Adding Lamar Wilkerson Would Make Kentucky a Preseason Top-Five Team

If Kentucky lands Lamar Wilkerson, the college basketball landscape shifts instantly. This wouldn’t be just another transfer pickup. This would be a declaration of intent, a reminder of what the Kentucky program under Mark Pope is capable of. Wilkerson is one of the most polished scorers in the portal, and he brings more than just stats—he brings game-altering presence, poise, and the kind of veteran savvy that Kentucky’s young, reloaded roster would benefit from immensely. Adding him would take Kentucky from being a team brimming with potential to one fully ready to contend, making a legitimate case for a preseason top-five ranking.

Wilkerson averaged 19.3 points per game last season at Central Arkansas, hitting 41.7 percent of his three-pointers and scoring in double figures in 29 of his 32 games. His ability to create his own shot, thrive in transition, and stretch the floor with deep range would fit seamlessly into Pope’s fast-paced, modern offensive vision for Kentucky. And while it’s easy to point to the mid-major competition he faced, Wilkerson’s style of play translates. His quick release, physical strength, and basketball IQ all point toward a skillset that would thrive in the SEC. He’s not just a volume scorer—he’s efficient, experienced, and fearless.

Mark Pope has already made waves early in his tenure, quickly assembling one of the nation’s most intriguing rosters. The Wildcats are returning some key pieces while pulling in transfers and high-level recruits, but a scorer like Wilkerson could be the final, defining piece. He’s the kind of player who changes scouting reports, who draws double teams, who elevates the players around him by demanding attention and delivering in the clutch.

Kentucky’s current transfer haul already looks formidable. Pope has secured commitments from former Dayton forward Koby Brea, who led the nation in three-point shooting percentage last season, and Otega Oweh from Oklahoma, a two-way guard with a motor that never stops. He’s also brought in Andrew Carr from Wake Forest, an experienced and versatile forward who plays with maturity and skill on both ends of the court. These are not just good players—they’re program stabilizers, the kind of guys who raise the floor of your team. Add a high-octane scorer like Wilkerson to the mix, and suddenly the ceiling becomes championship-level.

Kentucky’s likely 2025 roster also includes incoming freshman Travis Perry, Kentucky’s all-time high school scoring leader, as well as potentially key returns such as Adou Thiero, who showed flashes of elite defensive ability and growing confidence offensively. Pope’s emphasis on spacing, tempo, and effort creates the perfect environment for a scorer like Wilkerson to shine, while also allowing the rest of the roster to flourish. Imagine a lineup with Brea and Wilkerson spacing the floor, Carr and Thiero bringing switchable defense and rebounding, and a lead guard—perhaps another portal addition or an emerging star—creating opportunities. It’s a balanced, dangerous group.

What makes Wilkerson especially valuable is his confidence and versatility. He’s not just a spot-up shooter. He can handle the ball, operate in isolation, come off screens, and bully smaller defenders in the mid-post. He averaged nearly five rebounds a game and showed toughness on the defensive end as well. Wilkerson isn’t a one-dimensional player—he’s a three-level scorer with a college-ready body and a game built for the big stage. His production didn’t come out of nowhere; he was a standout in high school and has steadily improved each year. He’s hungry, focused, and ready to prove he belongs at the highest level.

National media outlets have already started to pay attention to Kentucky’s rise under Pope, and the addition of Wilkerson would only amplify that noise. Preseason rankings often reflect potential as much as proven results, and a roster with this much talent and depth would be impossible to ignore. Wilkerson’s presence would round out the rotation and give Kentucky an identity: tough, explosive, unselfish, and dangerous from everywhere on the court. Pope’s offense would have multiple shooting threats, versatile defenders, and the kind of spacing that allows everyone to thrive.

It’s also worth noting that Wilkerson’s experience brings value in terms of leadership. He’s been “the guy” at his previous stops, and while he’d be joining a more loaded roster at Kentucky, his voice would matter. This is a team that will need chemistry to match its talent, and having players like Wilkerson who understand the grind and who aren’t afraid of expectations is crucial. Kentucky fans demand excellence, and Wilkerson looks like a player who embraces that challenge rather than shying away from it.

The SEC is shaping up to be loaded again in 2025, with teams like Alabama, Tennessee, and Arkansas retooling through the portal and returning key pieces. For Kentucky to not just compete, but dominate, it will need firepower—and Wilkerson provides exactly that. He gives them another option late in games, another scorer who can carry the offense during lulls, and another reason for opponents to panic. His ability to get hot in a hurry can swing games in March, and those are the kinds of players who win titles.

There’s also a recruiting ripple effect to consider. Pope’s early portal success has already drawn attention from high school prospects and other transfers. Adding a high-level scorer like Wilkerson would further validate the program’s direction and show that Kentucky is again a destination where elite talent can come together to win. The Wildcats are building something that balances experience and upside, star power and glue guys. Wilkerson fits that blueprint perfectly.

In many ways, this offseason is a referendum on what modern college basketball looks like. The transfer portal, NIL, and coaching changes have created a new kind of roster-building process. Programs that adapt quickly—and smartly—will thrive. Pope is doing exactly that, building a team with both immediate potential and long-term vision. Wilkerson represents the kind of addition that reflects the modern era: a proven scorer from a smaller program stepping into a national spotlight and thriving. It’s the new reality of college hoops—and Kentucky, once again, is ahead of the curve.

Wilkerson’s decision isn’t just about fit or opportunity. It’s also about stage. At Kentucky, every game is magnified. Every performance gets national coverage. For a player like Wilkerson, who’s proven everything he can at the mid-major level, the next step is obvious: test yourself against the best. And if he makes that leap in Lexington, he wouldn’t just be boosting his own draft stock—he’d be elevating a program back to where its fans believe it belongs.

The Wildcats have been searching for stability and resurgence since the COVID-era lull and inconsistent tournament results that followed. Pope’s hiring was met with curiosity, but his early moves have inspired confidence. He’s building a team that not only looks good on paper but makes sense on the court. Wilkerson would be more than a cherry on top—he’d be a centerpiece in a modern offensive machine. And that kind of talent, in this kind of system, under this kind of spotlight? That’s the recipe for a top-five preseason ranking.

Wilkerson’s addition would change expectations—not just for Kentucky, but for the entire college basketball landscape. He’d turn Kentucky from a trendy sleeper to a true contender. From a team with intriguing parts to one with all the pieces. From a roster full of potential to a group ready to make a deep, meaningful run in March. If Mark Pope can close the deal, the rest of the country better take notice: Kentucky is back, and they’re coming fast.