Officially, Reece Potter is a Kentucky Wildcat. The 7’1″ former Lexington Catholic star and Miami (OH) transfer was just signed by the UK.
In the ever-evolving world of college basketball, transfers have become a key piece in building competitive rosters. For new Kentucky head coach Mark Pope, bringing home one of the state’s most promising big men is both symbolic and strategic. On Monday, it became official—Reece Potter, the 7-foot-1 former Lexington Catholic star, is now a Kentucky Wildcat. After a solid freshman season at Miami (OH), Potter is set to join the Wildcats as they look to retool and refocus following a rocky end to the John Calipari era.
For Big Blue Nation, this isn’t just another roster addition. This is a homecoming.
Reece Potter’s path to Kentucky wasn’t the traditional five-star, one-and-done trajectory that fans in Rupp Arena have come to expect over the past 15 years. Instead, it’s one marked by growth, resilience, and the determination to make the most of every opportunity.
Potter played his high school ball at Lexington Catholic, where his unique blend of size, skill, and basketball IQ made him one of the most intriguing big men in Kentucky’s 2023 class. Standing 7’1” with a developing outside shot and good court vision, Potter dominated local competition while also showing flashes of stretch-five potential. He wasn’t rated as a top-50 national recruit, but insiders and scouts around the Bluegrass quietly knew he had major upside.
After high school, Potter chose to begin his collegiate career at Miami (OH), a mid-major program that offered him immediate playing time and the chance to refine his game without the pressure of a blue-blood spotlight. It was there—under head coach Travis Steele—that Potter began to blossom.
In his lone season at Miami, Potter played in 28 games and started 19, averaging 8.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting an impressive 49% from the field and 34% from three-point range. His numbers were solid, but what stood out was his versatility. He could score inside, step out to hit a jumper, and more importantly, protect the rim without fouling—a rare quality for a young big man.
Coaches raved about his work ethic, leadership, and willingness to be coached. As the season progressed, NBA scouts began taking notice. While he wasn’t yet ready to test the draft waters, it became clear that his ceiling was far higher than what most expected when he came out of high school.
By season’s end, several Power Five schools had reached out. But when Kentucky entered the picture following the coaching change, Potter didn’t hesitate.
Mark Pope, hired in April to replace the legendary John Calipari, vowed to rebuild Kentucky not just with flashy five-stars, but with high-character, high-IQ players who buy into team success. Signing Reece Potter—a local kid with potential and a chip on his shoulder—is exactly the kind of move Pope hopes to become known for.
Pope, who played at Kentucky under Rick Pitino and was part of the 1996 national championship team, understands the importance of recruiting within the Commonwealth. He knows the pride Kentuckians take in seeing one of their own wear the blue and white. Bringing Potter back to Lexington is as much about winning the locker room as it is winning on the court.
“Reece represents everything we want to build here,” Pope said in a statement. “He’s tough, skilled, smart, and he’s Kentucky through and through. We’re thrilled to bring him home.”
The Wildcats are expected to play a more versatile, spaced-out offense under Pope, who emphasized modern concepts and stretch forwards during his time at BYU. That’s great news for Potter, who fits that mold to a tee.
His shooting range gives Kentucky something it sorely lacked at times last season—frontcourt spacing. His length will also be crucial defensively as Pope seeks to restore a team identity built on physicality and rim protection. Potter may not start immediately, but he’s expected to compete heavily for minutes in a frontcourt rotation that includes incoming freshman Somto Cyril and returner Aaron Bradshaw, who may slide to the four under the new system.
What excites Kentucky fans most is Potter’s trajectory. He’s not a finished product, but his year at Miami proves he’s growing fast—and that growth now continues on the biggest stage in college basketball.
For years, Kentucky was synonymous with one-and-done talent. Calipari’s strategy centered on luring five-star prospects and funneling them to the NBA within a year. While that approach yielded Final Fours and a national title, it also created roster instability and, in recent years, diminishing returns.
Pope’s pursuit of Potter reflects a shift. He’s looking for foundational players who can grow over time—players who can contribute for two, three, even four years. It’s a move toward sustainability. And it sends a strong message to the state’s high school talent: if you can play, Kentucky will find you. You don’t have to be ranked No. 1 nationally. You just have to fit the program’s identity.
It also helps with local goodwill. After several top Kentucky high school stars chose other programs in recent years (Reed Sheppard being a rare exception), fans were growing weary. Signing Potter starts to heal that rift.
In his first public comments as a Wildcat, Potter was visibly emotional.
“This is something I dreamed about as a kid,” he said. “Watching games at Rupp, seeing those fans, hearing ‘Go Big Blue’—that stays with you. It’s surreal to be part of it now.”
He went on to thank Miami (OH) for giving him his first shot, calling Coach Steele a “mentor and friend” and crediting his time in Oxford for preparing him for this moment.
“But I’m home now,” Potter said with a smile. “And I’m ready to work.”
The reaction from Kentucky fans has been overwhelmingly positive. Social media lit up with excitement, especially from those who followed Potter’s high school career. Former Kentucky players and alumni chimed in as well, praising the move as a sign of Pope’s commitment to the state.
Local Lexington media hailed the signing as a “full-circle” moment, noting the symbolic significance of a Lexington Catholic product suiting up for UK—something that hasn’t happened often enough in recent years, despite the school’s strong basketball tradition.
Potter joins a roster in transition, but one that’s starting to take shape. With the departure of several players to the NBA Draft and transfer portal, Pope has been active in replenishing the cupboard. Alongside Potter, Kentucky has added Utah State transfer Great Osobor, BYU sharpshooter Jaxson Robinson, and former McDonald’s All-American DJ Wagner, who recommitted to the program after briefly entering the portal.
While expectations may be tempered in Year 1 of the Pope era, the signing of Reece Potter offers real optimism. He’s not just a good basketball player—he’s the right kind of player for this moment in Kentucky basketball history.
He represents growth, loyalty, and the belief that development matters more than hype.
Kentucky basketball is undergoing a cultural shift. Gone are the days of living and dying by NBA mock drafts. What’s replacing it is something that feels a little more grounded—a little more Kentucky.
Reece Potter’s arrival isn’t just a transaction on a roster sheet. It’s a signal that the Wildcats are recalibrating, embracing the old values of toughness, development, and homegrown pride. It’s a long journey from Lexington Catholic to Rupp Arena, but Potter made it.
And in doing so, he may have helped redefine what it means to be a Wildcat in the post-Calipari era.
- Height: 7’1”
- Weight: 235 lbs
- Games Played: 28
- Games Started: 19
- PPG: 8.7
- RPG: 5.1
- BPG: 1.6
- FG%: 49.2%
- 3P%: 34.1%
- FT%: 71.5%
With Potter in the fold and several more scholarships to work with, all eyes now turn to who else Pope might add. There’s buzz around a few top-100 transfers, and a possible re-recruitment of some high school standouts who previously decommitted after Calipari’s exit.
But one thing is certain: the new Kentucky basketball identity is taking shape—and it starts with players like Reece Potter.
