Reports: Kentucky basketball team loses third player to NCAA transfer portal
The University of Kentucky men’s basketball team has lost a third player this offseason to the NCAA transfer portal.
Keion Brooks, who has played three seasons for Kentucky, has chosen to try his luck elsewhere, according to several media reports Friday night.
Brooks, who started all 33 games for the Wildcats last season, previously entered his name in the 2022 NBA Draft with the intention of retaining his college eligibility. Now, the 6-foot-7 forward, has apparently expanded his options.
Brooks joined freshman Bryce Hopkins and redshirt sophomore Dontaie Allen in entering the transfer portal since the Wildcats were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in March, an upset loss as a No. 2 seed to No. 15 Saint Peter’s.
Hopkins has since committed to continue his career at Providence and Allen at Western Kentucky.
Brooks, a native of Fort Wayne, Ind., averaged 10.8 points and 4.4 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per game for the Wildcats as a junior. He averaged 10.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in 23.6 minutes per game in 16 games mostly coming off the bench as a sophomore. As a freshman, Brooks played in 31 games, starting six, and averaged 4.5 points and 3.2 rebounds.
“The rules in place for these young men to make decisions are there for a reason, and Keion is utilizing it exactly the way he should,” Kentucky Coach John Calipari said when Brooks entered the NBA Draft on April 4. “He has made strides during his time here and has continued to improve every year. His thoughtfulness and maturity — not only as a player but as a man — will allow him to go through this process and make the best decision for his future. He and his family know they have my full support with whatever they decide.”
In addition to Brooks, Hopkins and Allen, at least three other players from last season’s 26-8 Wildcats will not be returning next season. TyTy Washington entered the NBA Draft with no intention of returning to college, and Kellan Grady and Davion Mintz used up their eligibility.
Meanwhile, national player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe and starting point guard Sahvir Wheeler have said they’ll be back next season, as did CJ Fredrick and Daimion Collins.
Decisions still hanging in the balance include Jacob Toppin, Shaedon Sharpe and Lance Ware. Toppin and Sharpe have entered the draft while retaining their college eligibility. Ware has made no announcement about next season.
Kentucky’s coaching staff has also endured upheaval this offseason, with assistant Jai Lucas accepting a job Friday at Duke.
Reports: WKU’s Sharp enters portal
Jamarion Sharp, a breakout star for Western Kentucky this past season as a mobile 7-foot-5 shot-blocking presence, has entered the transfer portal, according to multiple media reports Friday night.
Sharpe, from Hopkinsville High School, averaged 8.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and a nation’s best 4.62 blocked shots per game for the Hilltoppers (19-13) last season. He played in 32 games, starting 28, and averaging 28 minutes per game.
This story was originally published April 29, 2022 at 9:22 PM.