Former UK guard Jemarl Baker commits to New Mexico
Make that four colleges in seven years for Jemarl Baker, who signed with Kentucky out of high school back in 2017. After hitting the transfer portal for a third time back on April 6, the veteran guard — set to turn 25 years old in June, by the way — announced his commitment to New Mexico this week.
It will be a team-up with some familiar faces, headlined by head coach Richard Pitino, son of former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino. Jamal Mashburn Jr., son of all-time Wildcat great Jamal Mashburn, is also on the roster, while Tru Washington, uncle of former Kentucky standout TyTy Washington, signed with the Lobos in the class of 2023.
Now, Baker is set to join the program for his seventh and final season of eligibility.
Baker started at Kentucky in 2017-18, missing the entirety of his first season after suffering a torn meniscus. He then missed time as a redshirt freshman, playing 28 games in year two for the Wildcats, averaging 2.3 points in 9.1 minutes per game.
Baker then entered the transfer portal at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season, ultimately taking his talents to Arizona for his second stop. There, he averaged 5.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 19.3 minutes per game as a redshirt sophomore while dealing with lingering hip issues, shooting 34.3 percent from three and 82.6 percent from the line. As a redshirt junior in 2020-21, Baker averaged 12.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 12 games before missing the remainder of the year with a broken wrist.
The Menifee, CA native hit the portal for a second time that offseason and decided to head home, transferring to Fresno State. He played just five games with two starts in 2021-22, averaging 8.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists per game before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Then he played in 28 games as a sixth-year senior, averaging 12.5 points on 39.2% shooting and 32.7% from three while adding 3.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists in a career-high 31.8 minutes per contest.
And then at the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, Baker hit the portal for a third and final time before ultimately choosing the Lobos this week. Richard Pitino, Jamal Mashburn Jr., Tru Washington and Jemarl Baker, live from Albuquerque this winter.
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