BYU’s starting big man Noah Waterman has entered the NCAA transfer portal, potentially providing Kentucky with another option for their frontcourt depth. Though the portal closed on May 1, Waterman was able to enter within 30 days due to BYU head coach Mark Pope’s move to Kentucky. The 6-foot-11, 220-pound forward started all 33 games for BYU this season, averaging 9.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and shooting 37% from 3-point range. He had previously played at Niagara and Detroit-Mercy, accumulating career averages of 8.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and a 38.8% 3-point shooting percentage over 102 games.
Louisville, which recently added former BYU big man Aly Khalifa, is also expected to show interest in Waterman. Meanwhile, Kentucky is hosting Fairleigh Dickinson transfer Ansley Almonor for an official visit. Almonor, a 6-foot-7 forward rated as a 3-star prospect, averaged 16.4 points and 5.1 rebounds this season. He played a key role in Fairleigh Dickinson’s NCAA Tournament run, where they upset No. 1 seed Purdue.
Additionally, Kentucky is actively recruiting other transfers, including North Florida’s Chaz Lanier, BYU’s Jaxson Robinson, and Miami’s Wooga Poplar, all of whom have until May 29 to withdraw from the 2024 NBA Draft. Kentucky’s seven-man transfer class is currently ranked No. 5 nationally by 247Sports, featuring players like Brandon Garrison and Otega Oweh.
Coach Pope has also added former BYU signee Collin Chandler, Kentucky Mr. Basketball Travis Perry, and Harlan County’s Trent Noah, bringing Kentucky’s scholarship count to 10. Pope emphasized the importance of filling the last two scholarship spots with strategic additions, possibly including a young player, a senior taking a redshirt year, or a high-risk project.
