Kentucky Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker: New Names Emerge

MrsTylerKSR

With yesterday’s news that TyTy Washington is officially off to the NBA and this morning’s news that Bryce Hopkins is transferring, the Kentucky Basketball staff is finally free to move about the portal. In the past few hours alone, several new names have emerged as potential additions to next year’s roster. We’ve pared our monster Roster Tracker to focus on the Cats’ transfer portal targets.

Important Dates/Deadlines

May 1: Transfer Portal deadline (Date by which players must tell their school they’re leaving)
June 1: NCAA “Stay or Go” Deadline

New Names

Norchad Omier, Arkansas State (F, Covid Fr.) – Omier, a native of Nicaragua, entered the portal on March 30 after two seasons at Arkansas State. He won Sun Belt Player of the Year and Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Lou Henson Award this season. KSR is hearing the 6’7″, 232 lbs. forward is the current leader to replace Bryce Hopkins on Kentucky’s roster. The staff recently met with him on Zoom.

https://t.co/dbR0yjOOtV pic.twitter.com/GFVUeSS7oT
— Kentucky Sports Talk (@KentuckyZone) April 7, 2022

He’s undersized for a traditional center at 6’7″ and doesn’t have the shot-making ability to be a stretch four — he’s made just one 3-pointer in two years at Arkansas State — but dominated his level of competition. Omier is strong and polished in the paint while also being a high-level defender on the other end.

2021-22 season: 17.9 PPG (63.2% FG), 12.2 RPG, 2.0 BPG, 1.6 SPG, 26.7 MPG

Courtney Ramey, Texas (G, Sr.) – Ramey declared for the draft and entered the transfer portal on March 31 after four seasons at Texas. Ramey was a two-time All-Big 12 selection and considered one of the best on-ball defenders in the league. He is a former four-star prospect and actually committed to play for Louisville under Rick Pitino before flipping to Texas.

Ramey’s father told Jon Rothstein that Kentucky, Connecticut, Gonzaga, Marquette, Murray State, TCU, Villanova, and Wisconsin are among the 17 programs that have reached out to him since he entered the portal.

The 6-foot-3 guard has also been a solid 3-point shooter over the course of his four-year career, knocking down 36.5% of his shots from deep on 4.2 attempts per game. He converted on 41.4% of his 3-pointers on a career-high 4.5 attempts per game in 2020-21.

2021-22 season: 9.4 PPG (39.7% FG, 35% 3PT), 3.5 RPG, 1.6 APG, 30.1 MPG

Femi Odukale, Pitt (G, Soph.) – Odukale entered the transfer portal on April 1. The 6’5″ Brooklyn native averaged 10.8 points in 32.4 minutes per game for Pittsburgh this season as the Panthers went 11-21 overall and 6-14 in ACC action. According to Adam Zagoria, Kentucky has reached out, along with Wake Forest.

2021-22 season: 10.8 PPG (39.1% FG, 33% 3PT), 3.5 RPG, 3.4 APG, 32.4 MPG

Established Targets

BACKCOURT

Xavier Pinson, LSU (G, Sr.) – On March 24, Pinson entered the transfer portal and by that night, had already heard from Kentucky, Michigan State, Xavier, and Arizona State, according to Mac Irvin Fire, which was once coached by current Kentucky assistant Chin Coleman. Despite transferring a year ago from Missouri to LSU, Pinson is expected to be granted another immediate eligibility waiver due to the recent firing of LSU head coach Will Wade. He will have one year of eligibility remaining. At LSU, he faced Kentucky twice, dropping 11 points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals in a win before posting 26 points and eight rebounds on 12-13 shooting from the free-throw line in a loss. Additionally, he went 1-2 against Kentucky during his time with Mizzou.

UPDATED 4/6: No reported new movement on Kentucky’s side with Pinson, but for what it’s worth he posted this on his Instagram story today.

2021-22 season: 9.8 PPG, 4.8 APG, 2.4 RPG, 28.1 MPG

Adam Miller, LSU (PG, Soph.) – Miller entered the transfer portal on March 29. The 6’2″ point guard transferred to LSU from Illinois last year but should receive a waiver due to Will Wade’s firing. Last summer, there was buzz Miller could follow Orlando Antigua and Chin Coleman to Kentucky, but he went with the Tigers instead, and unfortunately, tore his ACL in the preseason. As Kentucky looks to rebuild its backcourt, he could be an option once again.

2020-21 season (Illinois): 8.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.8 APG

Nijel Pack, Kansas State (PG, Soph.) – Pack entered the portal on March 31. The First Team All-Big 12 selection averaged 17.4 points per game this past season for Kansas State while shooting 43.6% from three. Kentucky has not yet reached out, with Duke, Gonzaga, Arizona, Purdue, Xavier, Tennessee, Miami, Ohio State, NC State, and Marquette reportedly expressing interest.

UPDATED 4/7: According to Jon Rothstein, Pack will visit Purdue today.

2021-22 season: 17.4 PPG (45.5% FG, 43.6% 3PT FG), 3.8 RPG, 2.2 APG

WING

Terrence Shannon Jr., Texas Tech (G, Jr.) – Shannon entered the transfer portal on March 25, the day after his team’s loss to Duke in the Sweet 16. So far, he has heard from Kentucky, UConn, Illinois, and Michigan. Like Pinson, he’s a Chicago native and also played for Mac Irvin Fire, which was once coached by current Kentucky assistant Chin Coleman. Kentucky and Illinois are considered the favorites.

Shannon is known as arguably the best perimeter defender in the portal and shot 38.4% from three as a junior. He’s considered one of the top available players on the transfer market.

UPDATE 4/7: Shannon has ruled out a return to Texas Tech, he announced on Twitter.

Thank you 🤞🏽 pic.twitter.com/hw2eHFbtpX
— Terrence Shannon Jr (@Sn1per_T) April 7, 2022

2021-22 season: 10.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, 25.0 MPG

Antonio Reeves, Illinois State (SG/SF, Jr.) – Kentucky has reportedly reached out to another wing from Chicago, Illinois State’s Antonio Reeves. Reeves entered the transfer portal on March 21 after a stellar junior season with the Redbirds. He led Illinois State in scoring at 20.1 points per game, the most in the Missouri Valley Conference and top 20 in all of Division I. Reeves has also heard from Duke, Texas Tech, Memphis, Alabama, North Carolina, Ohio State, Illinois, and Missouri, among others. Reeves will visit Nebraska this weekend, per HuskerOnline.com.

Standing 6-6 and knocking down 39% of his 3-point attempts, Reeves scored in double figures in 31 of 33 games this season, including 18 20-point performances. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

2021-22 Season: 20.1 PPG (46.9% FG, 39.0% 3PT FG), 3.5 RPG, 1.1 SPG

FRONTCOURT (Oscar Insurance)

On April 5, Oscar Tshiebwe said he will test the waters of the NBA Draft to gather information to make his decision. If he decides to go pro, here are the guys that could replace him.

Fardaws Aimaq, Utah Valley (C, Gr.) – The WAC Player of the Year entered the transfer portal on March 18. Kentucky has reportedly shown interest and according to Jeff Borzello, Kentucky is one of nine schools he’s been focusing on along with Gonzaga, Texas Tech, Washington, Houston, Arkansas, Iowa, Arizona, and Texas. The 6’11” 245 lbs. center averaged 18.9 points and 13.6 rebounds per game and ranked second in the country in double-doubles behind Oscar Tshiebwe this season. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Aimaq is capable of stepping out and hitting the occasional three — he shot 43.5% from deep on 1.4 attempts per game — but he’s a traditional five at this level. He moves well and is comfortable putting the ball on the floor on drives to the basket, but his best play comes working in the post. He’s polished in the paint with soft touch around the rim.

2021-22 season: 18.9 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.3 BPG

Johni Broome, Morehead State (PF, Frosh.) – Broome announced he would be testing the NBA Draft waters on March 31 before putting his name in the transfer portal on April 4. The OVC Defensive Player of the Year is arguably the top frontcourt player in the portal, a prolific shot-blocker who broke MSU’s single-season block record and led the conference in rebounding. Earlier this week, Kentucky reached out to Broome, who is also hearing from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Cincinnati, Indiana, Florida, Georgia, Gonzaga, LSU, NC State, Ohio State, Texas, Texas Tech, and West Virginia amongst others. Broome’s coach at Morehead State, Preston Spradlin, worked on Cal’s staff for five seasons at Kentucky.