Kentucky reaches out to North Carolina A&T transfer Ryan Forrest

Dec 21, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; North Carolina A&T Aggies guard Ryan Forrest (1) passes in the first half as Arkansas Razorbacks forward Trevon Brazile (4) defends at Bud Walton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Kentucky was done in the transfer portal once Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen put pen to paper with the Wildcats on Monday — then Travis Perry unexpectedly decided to explore his options right before the deadline, opening a roster spot in Lexington.

Will that spot be filled? There is a new target reportedly on the table, according to Dushawn London of 247Sports.

The name: Ryan Forrest of North Carolina A&T, a 6-4 guard out of Marion, AR.

Kentucky joins Arkansas, Memphis, SMU, USC, Ole Miss, UNLV, Murray State, Dayton, Xavier, TCU, Butler, Texas A&M, Arizona State, New Mexico State and UCF to reach out to the rising junior.

NC A&T transfer Ryan Forrest has heard from these schools since being in the transfer portal, per Parker St.Pierre and Ryan Straining of Always On Sports Agency.

– Arkansas
– Kentucky
– Memphis
– SMU
– USC
– Ole Miss
– UNLV
– Murray St.
– Dayton
– Xavier
– TCU
– Butler
-… pic.twitter.com/GOAVTNbQW7
— Dushawn London (@DushawnLondon1) April 25, 2025

Forrest averaged 19.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals in 32.6 minutes per contest last season at NC A&T. Before that, he averaged 11.8 points and 2.1 rebounds as a freshman at Northwestern State. He shot 40/25/64 splits in year two and 39/23/62 splits in year one — a high-volume shooter, but producer.

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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

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