The transfer portal lists Kentucky basketball as one of the top five winners.

In the ever-evolving landscape of college basketball, where loyalty and roster stability often take a backseat to opportunity and exposure, the transfer portal has become the new battleground. No longer are blue-blood programs solely reliant on five-star freshmen. Winning now depends just as much on acquiring experienced talent through the portal — and in 2025, no one has done it better than the Kentucky Wildcats.

Under head coach Mark Pope, Kentucky has quickly reinvented its identity following John Calipari’s departure. The Wildcats’ aggressive but calculated approach to the portal this offseason has not only filled critical gaps but also elevated them into national championship conversation. With several plug-and-play transfers already committed, Kentucky is rightly being lauded as one of the top five winners of the 2025 transfer portal cycle.

When Mark Pope was introduced as Kentucky’s new head coach, there were questions about whether the former BYU frontman could recruit at the level needed to compete in Lexington. Skeptics wondered if a coach best known for succeeding in the Mountain West could handle the expectations of Big Blue Nation.

So far, Pope has responded with a masterclass in roster building.

The departure of several players to the NBA Draft and the portal — including top talents like D.J. Wagner, Rob Dillingham, and Justin Edwards — left Kentucky with a virtually empty cupboard. Instead of panicking, Pope went to work and built a team in record time. As of late April, the Wildcats have secured commitments from multiple high-impact transfers, balancing skill, experience, and positional need.

Among Kentucky’s biggest portal wins are:

• Koby Brea (Dayton): One of the most lethal shooters in college basketball, Brea averaged 11.1 points per game while shooting a scorching 49.8% from three-point range last season. He gives Kentucky a consistent perimeter threat, something the Wildcats lacked in key stretches last year.
• Otega Oweh (Oklahoma): A two-way guard who brings toughness, defensive energy, and athleticism, Oweh averaged 11.4 points per game and started 30 games for the Sooners. His ability to guard multiple positions and slash to the rim complements Brea’s perimeter finesse.
• Amari Williams (Drexel): A 6’10” shot-blocking force, Williams was a three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year and averaged 12.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. He instantly provides interior defense and rebounding — an area Kentucky struggled with at times last year.
• Landen Boffeli (Northern Iowa): A stretch four who shot nearly 38% from deep while grabbing over 6 rebounds per game. Boffeli adds floor spacing and frontcourt versatility.
• Lamont Butler (San Diego State): The hero of SDSU’s 2023 Final Four run, Butler brings elite defensive credentials and tournament experience. Though not known as a high-volume scorer, he’s a stabilizing presence at point guard and an extension of the coaching staff on the floor.
• Andrew Carr (Wake Forest): At 6’10”, Carr is a mobile big who averaged 13.5 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting 36% from deep. He can play the four or five and has the kind of skill set that thrives in Pope’s spacing-heavy offensive system.

Together, this core blends length, shooting, experience, and defensive aptitude. It’s no coincidence that analysts like Jeff Borzello and Jon Rothstein have placed Kentucky among their top portal winners — and possibly one of the most improved teams in the nation.

Unlike in the Calipari era, which often revolved around ultra-talented freshmen, this Kentucky team is built for immediate success. All six of Pope’s portal additions have significant starting experience. Five of them are upperclassmen. And most have played — and excelled — in high-leverage situations.

Instead of teaching 18-year-olds how to defend high ball screens or adjust to college tempo, Pope will be working with players who already understand the grind of a full season. The result should be a team that plays with poise, maturity, and execution — traits that often separate March contenders from early exits.

One of the underrated aspects of Kentucky’s portal haul is the emphasis on character and fit. In his introductory press conference, Pope emphasized that Kentucky would be “the most passionate, unselfish, team-first program in America.” He appears to be living up to that promise.

Butler is widely regarded as one of the most disciplined and coachable guards in the country. Williams served as a team captain at Drexel. Brea sacrificed shot attempts for team success at Dayton. Oweh played through injuries and was known for his locker room presence. These aren’t just talented athletes — they’re culture-setters.

In the past, Kentucky has sometimes suffered from a lack of cohesion or buy-in. Pope’s roster construction seems designed to avoid those pitfalls. Everyone coming in understands the weight of the jersey — and seems eager to elevate it.

With Alabama, Auburn, and Tennessee all returning strong cores, the SEC is shaping up to be a gauntlet once again in 2025-26. But Kentucky is suddenly right back in the thick of that conversation.

The Wildcats’ new-look rotation matches up well with their conference rivals:

• Against Alabama’s high-octane pace, Pope’s rim protectors and disciplined backcourt will be critical.
• Against Tennessee’s physicality, Carr and Williams provide size and mobility.
• Against Auburn’s pressure defense, Kentucky’s ball security and experienced guards (Butler, Oweh) will be vital.

It’s not unrealistic to think that Kentucky will be a top-three SEC team and a preseason top-15 squad nationally. That’s a massive turnaround considering where the program stood just three weeks ago.

Pope’s system isn’t just plug-and-play. It’s a distinct departure from Calipari’s isolation-heavy, dribble-drive offense. At BYU, Pope prioritized ball movement, floor spacing, and tempo — his 2023-24 Cougars ranked 11th in the country in assists per game and 9th in three-point attempts.

Expect Kentucky to adopt a similar modern approach. With shooters like Brea, Carr, and Boffeli on the floor, and with high-IQ decision-makers like Butler at the helm, spacing and ball movement will be emphasized. Kentucky fans may be surprised by how free-flowing and dynamic the offense looks compared to years past.

This is no longer a team built around lottery picks. It’s built around team basketball.

One of the most immediate benefits of Kentucky’s portal success is the perception shift. What could have been a rocky start to a new era has now become a surge of momentum.

Recruits are paying attention.

2025 five-star guard Jasper Johnson, a Kentucky native, recently praised Pope’s energy and vision. The Wildcats are also in strong position with four-star wing Karter Knox and are back in the mix for elite prospects like Darryn Peterson. Portal success breeds credibility — and that credibility is translating to high school recruiting.

It also doesn’t hurt that Pope has embraced Kentucky’s tradition. He’s spoken openly about the importance of honoring Adolph Rupp, the 1996 and 2012 championship teams, and the expectations that come with coaching at the sport’s most storied program. That reverence has gone a long way toward reestablishing trust with fans and former players.

Will this be a national championship team? That remains to be seen.

There are still questions about bench depth, the status of any returning players, and how quickly chemistry will develop. But on paper, Kentucky has assembled a group that can beat anyone in the country.

The frontcourt is loaded with length and shooting. The backcourt has defense, passing, and leadership. There’s Final Four experience, mid-major dominance, and high-major savvy all rolled into one roster.

It’s a dramatic pivot from the last few years, where Kentucky often entered March as a talented but unproven group of freshmen. Now, they’re entering the season as one of the most experienced, balanced, and portal-savvy squads in the nation.

The 2025 transfer portal cycle has been a proving ground — for players looking for new homes and for coaches trying to rebuild or rebrand programs overnight. In this fast-paced era, where patience is rare and results are demanded immediately, Kentucky basketball — under new leadership — has risen to the occasion.

What Mark Pope and his staff have accomplished in less than a month is nothing short of remarkable. From a depleted roster to a reloaded juggernaut, Kentucky has earned its place among the top five winners of the portal cycle.