The Kentucky Wildcats recently concluded their first season under head coach Mark Pope. Kentucky hired Mark Pope after parting ways with longtime head coach John Calipari, who now leads the Arkansas Razorbacks.

What does Mark Pope think about the roster he’s assembled in 2025-26? Well, it’s a good one, a group featuring 10 new additions with six players out of the portal, three high school pieces and one international standout.

Four-star forward Braydon Hawthorne committed to Kentucky on Tuesday, giving coach Mark Pope a late addition to his 2025 recruiting class. Hawthorne, the No. 33 overall player in the 2025 class by 247Sports,