Reece Potter admits he did not believe Kentucky was reaching out to him

A lot of kids in the bluegrass who play basketball go on to dream of getting to play for Kentucky. When that moment came for Miami (OH) C Reece Potter in the NCAA Transfer Portal, though, he couldn’t believe it had happened for him.

Potter discussed his portal recruitment, and the eventual involvement in it from UK, while speaking to the media on Monday. He said he and his family initially didn’t think it was true when the Wildcats reached out, among other college programs, in the spring.

“It was kind of wild. So, you know, Coach Fueger messaged me and, when he reached out, I thought, like, I didn’t believe, like, Kentucky reached out to me,” Potter recalled. “I was like, this is kind of – I showed my dad. I was actually in Lexington. So, you know, I was like, dad, I think Kentucky just reached out to me? And he was like, nah, you’re lying, you know. You know, you have all the coaches that reach out to you once you hit the portal.”

However, if that wasn’t enough for the Potters, they must have realized how true it was when Mark Pope called in for him on a FaceTime. That’s when the unbelievable became believable for the in-state transfer.

“And then, I told them I was interested. And Coach Pope actually FaceTimed me. I was like, oh my. Like, Coach Pope is FaceTiming me. So, it was surreal,” said Potter. “I was very blessed to have that (happen).”

Potter, a Lexington native who played his high school basketball at Lexington Catholic less than 15 minutes off campus, would get mid-major interest in his recruitment, beginning his collegiate career by committing to Miami (OH). He appeared in 56 games, mostly as a reserve big, through two seasons with the Redhawks while averaging 6.3 points (45.4% FG, 39.8% 3PT), 3.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists.

Potter would go on to enter his name into the portal at the opening of the window in March. Then, after hearing from several programs, including the reported likes of even North Carolina, UConn, and Louisville, Potter would commit to Kentucky on April 5th after what was an under-the-radar recruitment by UK. That would make him one of six transfers, making up the No. 2 portal class per On3, incoming for the Wildcats going into a much-anticipated year two for Pope.

Potter is getting to live the dream, his own dream, now of an in-state player like himself after the Wildcats came calling. That’ll only get more real for him through this summer and fall going into his debut with the program in Rupp Arena come November.