On Monday, Kentucky added Denzel Aberdeen from the transfer portal. Aberdeen was part of the Florida team that won the just-concluded NCAA tournament. After Aberdeen’s commitment, reports came out that Kentucky had secured all its transfer portal targets.
This is uncommon as recruiting never stops, but it’s a testament to Mark Pope and his staff’s remarkable work this off-season. In total, Kentucky added five transfers, two prep freshmen, and one international freshman to go with their five expected returners, and as it stands, they look ready to go for the new season.
Kentucky Builds One of the Nation’s Most Expensive Rosters
There’s a significant chance that the Kentucky Wildcats end up with the highest-paid roster in college basketball next season. However, a late flurry by BYU or another program with a top budget could push Kentucky’s final figure. It is reported that the cost of assembling Kentucky’s current roster is well above $10m.
A CBB analyst believes it’s between $17m and $22 m, and that figure doubles the budget of many other programs in the nation.
“I’ve been told by a few sources here that number ($20m) is not far off, it might be closer to 17 at the end of the day, it could go to 22 , obviously they lost Travis Perry to the portal and that cuts it down a little bit…That’s is an astronomical insane number when you look at it,” the analyst said.
Jayden Quaintance, a projected top-10 pick in the 2026 draft and one of the best rim protectors in college basketball, is the biggest name out of Kentucky’s newest additions. Quaintance transferred from Arizona State, and he’s coming to play alongside fellow bigs, Brandon Garrison and Malachi Moreno.
Mouhamed Dioubate also joined from Alabama, and Kentucky’s frontcourt is now brimming with physicality and athleticism. The wildcats also added Jaland Lowe from Pittsburgh and freshman Jasper Johnson to help improve their offense.
KEEP READING: 2025 Men’s College Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker
After reaching the Sweet 16 in Mark Pope’s first season as Head coach, Kentucky have armed Pope and his staff with remarkable resources to build a roster capable of winning the SEC and competing for a national title in his second year on the job.
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