Kentucky reaches out to Miami transfer Divine Ugochukwu

Mar 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Miami (Fl) Hurricanes guard Divine Ugochukwu (99) with the ball in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Is Mark Pope still hunting for a backup ball handler following Travis Perry‘s portal departure? Kentucky‘s latest contact suggests it’s very much on the table — and it’s a high-major option.

Miami transfer Divine Ugochukwu, who averaged 5.3 points, 2.3 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 20.1 minutes per contest last season with the Hurricanes, has heard from the Wildcats.

The 6-3, 190-pound guard out of Sugar Land, TX initially entered the portal on April 2, but Kentucky assistant coach Mikhail McLean has reached out in recent days as the program looks for backcourt depth with Perry exploring his options, Jacob Polacheck of KSR+ has been told.

Among the other schools to reach out? Texas Tech, Baylor, Pittsburgh, Iowa, Texas, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, Dayton, South Florida, Vanderbilt, High Point, Ball State and Louisiana, as reported by Sam Kayser of League Ready. Miami has also been in contact about a potential return under new head coach Jai Lucas.

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Ugochukwu played in 28 games with 16 starts for the Hurricanes, scoring in double figures on three occasions as a rookie. His best high-major performances came against Louisville (10 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals), Tennessee (eight points, three rebounds), Notre Dame (nine points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals), Duke (six points, 10 rebounds, three steals, two assists) and Virginia Tech (seven points, seven assists).

Could he be the final addition for 2025-26? Contact has been made to start the process.

Kentucky Basketball 2025-26 Roster Tracker

Here is a running list of who’s coming, going, or being contacted by the staff as the 2025-26 roster comes together.

HIGH SCHOOL TARGETS (1)

Braydon Hawthorne – SF – Huntington Prep (WV) – 4-star, No. 48 overall

COMMITS (6)

Kam Williams – G – Tulane – 9.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 48.5% FG, 41.2% 3PT | Committed 3/28
Jaland Lowe – G – Pittsburgh – 16.8 PPG, 5.5 APG, 4.2 RPG, 37.6% FG, 26.6% 3PT | Committed 4/5
Mouhamed Dioubate – F – Alabama – 7.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.1 APG, 61.7% FG, 46.2% 3PT | Committed 4/7
Jayden Quaintance – F – Arizona State – 9.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.6 BPG, 52.5 FG% | Committed 4/8
Andrija Jelavic – C – Mega Basket — 10.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.4 APG, 50.3% FG, 32.3% 3PT | – Committed 4/12
Denzel Aberdeen – G – Florida – 7.7 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 41.8 FG%, 35 3PT% | Committed 4/21

RETURNING / INCOMING (6)

Otega Oweh – G – Rising Senior – 16.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.7 APG, 49.2% FG, 35.5% 3PT | Going through NBA Draft process
Brandon Garrison – C – Rising Junior – 5.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.9 APG, 50.9% | Confirmed return on 4/12
Collin Chandler – C- Rising Sophomore – 2.7 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.7 APG, 36.1% FG, 34.7% 3PT | Confirmed return on 4/17
Trent Noah – F – Rising Sophomore – 2.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG, 0.4 APG, 45.1% FG, 33.3% 3PT | Confirmed return on 4/18
Malachi Moreno – C – Incoming Freshman – Great Crossing (Georgetown, KY)
Jasper Johnson – SG – Incoming Freshman – Overtime Elite (Lexington, KY)

DEPARTURES (2)

Kerr Kriisa – G – Senior – 4.4 PPG, 3.8 APG, 2.4 RPG, 27.9% FG | Entered Portal 3/31, Committed to Cincinnati
Travis Perry – PG – Rising Sophomore – 2.7 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 0.6 APG, 31.3% FG, 32.1% 3PT | Entered Portal 4/22