats freshman guard Jasper Johnson.© Sam Upshaw Jr./Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Johnson's scoring being praised is not surprising, as he shot 41% from three as a junior with Link Academy, according to his 247Sports player profile. He is also considered a very talented mid-range shooter who can score very well by using a vast array of floaters and layups. At 6-foot-4 and 175 pounds, he should pair up well alongside fellow guards Holt and Smith once the World Cup begins next weekend. Advertisement Related: Mark Pope Confident in Kentucky's Roster, Still Looking to Add Final Pieces This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kentucky basketball's Otega Oweh makes final NBA Draft decision
The post Kentucky basketball's Otega Oweh makes final NBA Draft decision appeared first on ClutchPoints. Kentucky basketball just got some good news about one of its key players, as they'll be returning to the team after withdrawing from the NBA Draft, according to ESPN's Jonathan Givony. Advertisement 'NEWS: Kentucky's Otega Oweh has withdrawn his name from the NBA draft and will return to the Wildcats for his senior season, agent Wilmer Jackson of Spencer Sports told ESPN. Massive news for Mark Pope to return his team's leading scorer from last season,' Givony wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Oweh posted on Instagram announcing that he would be returning for Kentucky. 'This year exceeded all my expectations,' Oweh said in the caption. 'Through all the highs and the lows, I found a family in Kentucky forever. So let's run it back: I'm staying home.' In his first season with Kentucky, Oweh averaged 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 35.5 percent from the perimeter. After the regular season, he was named a Second-Team All-SEC selection. Advertisement In their Round of 64 win over Troy, Oweh finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and two steals. With that statline, he became the first Kentucky player since Walter McCarty in 1996 to register 20+ points, 8+ rebounds, and 5+ assists in an NCAA Tournament game. Oweh had a season where he had 13 games of 20+ points, which also included a career-high 28 points and a game-winner against Oklahoma. With him coming back next season, Oweh can establish himself as a first-round pick going into the 2026 NBA Draft. He had a nice showing at the NBA Draft Combine, and hopefully, he was able to take some things away from that experience to bring back to his game in college. It will be interesting to see what Kentucky looks like next season, and Oweh will be a big part of how successful they can be moving forward in the program.
