Which former UK basketball players are taking part in 2026 March Madness?

When the 2025-26 college basketball season began, 13 former UK men’s basketball players were still playing college hoops at other schools.

The national postseason has arrived, and the number of ex-Cats still hooping has dwindled.

Still, Kentucky fans tuning in to NCAA Tournament games will see plenty of familiar faces sprinkled among the 68 teams in the field.

Eight ex-Cats still have hopes of winning an NCAA championship this season. They run the gamut from potential Cinderella stories in smaller conferences to programs with legit hopes of reaching the Final Four in Indianapolis.

Which former UK players are playing in March Madness?

The ex-Cats still playing in the NCAA Tournament are listed below in alphabetical order, sorted by last name.

• Devin Askew (Villanova): Askew — who is in his sixth college season at his fifth different school — has mainly been a bench contributor for Villanova this season. ‘Nova is an 8 seed in the West Region and will play 9 seed Utah State on Friday afternoon in San Diego. Askew is averaging 10.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game this season and is knocking down 40.8% of his 3-point tries. He’s played in all 32 of Villanova’s games and won the Big East Sixth Man Award. Askew began his college career at Kentucky during the ill-fated 2020-21 season.

• Jordan Burks (Central Florida): Burks is enjoying a breakout campaign with the Knights, who are a 10 seed in the East Region. UCF begins its NCAA Tournament against 7 seed UCLA on Friday night in Philadelphia. Burks was a bench player at UK during John Calipari’s final season at the helm 2023-24. After spending last season at Georgetown, Burks has started every game this season for UCF. He’s averaging 13.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game, all career bests.

• Daimion Collins (South Florida): A former McDonald’s All-American in high school, Collins is spending his fifth college season at South Florida after playing two seasons each at UK and LSU. South Florida is an 11 seed in the East Region. The Bulls begin their NCAA Tournament against 6 seed Louisville on Thursday afternoon in Buffalo. Collins is a bench player for the Bulls, and he’s appeared in all but one of South Florida’s games. Collins is averaging 4.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per contest.

• Cam’Ron Fletcher (High Point): Now in his sixth college season at his fourth school, Fletcher was a meaningful part of High Point’s run to the Big South Conference Tournament title. High Point is a 12 seed in the West Region for this year’s NCAA Tournament, with a first-round matchup against 5 seed Wisconsin set for Thursday afternoon in Portland, Oregon. Fletcher — who only played in nine games at UK during the 2020-21 season — has played in 25 contests with 11 starts this season for High Point. Fletcher is averaging a career-best 12.7 points per game, and he leads the Panthers with 6.9 rebounds per contest.

• Bryce Hopkins (St. John’s): Hopkins has started every game for St. John’s as Rick Pitino’s Red Storm claimed both the Big East Conference regular season and tournament titles. St. John’s was saddled with a 5 seed for the NCAA Tournament, though. The Red Storm are part of the East Region and open play against 12 seed Northern Iowa on Friday night in San Diego. Hopkins came off the bench for all 28 of his appearances at UK during the 2021-22 season before spending three seasons at Providence. At St. John’s this season, Hopkins is averaging 13.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He’s shooting a career-best 45.9% from the field.

• Zvonimir Ivisic (Illinois): Known as ”Big Z” during his Kentucky basketball days, Ivisic is at his third school in as many years. After his lone season at Kentucky during the 2023-24 campaign, Ivisic followed Calipari to Arkansas. This past offseason, Ivisic joined Illinois, where his twin brother, Tomislav, also plays. Illinois is a 3 seed in the South Region and will play 14 seed Penn on Thursday night in Greenville, South Carolina. Zvonimir Ivisic is averaging 7.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and a whopping 2.1 blocks per game. He’s played in all 32 of Illinois’ games, but Ivisic has started just four contests.

• Ugonna Onyenso (Virginia): A two-year Kentucky player, Onyenso has made an impact off the bench for Virginia this season. The Cavaliers are a 3 seed in the Midwest Region. Virginia’s first game is against 14 seed Wright State on Friday afternoon in Philadelphia. Across the board, Onyenso is enjoying a career year, with per-game averages of 6.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks. Onyenso swatted away nine shots during Virginia’s four-point loss to Duke in the ACC Tournament championship game.

• D.J. Wagner (Arkansas): Wagner has spent his college career tied to the hip of Calipari. After spending the 2023-24 season as UK’s point guard, Wagner has played the past two seasons at Arkansas. The Razorbacks, SEC Tournament champions for the first time since 2000, are a 4 seed in the West Region. Arkansas’ first-round matchup is 13 seed Hawai’i on Thursday afternoon in Portland, Oregon. Wagner is averaging 7.6 points, 2.4 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game for the Hogs. Those are career lows for Wagner, who has lifted his 3-point shooting to a respectable 36%.

Former UK basketball recruits also in March Madness

Previous Kentucky basketball players aren’t the only connection between the UK program and some of this year’s other NCAA Tournament participants.

Six former UK recruits — players who at one time were part of Kentucky’s plans for the future — are also in the March Madness field.

• Skyy Clark (UCLA): Clark was the first commitment in UK’s 2022 recruiting class, before backing off that pledge. He’s played at Illinois, Louisville and UCLA since. This is Clark’s second season with the Bruins, who are a 7 seed in the East Region. UCLA plays 10 seed Central Florida on Friday night in Philadelphia. Clark is averaging 11.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He’s enjoying a career-best shooting season, having converted on 46% of his shots from the field and 43.2% of his 3-point tries.

• Somto Cyril (Georgia): One of the five recruits from UK’s 2024 class who backed out of a pledge to the Cats after Calipari left, Cyril is heading to the NCAA Tournament again with Georgia. UGA is an 8 seed in the Midwest Region with a first-round matchup against 9 seed Saint Louis on Thursday night in Buffalo. Cyril has been a dependable, physical starter for the Bulldogs, posting per-game averages of 9.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. Cyril was ejected from Georgia’s most recent game — a loss to Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament second round — after elbowing Ole Miss guard Travis Perry, a former ex-Cat himself.

• Boogie Fland (Florida): Another former 2024 UK recruit, Fland spent last season at Arkansas playing for Calipari before transferring to Florida, the defending national champs. While Fland’s numbers are down — he’s averaging 11.6 points, 3.4 assists and 2.5 rebounds per contest — he’s started every game for Todd Golden’s group, which won the SEC regular season title. Florida is a 1 seed in the South Region. The Gators’ first game is against a 16 seed, either Prairie View A&M or Lehigh, on Friday night in Tampa.

• Karter Knox (Arkansas): Knox was the final member of Calipari’s 2024 recruiting class at Kentucky to commit to the Cats. That pledge didn’t hold, and Knox’s second season playing for Calipari at Arkansas has likely come to an early end. In February, Knox underwent surgery for a left meniscus injury. Prior to that, Knox averaged 8.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per contest.

• Acaden Lewis (Villanova): Lewis was to be part of Mark Pope’s 2025 high school recruiting class at Kentucky but decommitted in April after the Cats’ roster took shape. Lewis landed at Villanova, and he’s impressed during his first college season. Lewis has started every game for Villanova and is averaging 12.3 points, 5.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 steals per contest. Lewis was named to the All-Big East second team and freshman team selection.

• Billy Richmond III (Arkansas): The former 2024 Kentucky commit has also spent two seasons playing for Calipari at Arkansas. Richmond has enjoyed a breakthrough 2025-26 season for the Hogs and is considered to be one of the top hustle players in college basketball. Richmond is averaging 11.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He’s stepped into a starting role for the Razorbacks following Knox’s injury.

Cameron Drummond

Lexington Herald-Leader

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Cameron Drummond works as a sports reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader with a focus on Kentucky men’s basketball recruiting and the UK men’s basketball team, horse racing, soccer and other sports in Central Kentucky. Drummond is a second-generation American who was born and raised in Texas, before graduating from Indiana University. He is a fluent Spanish speaker who previously worked as a community news reporter in Austin, Texas. Support my work with a digital subscription