BB: 2026-2027 TRANSFER PORTAL

[Rainmaker]

Insanity that he is returning. How does UConn have this kind of luck? Same with Florida and that front line.

Agreed, most likely a lottery pick. It's a combination of the stacked draft this year and the fact they can get the same $$$$ staying in college they'd get at the 10th pick or later in the draft. It's a wild time in the college basketball landscape, NCAA will be non existent within a decade IMO.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Trilly's hinting someone big is fixing to enter the portal. Christian Anderson is the name floating around.

If he does Pope needs to tell Stokes commit or else your money is going to him today

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

That sucks. We just signed two PGs

Play him on the wing as a point forward.

Of course it would be Duke. SMH.

 

[Katscratch]

Insanity that he is returning. How does UConn have this kind of luck? Same with Florida and that front line.

It’s not “luck.”

It’s a very young player who believe can continue to develop and physically mature before he lives an adult life as an NBA player, and can get paid very well while doing that.

 

[Anon668007]

 

[SenseMaker_Cats]

Agreed, most likely a lottery pick. It's a combination of the stacked draft this year and the fact they can get the same $$$$ staying in college they'd get at the 10th pick or later in the draft. It's a wild time in the college basketball landscape, NCAA will be non existent within a decade IMO.

Not sure about that Rain. This young man is leaving a ton of money on the table and that’s just in salary alone. He can make NIL money on top of that massive NBA salary.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

That is correct. Every rumored commit I say similar things.

 

[wildcatdon]

Mark Pope isn't cut out for recruiting..

I thought we were all over this guy. What the hell?

 

[Anon668007]

 

[Rainmaker]

Not sure about that Rain. This young man is leaving a ton of money on the table and that’s just in salary alone. He can make NIL money on top of that massive NBA salary.

I'm not saying it is the right choice, but it makes it a lot easier to get the players back who aren't top 5 picks with huge endorsement deals.

 

[wildcatdon]

Wanted this kid. He is a dandy. We need two more guards.

 

[Anon668007]

 

[SenseMaker_Cats]

It’s not “luck.”

It’s a very young player who believe can continue to develop and physically mature before he lives an adult life as an NBA player, and can get paid very well while doing that.

If you get a young man back that would have made NBA lottery money there’s a bit of “luck” involved. I think the young man will be fine but there is a bit of a risk he’s taking.

With that being said, I believe as UK fans we’ve become a little calloused watching guys leave over the years who were no where near ready.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Incoming Whiff alert.

 

[TX Wildcat]

How good are those guys?

REED is a solid player, but with injury concerns.
Tore his ACL in Dec. 2024 (played games 8 games in '24-'25 and 6 in '25-'26).
6' 10' 245 stretch 4 who could slide to the 5 to give MM rest.
Would need a medical waiver I think, but that should be an easy one to get.

Stats are:

Stats	GP	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	REB	AST	BLK	STL	PF	TO	PTS
2025-26	6	18	57.1	42.9	66.7	5.7	0.7	0.3	0.8	1.7	1.8	9.5
2024-25	8	23.8	60.4	50	67.6	6.5	1.3	1	0.3	1.9	1.3	11.1
2023-24	32	22.2	51.6	39.4	62.2	4.1	0.9	0.9	0.4	2.1	1.8	7.9
2022-23	33	15.4	39.8	28.6	53.7	3.2	0.4	0.4	0.2	2.2	1.3	3.7

DOWD is a rising Senor.
More of a true 4, coming in at 6' 8" 225lbs
Scores well on the move, adequate defender, good rebounder, decent shooter, has logged a ton of minutes (might not fatigue)
Not an elite ball handler, can be an inconsistent shooter, first step off the dribble is not elite.
Religious, so Pope might not scare him.

Stats are:

Stats	GP	MIN	FG%	3P%	FT%	REB	AST	BLK	STL	PF	TO	PTS
2025-26	34	36	44.1	33.3	80	10.0	2.1	1.3	1.2	2.4	1.4	14.4
2024-25	34	25.3	41.7	29.5	73	6.9	1	0.5	1.1	1.6	0.8	9.5
2023-24	31	22.3	40.9	34.3	64.3	5.4	0.6	0.3	0.9	1.8	0.8	6

Would prefer either to be depth at UK, personally.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

It’s not “luck.”

It’s a very young player who believe can continue to develop and physically mature before he lives an adult life as an NBA player, and can get paid very well while doing that.

Still we would never have guys do that even under Calipari.

 

[Anon668007]

 

[Anon668007]

 

[Anon668007]

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Not looking very hot now @Rainmaker . That could be two guarantee 100% guys that don’t sign.

 

[TX Wildcat]

Not a Pope pumper, but this has to be this dumbest statement made in a long time (and there have been plenty lately).

If it did have an ounce of truth to it Pope would need to be fired and ran out of LEX immediately.

 

[TheApostleSaulSmith]

good lord

 

[MidseasonTweak]

Per Matt Jones, SJ is indeed putting up more money and unless UK counters with more, we are going to lose Freeman.

 

[SkyPrince]

Not a chance that happened.

 

[Anon668007]

 

[SenseMaker_Cats]

Not a Pope pumper, but this has to be this dumbest statement made in a long time (and there have been plenty lately). If it had an ounce of truth to it Pope would need to be fired immediately.

Agree.

 

[kywildcat1021979]

WTF its kill or be killed..... This is why Pope won't last as UK coach he just doesn't have that killer instinct! You just can't be a nice guy and coach UK successfully!

 

[kywildcat1021979]

Not looking very hot now @Rainmaker . That could be two guarantee 100% guys that don’t sign.

Wright and now Freeman this is a very bad look period!!!

 

[Anon668007]

 

[Anon668007]

 

[Anon668007]

 

[Beatle Bum]

Who is Big Blue Kodak? You link him, you must know.

 

[Anon668007]

 

[SkyPrince]

Per Matt Jones, SJ is indeed putting up more money and unless UK counters with more, we are going to lose Freeman.

I hope they don't match .
He's not worth overpaying for.
He's not Yaxel. Yaxel was a late first rounder while Freeman would probably go undrafted if he were in this year's draft..

 

[Anon668007]

 

[Beatle Bum]

Are you Jordan Cooley?

 

[MidseasonTweak]

I hope they don't match .
He's not worth overpaying for.
He's not Yaxel. Yaxel was a late first rounder while Freeman would probably go undrafted if he were in this year's draft..

The issue is that the the 4spot is weak in the portal. I agree he wouldn't change the game like Yaxel, but man we will be way weaker without a proper 4.

 

[Beatle Bum]

Yeah, I don't want to give it up lol. plus I just don't have time to worry about changing my username.

Over 700 messages in less than a month. Where would you find the time?

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

That’s the truth right there. Put Popes face on that dude. Costing to the finish line.

 

[TX Wildcat]

Sounds like it is time to Mark to go turn over stones in the Balkans. Might be one guy out there Illinois has not signed.