Ian Jackson chose to play for Hubert Davis and UNC, but that only lasted 1 season. Could a pair up with Mark Pope happen at Kentucky?
After Acaden Lewis, a four-star point guard from Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., decommitted from the University of Kentucky on April 10, 2025, the Wildcats men’s basketball team is actively pursuing former five-star guard Lamar Wilkerson to strengthen their roster.
Wilkerson, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound guard from Sam Houston State, is visiting Kentucky this weekend as part of his transfer recruitment process. He averaged 20.5 points per game on 48% field goal shooting and 44.5% from three-point range, along with four rebounds and two assists per game. Wilkerson is also considering visits to Indiana, Auburn, and Ole Miss, with the main competition for his commitment lying between Kentucky and Indiana. Securing Wilkerson’s commitment would significantly bolster Kentucky’s lineup, potentially elevating it to a top-three team on paper.
In the wake of Lewis’s decommitment, Kentucky has focused on enhancing its roster through the transfer portal. The Wildcats have secured commitments from top-tier transfers, including guard Kam Williams from Tulane and forward Jayden Quaintance from Arizona State. Williams, a 6-foot-8 guard, averaged 9.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, earning a spot on the American Athletic Conference All-Freshman Team. Quaintance, a 6-foot-9 forward, averaged 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game, setting Arizona State freshman records in rebounds and blocks.
Additionally, point guard Jaland Lowe from Pitt and forward Mouhamed Dioubate from Alabama have signed with Kentucky. Lowe, known for his explosive scoring and playmaking, averaged 16.8 points, 5.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game last season. Dioubate, a versatile and physical forward, averaged 7.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game at Alabama, recording five double-doubles.
Despite the setback of Lewis’s departure, Kentucky retains commitments from five-star guard Jasper Johnson and five-star big man Malachi Moreno. The Wildcats are now expected to revise their recruitment strategy by targeting other 2025 guards or leveraging the transfer portal to bolster their roster. Lewis’s decision has made him one of the top uncommitted players in his class, and his choice is anticipated to influence the national recruiting landscape.
