KSR Today: Reed Sheppard to the NBA, staff clarity for Mark Pope
All was calm mid-afternoon after two weeks of nothing but chaos for Kentucky basketball regarding coaching changes and roster moves, both outgoing and incoming. With just one player officially on the team heading into Mark Pope‘s debut season, you could sense the restlessness picking up with Big Blue Nation — even if we were just four days removed from his introductory press conference. We heard word of things moving behind the scenes, but absolutely no names with tangible progress beyond initial contact coming from the players’ side.
Plenty of Kentucky is in touch, not enough Kentucky is the heavy favorite with a decision coming soon for fans’ liking. And that was without official names for Pope’s staff, BYU assistant Cody Fueger the only one you could say with confidence would be in Lexington next season.
Fans just wanted something, anything to keep that excitement from Sunday’s sold-out presser at Rupp Arena building. Then news started popping off left and right to close out the afternoon and well into the evening both good and bad, but ending on a high note.
Reed Sheppard declares for the NBA Draft
The news most knew was coming but never wanted to face became a reality on Thursday, the last major domino to fall among current roster names. Reed Sheppard, the 2024 Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Year, has declared for the NBA Draft and will forgo the remainder of his eligibility. His time in Lexington comes to a close after one otherworldly season, exceeding even the greatest first-year expectations in blue and white.
“I will be entering my name into the NBA Draft today,” Sheppard said. “BBN, you have been with me from day one, faithful and passionate. I’m asking you to go with me on this journey, I’m looking forward to taking you with me. I’ll represent you with all of the characteristics that make us Kentuckians: passion, humility, perseverance, sacrifice and joy. And one day, I’ll return to family, to friends, to Kentucky, my home. I love you, BBN. Thank you.”
Sheppard finishes his time at Kentucky averaging 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game, shooting 53.6% from the floor and 51.1% from three, the latter good for best in Kentucky basketball history. Seeing action in all 33 games for UK with five starts, he was the only player in the country to rack up 145 assists, 80 steals and 75 3-pointers. He’s also just the second player in school history to have 80 or more steals in a single season. The London, KY native finished with 21 games scoring in double-figures, including seven with 20 or more. He led UK in scoring seven times, assists in 18 games, steals in 25 games and blocks four times.
Now, he’s off to the NBA.
Aly Khalifa commits to Louisville, will redshirt
A guy many penciled in as a likely piece for Mark Pope instead decided to join Kentucky’s arch rival down I-64. 6-11 center Aly Khalifa, a standout at BYU and widely considered one of the best passing bigs in college basketball, announced he would be transferring to Louisville under Pat Kelsey.
The kicker? He’ll be rehabbing a knee injury and redshirting this season, certainly throwing a wrench into things regarding his anticipated impact, particularly in year one.
He was Pope’s to lose, Khalifa entering the portal with a ‘do not contact’ tag, meaning he knew exactly what he was looking for among transfer options. The flashy 270-pound playmaker quickly cut his list to three options — Kentucky, Louisville and a return to BYU were the finalists — and scheduling a visit to UofL, not leaving without a commitment.
Clarity on why for Kentucky would come later in the evening.
Kenny Payne follows John Calipari to Arkansas
After an ugly breakup with Louisville, a Kentucky reunion was potentially in the cards with Kenny Payne. But with Coach Cal needing to build out a staff in Fayetteville, it only made sense for his former right-hand man to follow him to Arkansas.
He considered joining Pope in Lexington, along with a few other NBA options, but finalized an agreement with the Razorbacks to become Calipari’s associate head coach on Thursday night.
Taking a closer look at the verbiage, associate head coach is telling. Why? Well, it’s the same role Orlando Antigua had under Calipari at Kentucky, and this move comes amid speculation that Coach O has no interest in making the move to Fayetteville. Barring a demotion for one of the most valued assistants in the game, it’s pretty safe to assume Antigua will be exploring his options elsewhere.
Will that be under Pope in Lexington? Could he return to Illinois where he found success with the Illini? That’s to be determined.
Jason Hart, Mark Fox expected to join Pope’s staff
Speaking of staff clarity, we finally found some of it late Thursday evening when The Athletic’s Kyle Tucker broke the news of not one, but two new additions for Pope beyond BYU’s Cody Fueger — that has been expected from day one.
Elsewhere, though, Georgetown support staffer Mark Fox and NBA G League Ignite head coach Jason Hart are expected to join the Kentucky staff.
Fox, who spent four seasons at Nevada, nine seasons at Georgia and four seasons at California as head coach, was on Ed Cooley’s staff at Georgetown this past season. He gave Pope his first start in coaching when the Kentucky head coach was named director of basketball operations on Fox’s first UGA staff in 2009. Fast forward 15 years and the two will be on staff together once again, this time Fox as a non-recruiting assistant.
As for Hart, a former Syracuse standout as a player who played with Pope in the NBA on the Milwaukee Bucks under George Karl, he was an assistant at USC for eight seasons under Andy Enfield before taking over as head coach of GLI the last three years before the league was discontinued. Working with a handful of top draft picks, the 45-year-old with deep West Coast ties will be an on-court recruiting assistant under Pope.
That gives us three of the five names in Fueger, Hart and Pope.
Kentucky makes final cut for Amari Williams
How about some player movement for the Cats? Better yet, how about some big player movement?
Kentucky could be closing in on its first major portal win of the Pope era as Drexel star Amari Williams has cut his list to three after meeting with the new UK coach on Thursday. The Wildcats join St. John’s and Mississippi State as finalists for the 6-10 big man and three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year.
Williams will be taking an official visit to Lexington this weekend where Pope has an opportunity to close on his first major transfer win as head coach.
The standout big averaged 12.2 points on 51.7 percent shooting in 22.9 minutes per game this season, the England native considered one of the top rebounders and defenders in the portal. According to KenPom, Williams is in the top 100 nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (65th), defensive rebound percentage (28th), block percentage (39th), and fouls drawn rate (23rd).
Could he be a Cat? Pope is pushing.
Visit coming with Great Osobor
Williams isn’t the only star big Pope is fighting to add this cycle. In fact, he’s not even the only English big man he’s recruiting.
After visiting Williams on Thursday, Pope will be meeting with Utah State transfer Great Osobor on Friday, The Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman first reported and since confirmed by KSR.
The 6-8, 250-pound forward followed head coach Danny Sprinkle from Montana State to Utah State and was a star for the Mountain West regular-season champions, averaging 17.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.3 steals in 35.6 minutes per game. He’s considered among the top post-up players in college basketball, earning Mountain West Player of the Year honors. Osobor shot 59.1 percent from two on high-volume attempts (345) and was No. 8 nationally in free throw rate.
Could the England natives be teaming up in Lexington together — a new UK for the duo?
Discuss This Article
Comments have moved.
Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.
KSBoard