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If Jaland Lowe and Otega Oweh withdraw from the NBA Draft — the current expectation — then the Kentucky Wildcats will have 12 scholarship players accounted for when the 2025-26 season tips off.
However, with the loss of Travis Perry, there is one more spot available, but does Mark Pope actually want to make another addition to an already-deep roster?
Yes. Yes, he does.
During an appearance on Jon Rothstein’s podcast, Pope confirmed he’s working frantically to fill that 13th spot, whether it’s someone who’d come in and redshirt or if it’s an Ansley Almonor-type player wanting to end his career on a high note with a contender.
“I have 12 guys right now, so I have 12 guys who will come help us. We’re actually going to try and round out this roster,” said Pope. “I’m actually scouring the planet right now for guys that would fit in as…maybe a redshirt guy that would kill it in practice, or maybe a last year of your career guy that wants to come here and put on this jersey and be a part of this, so we need to add a couple of more pieces.
“But right now, we have our roster that’s gonna own the minutes on this floor, and we have all the pieces.”
Reading between the lines, you can tell Pope is confident that Oweh and Lowe will eventually return to give Kentucky 12 capable players for next season.
Will they find a 13th? That remains to be seen, but BBN can rest well knowing Pope is doing everything he can to find that final piece.
Why NIL Is Good, Transfer Updates + Mark Pope Interview https://t.co/sENdbKNwn4
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 30, 2025
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