Sports
NCAA transfer portal: John Calipari Kentucky basketball roster 2023-24 – Courier Journal
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky’s 2023-24 roster is still in flux.
Aside from the incoming five-man freshman class, just one player from last season’s roster has announced he’s coming back next year: Brennan Canada, a former walk-on.
As the Wildcats await decisions from players who could still return, while continuing to build out next season’s roster, here are five players in the NCAA transfer portal that UK could add, and what each brings:
Position: Center
Size: 7-1, 260 pounds
Previous school: Michigan
Last season’s statistics: 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.8 blocks per game; 56% field goal percentage (244 of 436); 42.1% on 3-pointers (24 of 57)
What he could bring to UK: Atop The Athletic’s rankings of the best transfer portal players currently available, Dickinson is an offensive playmaker. He was a freshman All-American in 2021 and has been an All-Big Ten performer all three seasons of his career. Dickinson struggles when pulled away from the basket defensively, but he can protect the rim with the best of them. Stadium’s Jeff Goodman reported Dickinson met with UK’s coaching staff via Zoom last week.
Kentucky basketball roster tracker:Latest as John Calipari’s 2023-24 team comes together
Shifting gears:How changing college basketball landscape has altered John Calipari’s Kentucky rosters
Position: Forward
Size: 6-9, 255 pounds
Previous school: Wyoming
Last season’s statistics: did not play because of right foot injury
What he could bring to UK: Ike excels posting up defenders, much like Tshiebwe has the past two seasons. Ike’s stout frame makes it difficult for opposing offensive players to bully him. The biggest concern is his injury history. Aside from missing all of last season while rehabbing his right foot, Ike also tore his ACL in high school.
Kentucky basketball recruiting:These players have signed to the Wildcats’ 2023 class
Position: Wing
Size: 6-8, 200 pounds
Previous school: North Carolina
Last season’s statistics: 4.1 points, 2.7 rebounds per game; 38.7% field goal percentage (36 of 93)
What he could bring to UK: While his numbers don’t leap off the page, Johnson was an important part of UNC’s run to the national championship game in 2021-22. Injuries have cost him 30 games in his three seasons. He wouldn’t start for the Wildcats, but Johnson could be a rotational piece off the bench.
On the gridiron:Kentucky defensive line ready to pave path of ‘destruction’ with Deone Walker, Keeshawn Silver
Position: Wing
Size: 6-6, 200 pounds
Previous school: Northern Colorado
Last season’s statistics: 20.2 points, 7.2 rebounds per game; 47.9 field goal percentage (234 of 489); 38.1% on 3-pointers (77 of 202)
What he could bring to UK: Knecht can score at all three levels. He led the Big Sky Conference in points per game last season. If Tshiebwe and Reeves move on, Knecht could help an otherwise green Kentucky club offensively as its highly-touted freshmen acclimate to the college game.
Cream of the crop:Will UK’s 2023 class be one of Calipari’s best in Lexington? These 5 set the standard
Position: Forward
Size: 6-9, 236 pounds
Previous school: Tennessee
Last season’s statistics: 10.8 points, 5.0 rebounds per game; 51.3% field goal percentage (157 of 306); 33.3% on 3-pointers (18 of 54)
What he could bring to UK: Nkamhoua is already familiar with the SEC after suiting up for the Volunteers the past three seasons. He played a starring role in Tennessee’s NCAA Tournament win over Duke, pouring in a game-high 27 points. Nkamhoua has improved as a 3-point shooter over the years, and he’s a smart defender. His knowledge on both ends would be a boon to the Wildcats’ youthful roster next season.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @RyanABlack.
