Mark Pope has roster spots to fill as the Kentucky Wildcats dive into the transfer portal season. On Wednesday, all eyes will be on Mackenzie Mgbako, a former five-star recruit who spent his first two college seasons at Indiana and is now seeking a new team for the 2025-26 season. The 6-foot-9, 222-pound forward from Gladstone, New Jersey, is set to visit Kentucky after multiple discussions with the Wildcats’ coaching staff since the portal opened last week. Mgbako, who turns 21 in November, was once seen as a potential one-and-done NBA pick after ranking as the No. 8 overall prospect in the 2023 class according to 247Sports. His time at Indiana was somewhat underwhelming, though he started 64 games and averaged 12.2 points per game across his two seasons. He also posted 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists, with a 32.9% shooting average from beyond the arc. While defense was not a strong point for him at Indiana, his length and athleticism suggest he could improve in that area, and a fresh start at Kentucky may help unlock his potential. Mgbako could also see growth in his three-point shooting under Pope’s offensive system.
Meanwhile, former Florida State forward Taylor Bol Bowen will be the first visitor to campus following the opening of the transfer portal, with Bowen, a versatile 6-10 forward, scheduled to visit Alabama afterward.
In a surprising twist, Kentucky’s pursuit of San Diego State’s Magoon Gwath hit an unexpected snag when he decided to remain with the Aztecs instead of committing to the Wildcats. Gwath, a 7-footer with exceptional two-way skills, had been a prime target for Kentucky. His decision shocked many, and now the Wildcats are on the lookout for another big man to complement Brandon Garrison, assuming he returns for another season, alongside McDonald’s All-American recruit Malachi Moreno.
Kentucky is also in the mix for Yaxel Lendeborg, a top transfer from UAB. Lendeborg, who is ranked as the No. 1 player in the portal by both 247Sports and On3.com, had an impressive season, averaging 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.7 steals. The 6-9, 240-pound forward from New Jersey is considering both the NBA draft and a return to college basketball for one more season, and Kentucky is among the schools pursuing him.
Aaron Bradshaw, who transferred from Kentucky to Ohio State, will be looking for his third school in three years. The 7-1 forward averaged 6.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in his sophomore season at Ohio State, and his upside should draw significant interest for the upcoming season.
In the meantime, Louisville’s coach Pat Kelsey has been a major beneficiary of the transfer portal, adding top talents like Ryan Conwell and Adrian Wooley to build one of the best backcourts in college basketball for the 2025-26 season. Louisville now has the No. 1 transfer class, according to 247Sports.
Lastly, Purdue’s Braden Smith, a first-team All-American point guard, has yet to announce if he will enter the portal, though there’s been ongoing speculation. If Smith does explore his options, he would be a prime target for Kentucky, which is in need of a point guard following the departures of Lamont Butler and Kerr Kriisa. Both Kentucky and Duke are believed to be among the favorites to land Smith, but no official word has come from him yet.
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