Kentucky Set To Land Another Commitment For Top Special Player

Noah Waterman, a BYU big man, entered the NCAA transfer portal on Monday, potentially providing Kentucky with another frontcourt option.

The transfer link ended on May 1, but Waterman had 30 days to enter when Cougars head coach Mark Pope left for Kentucky.

As a senior, the 6-foot-11, 220-pound forward started all 33 games for BYU, averaging 9.5 points and 5.4 rebounds in 24.1 minutes per game. He also shot 37% from three.As a junior in 2022-23, Waterman averaged 4.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 17.0 minutes while starting 14 of the Cougars’ 33 games.

Waterman, who started his undergraduate career at Niagara, also played two seasons for Detroit-Mercy, appearing in 102 games with 76 starts, averaging 8.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, and shooting 38.8% from beyond the arc with 161 3-pointers.

Louisville, which recently signed former BYU big man Aly Khalifa and is still looking for another big man, is also believed to be active.

Kentucky will welcome Fairleigh Dickinson transfer Ansley Almonor for an official visit starting Tuesday. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward is a 3-star prospect and ranked No. 317 overall by 247Sports. He entered the transfer portal on March 19.

 

BYU Basketball: Noah Waterman Reportedly Enters Transfer Portal
Noah Waterman

 

As a junior this season, Almonor started 31 of 32 games for the Knights, averaging 16.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting 43.6% from the field and 39.4% from three, with 93 three-pointers made.

Almonor, a two-time All-Northeast Conference pick, helped Fairleigh Dickinson reach the NCAA Tournament last season, where the Knights upset Texas Southern in the First Four before stunning No. 1 seed Purdue in the Round of 64.

As a sophomore last season, Almonor averaged 13.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting 38.1% from three. Over the last two seasons, Almonor has started 65 of 68 games for FDU and is a career 38.5% 3-point shooter with 180 career makes.

Almonor also made an official visit to Pepperdine.According to CatsPause.com, Sienna may also be involved.

Kentucky is targeting North Florida transfer Chaz Lanier, BYU transfer Jaxson Robinson, and Miami transfer Wooga Poplar, who have until May 29 to withdraw from the 2024 NBA Draft, to strengthen its backcourt scoring.

The Wildcats’ 7-man transfer class is currently ranked No. 5 nationally by 247Sports. It includes No. 21 Brandon Garrison (Oklahoma State), No. 28 Otega Oweh (Oklahoma), No. 45 Lamont Butler (San Diego State), No. 66 Andrew Carr (Wake Forest), No. 81 Amari Williams (Drexel), No. 104 Koby Brea (Dayton), and No. 118 Kerr Kriis.

Pope has signed former BYU signee Colin Chandler, Kentucky Mr. Basketball, Lyon County’s all-time leading scorer and 4-star guard Travis Perry, and Harlan County’s 4-star and former South Carolina signee Trent Noah, bringing the Wildcats’ total number of scholarship players to 10.

“We have 10 scholarships right now. I have two very crucial pieces to offer. The thirteenth scholarship is a floating piece. It could be suitable for a young player. It could be a position for a senior player who plans to redshirt. It could be a site for a project. It could be ideal for a high-risk guy. We’re particularly focused on filling the last two places. “It is a priority right now.”

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