Is Mark Pope finished with Kentucky basketball roster? Here are 3 targets to keep eye on

LEXINGTON — With May past its midway point, Kentucky basketball has filled 11 of its 13 available scholarships. Mark Pope, entering his first season as UK’s coach, doesn’t plan to let any spot go to waste.

In a recent appearance on “College Hoops Today,” a podcast hosted by national reporter Jon Rothstein, Pope said filling the Wildcats’ last two scholarships is the staff’s No. 1 priority. The 13th and final scholarship, Pope said, is viewed as “a floating piece” for the team.

He told Rothstein, “The way we see it, there might be a place for a young player.” There might be room for a senior player who plans to take a year off from competition. It might serve as a project location. Something for a high-risk guy, perhaps? Right now, we’re fully focused on securing the final two seats as a top priority.”

There will be another transfer portal commit for at least one of the final two places, if not both. Ansley Almonor of Fairleigh Dickinson, Koby Brea of Dayton, Lamont Butler of San Diego State, Andrew Carr of Wake Forest, Brandon Garrison of Oklahoma State, Kerr Kriisa of West Virginia, Otega Oweh of Oklahoma, and Amari Williams are among the eight transfers that Kentucky is already expected to bring in for the upcoming season.

Who else might the Wildcats pluck from the transfer portal?

Here are three names to keep an eye on:

The favorites

Chaz Lanier (North Florida)

Kentucky is in a heated battle to land Chaz Lanier, who starred at North Florida the past four seasons. He recently visited BYU and wrapped up a trip to Lexington earlier this week. He went straight from UK’s campus down to Knoxville, as Tennessee also is heavily recruiting the Nashville native.

It’s easy to see why so many schools are after him.

He’s a high-level scorer, averaging 19.7 points per game en route to first-team all-conference honors in

the final season of Atlantic Sun. Lanier appears to be the only person Pope and the Wildcats are lacking in terms of a lead guard since he can go out and create offense without needing things to be designed for him. Stated differently, a “bucket getter.”

In 2023–24, he started 31 of the 32 games in which the Ospreys played. He shot 86.4% from the free-throw line and 51% from the field overall. Lanier scored 30 or more points in four games last season, the most being a 35-point performance against North Alabama, and 20 or more in 15 other games. He only failed to score in double figures once.

He is ranked No. 3 among shooting guards and No. 11 overall in the transfer portal, according to 247Sports.

Jaxson Robinson (BYU)

Jaxson Robinson has been linked to Kentucky from the moment Pope took over. That’s because of their shared past: Pope coached Robinson the last two seasons at BYU.

Robinson had a breakout season in 2023-24, leading the Cougars in scoring (14.2 points per game) as he captured the Big 12’s Sixth Man of the Year award. He also was an honorable mention for the All-Big 12 team, sinking 35.4% (81 for 229) of his attempts beyond the 3-point arc.

Robinson would be making his fourth college stop if he were to commit to Kentucky.

He participated in the 2021–22 season for Arkansas before spending two seasons at BYU. Robinson played for Texas A&M during his first season (2020–21).

The fact that Robinson is going through the NBA draft process is the main obstacle. He had the option to remain listed in the draft. But one thing is expected to happen if he chooses to rejoin the college ranks.

The Deseret News quoted many sources as saying that “they fully expect him to be playing for Kentucky next season if Robinson decides to withdraw from the draft” in an article that was published last week from the NBA draft combine in Chicago.

A long shot (but still another one to watch)

Wooga Poplar (Miami)

While Kentucky isn’t considered a front-runner for Wooga Poplar, it isn’t entirely out of the race for the former Miami guard. For now, the favorite is perceived to be Villanova, as he’s from Philadelphia. Rothstein reported last week Poplar was on a visit to Villanova that day “and will visit Oregon soon, per his father.”

Adam Zagoria, a fellow national college basketball reporter, was informed by Poplar’s father last month that his son “probably” will travel to the UK.

In reference to the Wildcats, Poplar’s father informed Zagoria, “They want him.”

That visit has not taken place as of May 21.

However, that hasn’t always been a deal breaker for Pope’s program. Butler and Garrison never went to Lexington, although they made commitments to Kentucky.

And if Poplar rejects the Villanova Wildcats and the Oregon Ducks, what kind of player would the Kentucky Cats inherit?