Predictions on who we add to roster

mcwildcats04

Heisman
Jul 19, 2003
9,158
12,657
93
Tyran Stokes
Quinn Ellis
Hannes Steinbach
1 other small forward
1 other point guard
If we get Hannes, we gotta get a Franz.


 

TommyMansky

Senior
Dec 5, 2025
528
908
93
At this rate get 3 teammates from a top DII school and combine them with whatever Euros and college mercenaries will sign on to join them.
 

ComebackCats98

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
612
1,802
93
I’m hoping:

-Stokes
-Miikka Muurinen
-Two transfer portal point guards. One elite top 3 one in the portal and a backup that might not have many offers, but is willing to come play a role.
-Another big for the center position
-A good scoring guard like Wilkerson or Lanier they’ve tried to get.

Top Portal PG
Scoring portal player
Chandler
Stokes
Moreno

or
Top portal PG
Chandler
Stokes
Muurinen
Moreno
 

tjhunter

Freshman
Feb 22, 2026
39
52
18
This guys that have doubts will be eating their words very shortly. 😂
You've been saying that, and I'm very curious!

I'm not as stoked about Stokes as a lot of others here. You basically have to work with a salary cap, if you have a 12- mil cap, and have to give stokes 5-6 of that it really limits your surrounding pieces.

You put a solid PF averaging 12-14ppg 6-8 rebound pg, with oweh/DA you would have had a different year! Pope absolutely missed on the pieces with this team!

Been looking at the last 5 championship teams, just not sure a freshman will take us to where we need to be next year! The teams in the final 4 are mostly multiple year guys getting them there.
I'm really wondering if this year breaks the trend, but even if this year is different, next year freshman class imo isn't anywhere loaded like this past year!

IMO it's very important that pope has a balance on this team. You need strong PG and front court PF or C. Add a 3 level scorer on the wing and you are very difficult to scheme against!
 
Jul 10, 2025
171
438
63
Let’s one up Nate Oates. Get guys from the NBA. Boogie should have 3 years left. He could get back in shape. Bring back J Young and the Twins. Enes Kanter!
 
  • Like
Reactions: TFCat11

TFCat11

Heisman
Mar 25, 2019
5,755
10,098
108
We can forget about those top 3, especially Stokes, who will end up at Arkansas if things go sideways in Lawrence.
 

Rainmaker

All-Conference
May 13, 2015
1,005
2,362
93
Tyler Lundblade from Belmont would fit in well with our system. Not a name player but a good fit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HipTer

JPFisher

Heisman
Jul 24, 2013
6,620
12,548
113
If Keegan Brown was integral to Pope's first transfer class, we might actually bring in some dogs.

Aside from Williams, I don't see us getting anyone in 26. I think the Stokes train has left the station with Hart. So, hopefully, we can get some great transfers to meld with the guys we keep.
 

TommyMansky

Senior
Dec 5, 2025
528
908
93
If Keegan Brown was integral to Pope's first transfer class, we might actually bring in some dogs.

Aside from Williams, I don't see us getting anyone in 26. I think the Stokes train has left the station with Hart. So, hopefully, we can get some great transfers to meld with the guys we keep.
I can see now how analytics played a big role in that first class like Almonor, Brea, and Williams which is a good thing. Also I wonder if bigger names were passed over just for the sake of analytics.

Calculators don’t play basketball. Not in 2026 at least.
 

JPFisher

Heisman
Jul 24, 2013
6,620
12,548
113
I can see now how analytics played a big role in that first class like Almonor, Brea, and Williams which is a good thing. Also I wonder if bigger names were passed over just for the sake of analytics.

Calculators don’t play basketball. Not in 2026 at least.
I don't think bigger names were passed over in that first class as much as most of the big names had already been taken by the time Pope got here. I'm interested to see what we can come up with when we have this dude in place and an even playing field and timeline as everyone else.
 

FitchandMurray29

All-Conference
Dec 11, 2021
2,408
4,904
61
My picks of guys I like that aren’t in the portal but might hit while not just picking guys on draft boards:
Cruz Davis
Ben Hammond(statistical profile of someone to be our backup PG, I have no attachment to him personally, just found him researching fits)
Xavier Edmonds
Allen Graves
 

Genediesel

Sophomore
Mar 18, 2022
206
172
43
You've been saying that, and I'm very curious!

I'm not as stoked about Stokes as a lot of others here. You basically have to work with a salary cap, if you have a 12- mil cap, and have to give stokes 5-6 of that it really limits your surrounding pieces.

You put a solid PF averaging 12-14ppg 6-8 rebound pg, with oweh/DA you would have had a different year! Pope absolutely missed on the pieces with this team!

Been looking at the last 5 championship teams, just not sure a freshman will take us to where we need to be next year! The teams in the final 4 are mostly multiple year guys getting them there.
I'm really wondering if this year breaks the trend, but even if this year is different, next year freshman class imo isn't anywhere loaded like this past year!

IMO it's very important that pope has a balance on this team. You need strong PG and front court PF or C. Add a 3 level scorer on the wing and you are very difficult to scheme against!
Didn't that "The Athletic" article that just came out state that UK has more money to spend due to the JMI deal than people realize? I haven't read it yet, but that's what I understood from the comments. Pope also said that money is not an issue and that he has what he needs.

This $12 million, or greatly reduced money, comes from one dude on this forum. Additionally, he said $6 million from last year's 22 million was actually spent to retain players for a second year - which means some players returning are already paid and wouldn't come out of the remaining 12 million.

Regardless, I'm going to believe "The Athletic" investigative journalist who wrote a whole article over the random forum person.